American Idol (season 8)
The eighth season of American Idol premiered on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol panel. It was also Abdul's final season as a judge. Kris Allen, a native of Conway, Arkansas, was announced the winner of the competition on May 20, 2009, defeating runner-up Adam Lambert after nearly 100 million votes. This was the second season where both of the final two contestants had been in the bottom three or two at least once before the finale, with the first being season three.
The eighth season saw numerous changes to the format of the show. There were 36 semi-finalists instead of 24, and thirteen finalists instead of twelve, nine contestants chosen by the public and four by the judges in a wild card round. Another addition was the "save," which was used on the top seven results show to veto Matt Giraud's elimination.
Multiple contestants from this season were signed to record deals. This includes winner Kris Allen, who was then signed to 19 Entertainment/Jive Records, runner-up Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai, Michael Sarver, and Mickey Guyton.
Changes from previous season
Several changes were planned for season eight. Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly stated that Idol would feature fewer "William Hung-like" contestants and "funny auditions," and would quickly move its focus to the potential singers during the earlier stages of the competition, thus moving the season at a faster pace. Mike Darnell, president of Fox's alternative programming, said the contestants would be more emotional and that viewers would learn more about them and their pasts than they had in the previous season.Songwriter and record producer Kara DioGuardi was added as a fourth judge on the panel. She had previously collaborated with Celine Dion, Hilary Duff, Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias, Leona Lewis and Christina Aguilera, and produced several Top 40 hits. As a songwriter, she had already worked with several American Idol alumni and winners, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, David Archuleta and David Cook. Meanwhile, Ken Warwick became the new executive producer, as Nigel Lythgoe had left the show to focus on So You Think You Can Dance and his new show with Simon Fuller, Superstars of Dance.
Idol Gives Back was canceled for season 8, as the economic crisis and recession, left Idol officials uncomfortable asking financially struggling viewers to donate. The semifinals saw the biggest change as the wild card round returned for the first time since the third season. After voters picked three finalists from each of three groups of 12 semi-finalists, the judges selected eight of the previously eliminated 27 semifinalists to return and perform a song on the March 5, 2009, show. They were judged by the panel, instead of a vote by the viewers, with four advancing to the finals. Although the finals had been billed from the beginning of the season as a set of 12 contestants, the judges announced at the last minute that they would be advancing a fourth wild card/thirteenth contestant, Anoop Desai, as well. The eighth season also marked the first time that auditions were conducted outside the continental United States, when the show traveled to U.S. territory San Juan, Puerto Rico to screen potential contestants.
Judges' Save
Another change in the Idol format is judges' save, an element previously used in France's Nouvelle Star. The judges were given the power to exercise a veto on one eliminated contestant in the finals and spare them from elimination for that particular week. This can only be invoked up until the Final 5 The following week two contestants will be eliminated if the save is used because nobody is eliminated on the week that the save is used, except in eleventh and thirteenth seasons when only one contestant was eliminated. The save can only be used once per season and it must be unanimous. The new format change was revealed on March 11, 2009. The first recipient of the Judges' Save was Matt Giraud and the last when the show was on Fox was Qaasim Middleton. The twelfth season is the only season the judges' save was not used. Placings of the recipients have ranged from eighth place to runner-up. The judges' save retired after the fifteenth season, but returned in the seventeenth season, when the judges saved Laci Kaye Booth.Regional auditions
Auditions began July 17 the previous year, and were held in the following cities:Contestants were required to be between the ages 16 and 28 on July 15, 2008 and eligible to work in the United States. Contestants were ineligible if they had previously reached the semifinal in Season 1-3 and 7, or the top 44 from season 4 and 5, or top 40 from season 6. They were also ineligible if they held then current recording or management contracts or if they were not U.S. citizens or landed immigrants.
One auditioner who received widespread publicity was Katrina Darrell, also known as "Bikini Girl", for auditioning in her bikini. She reached the Hollywood stage but was cut in the group round.
Hollywood week
For this season, the Hollywood round moved from the Orpheum Theatre to the Kodak Theatre, which was previously used for the finale in seasons 1 and 3–6. In addition, the Hollywood round was extended to two weeks.In the first round, the 147 contestants each sang a short solo a cappella performance of any song. The next round had the remaining 107 contestants performing in groups of three or four. Group rounds had returned since season 6. The 72 contestants that passed group day performed one more solo song, this time accompanied by a band, before being narrowed down to 54. The final 54 then went to the "judges' mansion" in Los Angeles for the final results, and the Top 36 were announced. Some contestants had a sing-off to determine who would enter the top 36. Lacey Brown, who lost in a sing-off with 9th placer Megan Joy, later made the following season's Top 12 where she became the first finalist voted out.
