The fourth season of American Idol premiered on January 18, 2005, and continued until May 25, 2005. It was hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. Carrie Underwood won the season with approximately 500 million votes cast in the season and 37 million for the finale, while Bo Bice was the runner-up. Underwood since became an eight-time Grammy-winning country megastar. It was also the first season of the series to be aired in high definition.
Changes from previous seasons
This was the first season where guest judges were invited to participate in the auditions. Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, Washington, D.C. auditions Gene Simmons of Kiss, New Orleans auditions Kenny Loggins, Las Vegas auditions LL Cool J, Cleveland auditions Brandy, San Francisco auditions
Where there were four judges present, three "yes" votes were required for the auditioner to proceed to Hollywood.
This was also the first season with the age limit being raised to 28. Among those who benefited from this new rule were Constantine Maroulis, Bo Bice, Scott Savol, and Nadia Turner.
Regional auditions
Auditions for the fourth season began on August 4, 2004, in Cleveland, Ohio. An audition was originally planned for Anchorage, Alaska, but that was canceled due to a possible schedule conflict as a result of hurricanes affecting the Orlando auditions.
+American Idol (season 4) – regional auditions City Preliminary date Preliminary venue Filming date(s) Filming venue Golden tickets Cleveland, Ohio August 4, 2004 Cleveland Browns Stadium August 14–15, 2004 Intercontinental Cleveland 32 St. Louis, Missouri August 8, 2004 Edward Jones Dome August 2004 Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark 32 Washington, D.C. August 18, 2004 Washington Convention Center August 20–21, 2004 Renaissance Hotel Ninth St. 42 Orlando, Florida August 26, 2004 Orange County Convention Center September 14, 2004 MGM Grand Las Vegas 16 New Orleans, Louisiana August 31, 2004 Louisiana Superdome September 4–5, 2004 The Roosevelt (Fairmont)A journalist's American Idol audition story: If you believe, you can achieve a music dream 16 Las Vegas, Nevada September 12, 2004 Orleans Arena September 15–16, 2004 MGM Grand Conference Center 24San Francisco, California October 5, 2004 Cow Palace October 7–8, 2004 The Regency Center 32Total number of tickets to Hollywood 194
Hollywood week There were 193 contestants in the Hollywood rounds. They were split into two groups and performed on separate days at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. The contestants first chose from a list of twelve songs selected by the producers. They were separated into groups of males and females, but they performed solo with piano accompaniment and back-up singers. Ninety-five contestants were eliminated after this round (and one withdrew). The remaining 97 contestants competed in the second round which featured group performances. The songs for the groups were the Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)," The Temptations' "Get Ready," Barry Manilow's "Jump Shout Boogie," The Marvelettes's "Please Mr. Postman," and The Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go." 75 remained after this round.
In the last round, they performed a cappella. After their performances, the contestants were divided into four groups in separate rooms. Two groups were eliminated and the number of contestants was cut to 44. After further deliberation by the judges, 24 semifinalists–12 men and 12 women–were selected. At the Pasadena Civic Center, each contestant took the elevator from their holding room to the floor above to see the judges, who then revealed their fate.
Semifinals The rules for this season's semifinal round were changed so as to result in an equal number of male and female finalists. Twelve men and twelve women competed separately on consecutive nights, with two from each group being voted off each week until twelve finalists were left: six men and six women.
Color key:
Top 24 (February 21 and 22) Contestants are listed in the order they performed. +Top 24 (male contestants) Contestant Song Result Nikko Smith "Part-Time Lover" Safe Scott Savol "You Are My Lady" Safe Anthony Fedorov "Hold On to the Nights" Safe Bo Bice "Drift Away" Safe Travis Tucker "My Cherie Amour" Safe Constantine Maroulis "Kiss from a Rose" Safe David Brown "Never Can Say Goodbye" Safe Jared Yates "How Could I" Eliminated Anwar Robinson "Moon River" Safe Judd Harris "Travelin' Band" Eliminated Joseph Murena "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" Safe Mario Vazquez "Do I Do" Safe+Top 24 (female contestants) Contestant Song Result Vonzell Solomon "Heat Wave" Safe Amanda Avila "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" Safe Janay Castine "I Wanna Love You Forever" Safe Carrie Underwood "Could've Been" Safe Sarah Mather "Get Ready" Eliminated Melinda Lira "The Power of Love" Eliminated Nadia Turner "The Power of Love"Safe Celena Rae "I Will Love Again" Safe Mikalah Gordon "Young Hearts Run Free" Safe Lindsey Cardinale "Standing Right Next to Me" Safe Jessica Sierra "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" Safe Aloha Mischeaux "Work It Out" Safe
Top 20 (February 28 and March 1) Contestants are listed in the order they performed. +Top 20 (male contestants) Contestant Song Result Mario Vazquez "I Love Music" Safe Anwar Robinson "What's Going On"Safe Joseph Murena "Let's Stay Together" Eliminated David Brown "All in Love Is Fair" Eliminated Constantine Maroulis "Hard to Handle" Safe Scott Savol "Never Too Much" Safe Travis Tucker "All Night Long (All Night)" Safe Nikko Smith "Let's Get It On" Safe Anthony Fedorov "I Want to Know What Love Is"Safe Bo Bice "Whipping Post"Safe+Top 20 (female contestants) Contestant Song Result Aloha Mischeaux "You Don't Know My Name" Eliminated Lindsey Cardinale "I Try to Think About Elvis" Safe Jessica Sierra "A Broken Wing"Safe Mikalah Gordon "God Bless the Child" Safe Celena Rae "When the Lights Go Down" Eliminated Nadia Turner "My Love" Safe Amanda Avila "Turn the Beat Around" Safe Janay Castine "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)"Safe Carrie Underwood "Piece of My Heart" Safe Vonzell Solomon "If I Ain't Got You" Safe
