Leadoff Performances

[back to top] Leadoff Performances

Click on a column header to sort by that column.
# Episode / Theme Slot Performance Approval Rating σ Result
126
Judges' Choice / Idol's Choice
1/6
Dance Little Sister0003Dance Little Sister
28
 
17 7Eliminated
127
Finale
1/6
Mad World0003Mad WorldReprise performance
80
 
19 7Eliminated
128
Billboard charts
1/12
All Right Now0003All Right Now
25
 
20 2Safe
129
Billboard charts
1/12
Since U Been Gone0003Since U Been Gone
30
 
23 2Safe
130
Billboard charts
1/10
Its a Mans Mans Mans World0003It's A Man's Man's Man's World
70
 
21 2Safe
131
Billboard charts
1/10
Long As I Can See The Light0003Long As I Can See The Light
90
 
15 2Safe
132
Billboard charts
1/8
Breakaway0003Breakaway
23
 
12 2Safe
133
Billboard charts
1/8
Fireflies0003Fireflies
52
 
23 2Safe
134
Rolling Stones
1/12
Miss You0003Miss You
48
 
22 2Safe
135
Billboard #1 Hits
1/11
Letter0003The Letter
45
 
18 2Safe
136
Soul / R&B
1/10
Through The Fire0003Through The Fire
26
 
13 2Safe
137
Lennon-McCartney
1/9
Long And Winding Road0003The Long And Winding Road
33
 
14 4Bottom Group
138
Elvis Presley
1/9
Saved0003Saved
81
 
14 2Safe
139
Inspirational (Idol Gives Back)
1/7
Dont Stop0003Don't Stop
34
 
17 4Bottom Group
140
Shania Twain
1/6
Youre Still The One0003You're Still The One
40
 
29 2Safe
141
Frank Sinatra
1/5
Fly Me To The Moon0003Fly Me To The Moon
29
 
19 7Eliminated
142
Songs From the Movies
1/6
Kiss From A Rose0003Kiss From A Rose
21
 
25 2Safe
143
Judges' Choice / Idols' Choice
1/6
OK Its Alright With Me0003OK, It's Alright With Me
19
 
14 7Eliminated
144
Finale
1/6
Boxer0003The BoxerReprise performance
54
 
19 2Safe
145
Open
1/12
Superstition0003Superstition
35
 
17 7Eliminated
146
Open
1/12
Only Girl In The World0003Only Girl (In The World)
9
 
6 7Eliminated
147
Open
1/6
And I Am Telling You Im Not Going0003And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
43
 
21 3Judges' Choice
148
Personal Idol
1/13
Any Man Of Mine0003Any Man Of Mine
49
 
20 2Safe
149
Year You Were Born
1/12
Whats Love Got To Do With It0003What's Love Got To Do With It
14
 
14 4Bottom Group
150
Motown
1/11
I Heard It Through The Grapevine0003I Heard It Through The Grapevine
44
 
23 6Saved

[back to top] Summary

Say you're a contestant on American Idol, and you're standing backstage a few hours before show time when the producers walk up to you and say, "Congratulations, Fred, you're singing first tonight!" Assuming your name is really Fred, your response should be to (choose one):

  1. Thank them profusely for the coveted honor of leading off the show.
  2. Throw up on their shoes.
  3. Hide in the wardrobe room and don't come out until the second commercial break.

Well, we can rule out A. As we and our friends at USA Today noted, the leadoff spot hasn't been terribly friendly to contestants over the years. Just 15 (of 282) first singers have have turned in a five-star performance, while 87 have been sent home (including 54 of 190 finalists, the highest ratio of any slot by far.) Through AI6, four of the six leadoff singers in a Final 3 episode have been voted off, and five of six in the Finales (where so far only Ruben Studdard has sung first and lived to tell about it.)

The challenges of performing first are obvious. Many late-arriving viewers miss the performance entirely, and those who do see it have upwards of an hour to forget about it before the voting begins. Plus, singing in front of a "cold" audience is rarely a treat; that's why opening acts were invented. Certainly the producers are aware of this too, so if they were ever intent on getting rid of a contestant – and we are not saying we suspect them of anything (cough-cough) – the leadoff spot is the obvious place to put him or her.

So if you ever find yourself opening the show on Idol, do whatever it takes to make it as memorable of a performance as you can. And don't forget to apologize to the producers afterwards for their shoes.

WhatNotToSing.com copyright © 2007-2024, The WNTS Team.  All rights reserved.  Use of this website implies that you accept our Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.  American Idol is a registered trademark of 19 TV Ltd.  We are not affiliated in any way with American Idol, Fox Television, FremantleMedia North America, or any of their parent or subsidiary companies.