Semifinals
The 36 contestants performed in three groups of twelve and sang songs that were Billboard Hot 100 hits. In each group, three people advanced to the next round, based on votes by the viewers. The top male and female recipient advanced, along with the next highest vote recipient of the remaining ten contestants in each group. Each week two males advanced however it was never revealed who was the highest voted and which advanced through the non-gender specific slot. Following those nine singers advancing, eight of the remaining 27 semi-finalists were selected by the judges to compete in the Wild Card round. Following another performance by each Wild Card contender, the judges selected four contestants to advance to the final group of 13.Group 1 – ''Billboard'' Hot 100 hits
Group 2 – ''Billboard'' Hot 100 hits
Group 3 – ''Billboard'' Hot 100 hits
- : Barton was initially eliminated prior to the semifinals. However, after the disqualification of Joanna Pacitti, she was invited back into the competition.
Wild Card Round – ''Billboard'' Hot 100 hits
Finalists
is from Conway, Arkansas and auditioned in Louisville, Kentucky with Leon Russell's "A Song For You". Allen's interest in music began at an early age; he taught himself how to play guitar at the age of 13, as well as numerous other instruments. Prior to Idol, he worked as a worship leader at New Life Church in Maumelle, Arkansas, and is a member of Chi Alpha Campus Ministries at the University of Central Arkansas, where he is a business major. Allen was announced the winner on May 20. He went on to release his first official single, "No Boundaries", which was written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. As a part of winning Idol, Allen was signed by Jive Records and 19 Entertainment.Adam Lambert is from San Diego, California and auditioned in San Francisco, California with Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". Lambert grew up in Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego, California and attended Deer Canyon Elementary School, Mesa Verde Middle School, and Mt. Carmel High School, where he took part in theater and choir, and also performed with the school's jazz band. Lambert has been a stage actor since the age of ten, performing in such productions as You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Wicked. He joined the band The Citizen Vein briefly. He also worked as a demo singer, and those recordings were released after his appearance on Idol in the album Take One. Lambert roomed with Kris Allen during the show. Lambert was the runner-up. He was signed to RCA Records after the show and released his debut album For Your Entertainment.
Danny Gokey is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and auditioned in Kansas City, Missouri. Gokey first began singing in church with his family, and has been a worship leader for his church in Milwaukee, Faith Builders International Ministries, for several years. Four weeks before Gokey auditioned for American Idol, in July 2008, his wife Sophia underwent surgery due to congenital heart disease. She later died from complications regarding the extensive surgery. He was eliminated from the Top 3 on May 13, 2009.
Allison Iraheta is from Los Angeles and auditioned in San Francisco, California. Iraheta began singing at an early age, performing at small venues for her family and friends. In 2006, Iraheta won the Telemundo television series Quinceañera, where she won $50,000 and a recording contract, where only the prize money was granted. She was eliminated from the Top 4 on May 6. In making the final she became the series' youngest finalist at sixteen and turned seventeen during the Top 5 week. Her debut album, Just Like You, was released on December 1, 2009, with the single "Friday I'll Be Over U".
Matt Giraud is from Kalamazoo, Michigan and auditioned in Louisville, Kentucky with Gavin DeGraw's "I Don't Want to Be". Giraud grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he graduated from Lincoln High School in 2003. Initially eliminated from the Top 13, Giraud was chosen by the judges to rejoin the competition during the Wild Card round. Giraud was the lowest vote-getter during the Top 7, but was saved by the judges and eventually eliminated in Top 5. He released an album called Perspective in 2003 and another in 2006 called Mind Body and Soul.
Anoop Desai is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and auditioned in Kansas City, Missouri. Desai is an only child, whose father was born in India and mother was born in South Africa. He began his career as an actor for the television station WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina in a local television series entitled CentralXpress.com, and played the character "Raj". Desai attended Carnage Middle School and Phillips Middle School, then later went on to attend East Chapel Hill High School, graduating in 2004. Desai’s performance as a soloist on the song "She Has No Time" was included on the 2007 iteration of the annual BOCA compilation album. Desai has credited his decision to audition for American Idol to the death of a friend, Eve Carson, who was murdered. Initially eliminated from the Top 13, he was chosen by the judges to rejoin the competition during the Wild Card round. His advancement to the finals made Idol history, making it a top 13.
