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
51
Idol's / Clive's / Judge's
1/9
Open Arms0003Open Arms
44
 
16 7Eliminated
52
Finale
1/6
Black Horse And The Cherry Tree0003Black Horse And The Cherry TreeReprise performance
52
 
13 7Eliminated
53
Diana Ross
1/12
You Cant Hurry Love0003You Can't Hurry Love
14
 
13 7Eliminated
54
British Invasion
1/11
Tell Him0003Tell Him
49
 
21 2Safe
55
Gwen Stefani
1/10
Last Dance0003Last Dance
58
 
18 2Safe
American Classics
1/9
Mack The Knife0003Mack The Knife
58
 
20 2Safe
57
Latin
1/8
Sway0003Sway
57
 
17 2Safe
58
Country
1/7
Where The Blacktop Ends0003Where The Blacktop Ends
76
 
15 2Safe
59
Life Anthems (Idol Gives Back)
1/6
Change The World0003Change The World
28
 
18 2Safe
60
Bon Jovi
1/6
Blaze Of Glory0003Blaze Of Glory
77
 
18 7Eliminated
61
Bee Gees
1/8
Love You Inside Out0003Love You Inside Out
46
 
19 2Safe
62
Idol's / Producers' / Judge's
1/9
Wishing On A Star0003Wishing On A Star
43
 
22 2Safe
63
Finale
1/6
You Give Love A Bad Name0003You Give Love A Bad NameReprise performance
77
 
25 7Eliminated
64
Lennon-McCartney
1/12
Got To Get You Into My Life0003Got To Get You Into My Life
38
 
16 4Bottom Group
65
Beatles
1/11
Back In The USSR0003Back In The U.S.S.R.
28
 
21 7Eliminated
66
Year You Were Born
1/10
Alone0003Alone
23
 
16 2Safe
67
Dolly Parton
1/9
Jolene0003Jolene
51
 
18 4Bottom Group
68
Inspirational (Idol Gives Back)
1/8
Dream On0003Dream On
48
 
22 7Eliminated
69
Mariah Carey
1/7
When You Believe0003When You Believe
55
 
24 2Safe
70
Andrew Lloyd Webber
1/6
One Rock N Roll Too Many0003One Rock 'N' Roll Too Many
79
 
19 4Bottom Group
71
Neil Diamond
1/10
Forever In Blue Jeans0003Forever In Blue Jeans
28
 
22 2Safe
72
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
1/8
Hungry Like The Wolf0003Hungry Like The Wolf
43
 
17 2Safe
73
Idol's / Producers' / Judges'
1/9
And So It Goes0003And So It Goes
73
 
24 2Safe
74
Finale
1/6
I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For0003I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
67
 
22 2Safe
75
Michael Jackson
1/13
Way You Make Me Feel0003The Way You Make Me Feel
75
 
15 2Safe

[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.

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