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
226
Songs From the Idol Era
1/10
Unconditionally0003Unconditionally
63
 
16 7Eliminated
227
The Grammys
1/10
Radioactive0003Radioactive
24
 
14 2Safe
228
The American Idol Songbook
1/12
See You Again0003See You AgainDuet performance
71
 
17 9Group performance
229
America's Requests
1/11
Counting Stars0003Counting Stars
26
 
17 2Safe
230
Rock / Sia
1/8
Wanted Dead Or Alive0003Wanted Dead Or Alive
63
 
16 2Safe
231
Hometown / Scott's / Judges' Choice
1/10
Hallelujah0003Hallelujah
51
 
18 7Eliminated
232
Finale
1/7
Falling0003FallingOriginal Winners Song (Coronation Single) performance
63
 
14 2Safe
233
Open
1/12
Ain't Nobody0003Ain't Nobody
39
 
17 7Eliminated
234
Open
1/12
Believer0003Believer
18
 
13 7Eliminated
235
Open
1/14
Midnight Train to Memphis0003Midnight Train to Memphis
35
 
14 2Safe
236
Open
1/14
Walk Like an Egyptian0003Walk Like an Egyptian
67
 
21 2Safe
237
Disney
1/10
Bare Necessities0003The Bare Necessities
66
 
23 2Safe
238
Prince / Year You Were Born
1/14
Kiss0003Kiss
56
 
23 7Eliminated
239
Carrie Underwood / Mothers' Day
1/10
Flat On The Floor0003Flat On The Floor
32
 
20 7Eliminated
240
Finale
1/9
Johnny Cash Heart0003Johnny Cash HeartOriginal Winners Song (Coronation Single) performance
13
 
16 7Eliminated
241
Open
1/20
Domino0003Domino
45
 
23 3Judges' Choice
242
Open
1/14
That's All Right0003That's All Right
46
 
20 2Safe
243
Open
1/14
You And I0003You And I
56
 
18 2Safe
244
Disney
1/10
I 2 I0003I 2 I
45
 
24 7Eliminated
245
Queen / Movie Duets
1/12
Crazy Little Thing Called Love0003Crazy Little Thing Called Love
38
 
16 7Eliminated
246
Woodstock / Showstoppers
1/12
Piece Of My Heart0003Piece Of My Heart
44
 
23 2Safe
247
Elton John / Bobby Bones / Hero
1/15
You Are The Best Thing0003You Are The Best Thing
35
 
16 7Eliminated
248
Finale
1/8
Home Broussard0003Home
53
 
25 2Safe
Open (online)
1/20
Leave Me Lonely0003Leave Me Lonely
53
 
21 7Eliminated
250
Home (online)
1/11
In My Place0003In My Place
33
 
19 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.

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.