Lil Rounds is from Memphis, Tennessee and auditioned in Kansas City, Missouri with Stevie Wonder's "All I Do". Shortly before her audition on Idol, a tornado hit Memphis, forcing Rounds to temporarily live in a motel. Her grandfather once worked with the musician B.B. King. Her performance of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" in the Hollywood round impressed the judges; however, she failed to impress the judges in the finals and was eliminated in joint-seventh place with Anoop Desai.
Scott MacIntyre is from Scottsdale, Arizona and auditioned in Phoenix, Arizona. MacIntyre is the first legally blind person to audition for American Idol. MacIntyre began practicing music at the age of six. Home-schooled until the age of fourteen, he later attended Arizona State University's Barrett Honors College and Herberger College of the Arts soon afterwards. In 2005, USA Today named him one of its twenty College Academic All-Stars. He obtained his master's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London and the Royal College of Music, where he studied on a Marshall Scholarship. MacIntyre produced his first CD when he was eleven, and has recorded five more CDs since then. He was accepted to both Oxford University and Cambridge University for further graduate-level education.
Megan Joy is a single mother from Sandy, Utah and auditioned in Salt Lake City, Utah with Helen Morgan's "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man". Initially eliminated from the Top 13, Joy was chosen by the judges to rejoin the competition during the Wild Card round. In high school, Joy unsuccessfully tried out for numerous performance groups, including choir, and never had any singing lessons before her audition on Idol. Joy graduated from Taylorsville High School in Taylorsville, Utah in 2003. She has one son named Ryder.
Michael Sarver is from Jasper, Texas and auditioned in Phoenix, Arizona with Boyz II Men's "Thank You". Sarver, an oil rig worker, began singing at the age of twelve, and has written over 890 songs for himself since that time. Sarver graduated from Sulphur High School in 1998.
Alexis Grace is from Memphis, Tennessee and auditioned in Kansas City, Missouri with Aretha Franklin's "Dr Feelgood". She gave birth to her daughter when she was nineteen. Grace began singing at an early age. She performed Aretha Franklin's "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" in the Hollywood rounds.
Jorge Núñez is from Carolina, Puerto Rico, and auditioned in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For the audition, he sang "My Way" in Spanish and Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" in English. Núñez speaks three languages fluently, English, Spanish and French. After he sang during the third semi-finals week, many people were amazed by his big voice, including Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, who had stated they wanted to perform with him. He performed Jon Secada's "Angel" during the Hollywood round. Of the Top 13, Núñez was the only contestant who auditioned in Puerto Rico. He was the eliminated from the Top 13 in the first week of the finals, along with Jasmine Murray.
Jasmine Murray is from Starkville, Mississippi and auditioned in Jacksonville, Florida. Initially eliminated from the Top 13, Murray was chosen by the judges to rejoin the competition during the Wild Card round. In addition to competing on Idol, she competed in the Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant in 2007. She was eliminated from the Top 13 in the first week of the finals, along with Jorge Núñez.
Finals
Top 13 – [Michael Jackson]
This episode was re-aired on June 29, 2009, in a tribute to the death of Michael Jackson on June 25. This makes it the only episode of the show to be re-aired by Fox.| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Lil Rounds | "The Way You Make Me Feel" | Safe |
| 2 | Scott MacIntyre | "Keep the Faith" | Safe |
| 3 | Danny Gokey | "P.Y.T. " | Safe |
| 4 | Michael Sarver | "You Are Not Alone" | Safe |
| 5 | Jasmine Murray | "I'll Be There" | Eliminated1 |
| 6 | Kris Allen | "Remember the Time" | Safe |
| 7 | Allison Iraheta | "Give In to Me" | Safe |
| 8 | Anoop Desai | "Beat It" | Safe |
| 9 | Jorge Núñez | "Never Can Say Goodbye" | Eliminated1 |
| 10 | Megan Joy | "Rockin' Robin" | Safe |
| 11 | Adam Lambert | "Black or White" | Safe |
| 12 | Matt Giraud | "Human Nature" | Safe |
| 132 | Alexis Grace | "Dirty Diana" | Safe |
- Note 1: It was never revealed, between Jasmine Murray and Jorge Núñez, who received the fewest votes even though Jasmine was eliminated first.
- Note 2: See IDOLS-13 controversy below.