Top 16 (March 7 and 8) Contestants are listed in the order they performed. +Top 16 (male contestants) Contestant Song Result Scott Savol "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" Safe Bo Bice "I'll Be" Safe Anthony Fedorov "I've Got You" Safe Nikko Smith "Georgia on My Mind" Eliminated Travis Tucker "Every Little Step" Eliminated Mario Vazquez "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" Safe Constantine Maroulis "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"Safe Anwar Robinson "What a Wonderful World" Safe+Top 16 (female contestants) Contestant Song Result Amanda Avila "River Deep – Mountain High" Eliminated Janay Castine "Dreaming of You" Eliminated Carrie Underwood "Because You Love Me" Safe Vonzell Solomon "Respect" Safe Nadia Turner "Try a Little Tenderness" Safe Lindsey Cardinale "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" Safe Mikalah Gordon "Somewhere" Safe Jessica Sierra "The Boys Are Back in Town" Safe
Top 12 finalists
Carrie Underwood (born March 10, 1983, in Muskogee, Oklahoma; 21 years old at the time of the show) was from Checotah, Oklahoma, and she auditioned in St. Louis with Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me." She performed Candi Staton's "Young Hearts Run Free" in Hollywood. Bo Bice (born November 1, 1975, in Huntsville, Alabama; 29 years old at the time of the show) was from Helena, Alabama, and auditioned in Orlando with The Allman Brothers Band's "Whipping Post." He performed The Box Tops's "The Letter" and The Temptations' "Get Ready" in Hollywood. Vonzell Solomon (born March 18, 1984, in Baxley, Georgia; 20 years old at the time of the show) was from Fort Myers, Florida, and auditioned in Orlando with Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools." She performed Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know" in Hollywood. Anthony Fedorov (born May 4, 1985, in Yalta, Ukraine; 19 years old at the time of the show) was from Trevose, Pennsylvania, and auditioned in Cleveland with Jon Secada's "Angel." He performed Diana Ross' "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" and "Angel" again in Hollywood. Scott Savol (born April 30, 1976, in Cleveland, Ohio; 28 years old at the time of the show) was from Shaker Heights, Ohio and auditioned in Cleveland with The Carpenters' "Superstar." He performed the Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself" in Hollywood. Constantine Maroulis (born September 17, 1975, in Brooklyn, New York; 29 years old at the time of the show) was from New York City and auditioned in Washington with Aerosmith's "Cryin'." In Hollywood, he performed The Box Tops's "The Letter" and the Four Tops's "I Can't Help Myself." Anwar Robinson (born April 21, 1979, in Newark, New Jersey; 25 years old at the time of the show) was from East Orange, New Jersey, and auditioned in Washington. He performed the Four Tops's "I Can't Help Myself" in Hollywood. Nadia Turner (born January 11, 1977, in Miami; 28 years old at the time of the show) auditioned in San Francisco with Aretha Franklin's "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Nikko Smith (born April 28, 1982, in San Diego, California; 22 years old at the time of the show) was from St. Louis, Missouri, and auditioned there with Stevie Wonder's "All I Do." In Hollywood, he performed The Temptations' "Get Ready." Jessica Sierra (born November 11, 1985, in Tampa, Florida; 19 years old at the time of the show) auditioned in Orlando with Etta James' "At Last." In Hollywood, she performed Diana Ross' "When You Tell Me That You Love Me." Mikalah Gordon (born January 14, 1988, in Las Vegas; 17 years old at the time of the show) auditioned in Las Vegas with Ella Fitzgerald's "Lullaby of Broadway" and Lauryn Hill's "Killing Me Softly with His Song." She performed Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" in Hollywood. Lindsey Cardinale (born February 5, 1985, in Hammond, Louisiana; 19 years old at the time of the show) was from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and auditioned in New Orleans with Karla Bonoff's "Standing Right Next to Me." She performed Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrells' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" in Hollywood.
Finals Color key:
Top 12 – Music from the 1960s (March 15) Contestants are listed in the order they performed. Contestant Song Result Jessica Sierra "Shop Around" Bottom three Anwar Robinson "A House is Not a Home"Safe Mikalah Gordon "Son of a Preacher Man" Bottom two Constantine Maroulis "You've Made Me So Very Happy"Safe Lindsey Cardinale "Knock on Wood" Eliminated Anthony Fedorov "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"Safe Nadia Turner "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"Safe Bo Bice "Spinning Wheel"Safe Vonzell Solomon "Anyone Who Had a Heart"Safe Scott Savol "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"Safe Carrie Underwood "When Will I Be Loved"Safe Nikko Smith "I Want You Back"Safe + Non-competition performance Performers Song Top 12 "When You Tell Me That You Love Me"
Top 11 – Billboard number ones (March 22) Contestants performed one song from the list of Billboard number one hits and are listed in the order they performed. Contestant Song Result Anthony Fedorov "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" Bottom three Carrie Underwood "Alone"Safe Scott Savol "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"Safe Bo Bice "Time in a Bottle"Safe Nikko Smith "Incomplete"Safe Vonzell Solomon "Best of My Love"Safe Constantine Maroulis "I Think I Love You"Safe Nadia Turner "Time After Time" Bottom two Mikalah Gordon "Love Will Lead You Back" Eliminated Anwar Robinson "Ain't Nobody"Safe Jessica Sierra "Total Eclipse of the Heart"Safe
+ Non-competition performance Performers Song Top 11 "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
Top 10 – Music from the 1990s (March 29) Contestants are listed in the order they performed.