Top 11 – Grand Ole Opry
| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Michael Sarver | "Ain't Goin' Down " | Bottom 2 |
| 2 | Allison Iraheta | "Blame It on Your Heart" | Bottom 3 |
| 3 | Kris Allen | "Make You Feel My Love" | Safe |
| 4 | Lil Rounds | "Independence Day" | Safe |
| 5 | Adam Lambert | "Ring of Fire" | Safe |
| 6 | Scott MacIntyre | "Wild Angels" | Safe |
| 7 | Alexis Grace | "Jolene" | Eliminated |
| 8 | Danny Gokey | "Jesus, Take the Wheel" | Safe |
| 9 | Anoop Desai | "Always on My Mind" | Safe |
| 10 | Megan Joy | "Walkin' After Midnight" | Safe |
| 11 | Matt Giraud | "So Small" | Safe |
Top 10 – Motown
Mentor: Smokey Robinson| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Matt Giraud | "Let's Get It On" | Bottom 2 |
| 2 | Kris Allen | "How Sweet It Is " | Safe |
| 3 | Scott MacIntyre | "You Can't Hurry Love" | Bottom 3 |
| 4 | Megan Joy | "For Once in My Life" | Safe |
| 5 | Anoop Desai | "Ooo Baby Baby" | Safe |
| 6 | Michael Sarver | "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" | Eliminated |
| 7 | Lil Rounds | " Heat Wave" | Safe |
| 8 | Adam Lambert | "The Tracks of My Tears" | Safe |
| 9 | Danny Gokey | "Get Ready" | Safe |
| 10 | Allison Iraheta | "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | Safe |
Top 9 – Popular iTunes Downloads
Top 8 – Year They Were Born
Top 7 (first week) – Songs of the Cinema
Mentor: Quentin Tarantino| Order | Contestant | Song — Film | Result |
| 1 | Allison Iraheta | "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" — Armageddon | Safe |
| 2 | Anoop Desai | " I Do It for You" — ' | Bottom 3 |
| 3 | Adam Lambert | "Born to Be Wild" — Easy Rider | Safe |
| 4 | Matt Giraud | "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" — Don Juan DeMarco | Saved'1 |
| 5 | Danny Gokey | "Endless Love" — Endless Love | Safe |
| 6 | Kris Allen | "Falling Slowly" — Once | Safe |
| 7 | Lil Rounds | "The Rose" — The Rose'' | Bottom 2 |
- Note 1: Matt Giraud received the lowest number of votes but the judges decided to use their save on him and was not eliminated.
Top 7 (second week) – Disco
- Note 1: With no elimination the previous week, there was a second "Top 7" week and two people were eliminated. It was never revealed who, between Anoop Desai and Lil Rounds, received the fewest votes, however Rounds's elimination was announced first with Desai being the second eliminee.
Top 5 – Rat Pack Standards
| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Kris Allen | "The Way You Look Tonight" | Bottom 3 |
| 2 | Allison Iraheta | "Someone to Watch Over Me" | Safe |
| 3 | Matt Giraud | "My Funny Valentine" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Danny Gokey | "Come Rain or Come Shine" | Safe |
| 5 | Adam Lambert | "Feeling Good" | Bottom 2 |
Top 4 – Rock music
Mentor: SlashEach contestant sang one solo and one duet with a fellow contestant.
| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Adam Lambert | "Whole Lotta Love" | Safe |
| 2 | Allison Iraheta | "Cry Baby" | Eliminated |
| 3 | Kris Allen & Danny Gokey | "Renegade" | N/A |
| 4 | Kris Allen | "Come Together" | Safe |
| 5 | Danny Gokey | "Dream On" | Safe |
| 6 | Adam Lambert & Allison Iraheta | "Slow Ride" | N/A |
Top 3 – Judges' choice and Contestants' choice
Each contestant sang two songs.| Order | Contestant | Song — Judge | Result |
| 1 | Danny Gokey | "Dance Little Sister" — Paula Abdul | Eliminated |
| 2 | Kris Allen | "Apologize" — Randy Jackson & Kara DioGuardi | Safe |
| 3 | Adam Lambert | "One" — Simon Cowell | Safe |
| 4 | Danny Gokey | "You Are So Beautiful" | Eliminated |
| 5 | Kris Allen | "Heartless" | Safe |
| 6 | Adam Lambert | "Cryin'" | Safe |
Top 2 – Contestant’s choice, [Simon Fuller]’s choice & the winner’s single
Each contestant sang three songs.| Order | Contestant | Song | Result |
| 1 | Adam Lambert | "Mad World" | Runner up |
| 2 | Kris Allen | "Ain't No Sunshine" | Winner |
| 3 | Adam Lambert | "A Change is Gonna Come" | Runner up |
| 4 | Kris Allen | "What's Going On" | Winner |
| 5 | Adam Lambert | "No Boundaries" | Runner up |
| 6 | Kris Allen | "No Boundaries" | Winner |
Elimination chart
Other performances
Group song
- Top 36/Group 1: "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz
- Top 36/Group 2: "Closer" by Ne-Yo
- Top 36/Group 3: "Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry
- Top 13: "I Want You Back/ABC Medley" by The Jackson 5
- Top 11: "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" by Travis Tritt
- Top 10: "Motown" Medley: "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by The Supremes/"You're All I Need to Get By" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell/"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
- Top 9: "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
- Top 8: "Can't Get You Out of My Head" by Kylie Minogue
- Top 7 : "Maniac" by Michael Sembello from Flashdance
- Top 7 : "Shake Your Body " by The Jacksons; choreographed by Paula Abdul
- Top 5: "It Don't Mean a Thing " and "I Got Rhythm"
- Top 4: "School's Out" by Alice Cooper
- Top 3: The Top 3 did not perform a group routine.
- Top 2: Top 13 performed "So What" by Pink and Top 2 performed Queen's "We Are The Champions" who were guest performers
Guest performances
Finale
The finale took place at the Nokia Theatre on May 20, 2009.Musical Performances:
"So What" - Top 13
"Permanent" - David Cook
"Cue the Rain" - Queen Latifah & Lil Rounds
"I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz, Anoop Desai & Alexis Grace
"Kiss a Girl" - Keith Urban & Kris Allen
"Glamorous" - Top 13 girls
"Big Girls Don't Cry" - Fergie with Top 13 girls
"Boom Boom Pow" - The Black Eyed Peas
"Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper & Alison Iraheta
"Hello" - Danny Gokey
"Just Go" - Lionel Richie & Danny Gokey
"All Night Long" - Lionel Richie & Danny Gokey
"Beth" - Adam Lambert
"Detroit Rock City" - KISS & Adam Lambert
"Rock and Roll All Night" - KISS & Adam Lambert
"Black Magic Woman" - Carlos Santana & Matt Giraud
"Smooth" - Carlos Santana & Top 13
"Pretty Flowers" - Megan Joy, Michael Sarver with Steve Martin playing banjo
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" - Top 13 guys
"Maggie May" - Rod Stewart
"We Are the Champions" - Queen, Kris Allen & Adam Lambert
"No Boundaries" - Kris Allen
Idol Awards:
Outstanding Male - Nick Mitchell "And I'm Not Going"
Best Attitude Katrina Derrel "Vision of Love" with Kara DioGuardi
Outstanding Female - Tatiana Del Toro "Saving All My Love"
Contestants who appeared on other seasons/shows
- American Idol ninth season finalist Lacey Brown originally auditioned for this season, but she was cut in a singoff with Megan Joy in the green mile round.
- American Idol tenth season finalist James Durbin originally auditioned for this season, but was not chosen.
- Semi-finalists Mishavonna Henson and Ju'Not Joyner previously auditioned in the seventh season, but were cut during Hollywood Week.
- Jamar Rogers, who was cut in the green mile round in this season of American Idol, would go on as contestant on the second season of The Voice as a member of Team CeeLo. He made it to the Semi-Final round before being eliminated.
- Jenn Korbee, who was cut in the green mile round in this season of American Idol following a sing off against Kristen McNamara, was a cast member in the American version of Hi-5 under the name of Jennifer Peterson-Hind.
- Wil Heuser, who auditioned for the show would later appear on the fourteenth season of Big Brother. He was evicted in eighth place.
- Kai Kalama, along with his brother Ryan, appeared on The Winner Is as the Kalama Brothers.
- Semi-finalists Brent Keith and Kristen McNamara appeared on second and fourth seasons of Nashville Star. Both finished in sixth place in their respective seasons.
- Semi-finalist Jackie Tohn appeared on Platinum Hit, finishing in seventh place. She later found success as an actress after being cast on GLOW as Melrose.
- Semi-finalist Arianna Afsar later competed in the Miss America 2011 pageant, representing the state of California. She finished in the top ten.
- Finalist/wild card pick Jasmine Murray later competed in the Miss America 2015 pageant, representing the state of Mississippi. She finished in the top ten.
Controversies