- For more on his biography/career, see Phillip Phillips/Personal.
Phillip LaDon Phillips, Jr. (born September 20, 1990)[1] was a contestant, and the eventual winner, on Season 11 of American Idol.
Audition[]
Phillip auditioned in Savannah. He sang "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder and "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. All three judges voted "yes", sending him to the next round.
Hollywood Round[]
Phillip was shown in the first part of Hollywood Week, in the same Lines of Ten as Reed Grimm and Travis Orlando, where he sang "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" by James Brown & The Famous Flames. He advanced, and was next shown in a group called 'M.I.T.' (acronym for: Most International Team) with Heejun Han, Richie Law, and Jairon Jackson, singing "Broken Strings" by James Morrison and Nelly Furtado. Despite a rocky performance, everyone in their group advanced. Phillip then sang "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak for his third round solo performance. Afterwards, he was placed in the second deliberation room, along with Reed Grimm, Jairon Jackson, Schyler Dixon, Hollie Cavanagh, Eben Franckewitz, Skylar Laine, Molly Hunt, Nick Boddington, Shannon Magrane, Wendy Taylor, Caleb Johnson, Chelsea Sorrell, Cari Quoyeser, Curtis Gray, Brielle Von Hugel, Ariel Sprague, Jeremy Rosado, Lauren Daigle, Ashley Robles, and Jessica Phillips, where it was revealed that everyone in the room had advanced.[2]
Las Vegas Round[]
For the 1950s stage, Phillip was shown in a group with Neco Starr, Jairon Jackson, and Heejun Han, singing "I Only Have Eyes for You" by The Flamingos. Initially, all four members of their group advanced. However, in a controversial decision, the judges rescinded several advancements, including Jairon's. For Phillip's final solo performance, he sang "Nice & Slow" by Usher. At the Final Judgment, the judges told him that he did enough to become a Top 25 finalist.
Top 25[]
Phillip sang "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins in the semifinals. He received enough votes to place amongst the Top 5 Boys, making him a Top 13 finalist.
Top 13[]
For the Stevie Wonder/Whitney Houston theme, Phillip reprised "Superstition" by Wonder. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 11[]
For the Year You Were Born theme, Phillip sang "Hard to Handle" by The Black Crowes. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 10[]
For the Billy Joel theme, Phillip sang "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)". On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 9[]
For the Personal Idols theme, Phillip sang "Still Rainin'" by his idol, Jonny Lang. He, Colton Dixon, and Elise Testone also performed a medley as a trio, in a tribute to Stevie Nicks (originally from Fleetwood Mac, who also served as guest mentor for that week), singing: "Landslide", "Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White-Winged Dove)", and "Don't Stop". On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 8[]
For the 1980s theme, Phillip sang "That's All" by Genesis. He also did a duet with Elise Testone, singing "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" by Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 7[]
For the 2010s theme, Phillip sang "Give a Little More" by Maroon 5. He also did another duet with Elise Testone, singing "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye ft. Kimbra. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week. Due to the Judges' Save being utilized on Jessica Sanchez, the Top 7 remained intact for another week.
Top 7 Redux[]
For the Now & Then theme, Phillip sang "U Got It Bad" by Usher, as his song for the former; and "In the Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett, as his song for the latter. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 6[]
For the Queen theme, Phillip sang "Fat-Bottomed Girls". For the free choice round, he sang "The Stone" by Dave Matthews Band. The Top 6 also performed a medley of Queen hits with Brian May and Roger Taylor. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 5[]
For the 1960s theme, Phillip sang "The Letter" by The Box Tops. For the British Pop theme, he sang "Time of the Season" by The Zombies. Phillip also did a duet with Joshua Ledet, singing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 4[]
For the California Music theme, Phillip sang "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. For the Songs They Wish They'd Written theme, he sang "Volcano" by Damien Rice. Phillip also did another duet with Joshua Ledet, singing "This Love" by Maroon 5. And the entire Top 4 (also including Jessica Sanchez and Hollie Cavanagh) performed as a quartet, singing "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 3[]
For the Judges' Choice round, Phillip sang "Beggin'" by Madcon (originally by Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons; as selected by Steven Tyler). For the Contestant's Choice round, he sang "Disease" by Matchbox Twenty. For the Mentor's Choice round, Jimmy Iovine selected "We've Got Tonite" by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band for Phillip. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America, and earned a spot in the Season 11 Grand Finale.
Season 11 Finale[]
For Phillip's Round 1 performance, Simon Fuller chose "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King. For Round 2, Phillip chose to reprise his Billy Joel week song choice, "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)". For Round 3, Phillip was given a list of available coronation singles. He chose "Home", which he performed for the first time that night. The following night, after 132 million votes were cast, Phillip Phillips was declared the winner of American Idol Season 11 over runner-up Jessica Sanchez, and sung an encore performance of "Home".
List of Performances[]
| Stage | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | "Superstition" | Stevie Wonder | Advanced |
| "Thriller" | Michael Jackson | ||
| Hollywood | "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" | James Brown & The Famous Flames |
Advanced |
| "Broken Strings" (w/ Jairon Jackson, Heejun Han, & Richie Law) |
James Morrison (ft. Nelly Furtado) |
Advanced | |
| "Wicked Game" | Chris Isaak | Advanced | |
| Las Vegas | "I Only Have Eyes for You" (w/ Neco Starr, Jairon Jackson, & Heejun Han) |
The Flamingos | Advanced |
| Final Judgment | "Nice & Slow" | Usher | Top 25 |
| Top 25 (Boys) | "In the Air Tonight" | Phil Collins | Top 13 |
| Top 13 | "Superstition" | Stevie Wonder | Safe |
| Top 11 | "Hard to Handle" | The Black Crowes | Safe |
| Top 10 | "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" | Billy Joel | Safe |
| Top 9 | "Landslide" / "Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White-Winged Dove)" / "Don't Stop" [medley] (w/ Colton Dixon & Elise Testone) |
Stevie Nicks / Fleetwood Mac |
Safe |
| "Still Rainin'" | Jonny Lang | ||
| Top 8 | "That's All" | Genesis | Safe |
| "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (w/ Elise Testone) |
Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | ||
| Top 7A | "Somebody That I Used to Know" (w/ Elise Testone) |
Gotye (ft. Kimbra) | Safe |
| "Give a Little More" | Maroon 5 | ||
| Top 7B | "U Got It Bad" | Usher | Safe |
| "In the Midnight Hour" | Wilson Pickett | ||
| Top 6 | "Fat-Bottomed Girls" / "Another One Bites the Dust" / "We Will Rock You" / "We Are the Champions" [medley] (w/ Jessica Sanchez, Hollie Cavanagh, Skylar Laine, Joshua Ledet, & Elise Testone) |
Queen | Safe |
| "Fat-Bottomed Girls" | |||
| "The Stone" | Dave Matthews Band | ||
| Top 5 | "The Letter" | The Box Tops | Safe |
| "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (w/ Joshua Ledet) |
The Righteous Brothers | ||
| "Time of the Season" | The Zombies | ||
| Top 4 | "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" | Creedence Clearwater Revival |
Safe |
| "This Love" (w/ Joshua Ledet) | Maroon 5 | ||
| "Waiting for a Girl Like You" (w/ Joshua Ledet, Jessica Sanchez, & Hollie Cavanagh) |
Foreigner | ||
| "Volcano" | Damien Rice | ||
| Top 3 | "Beggin'" | Madcon | Safe |
| "Disease" | Matchbox Twenty | ||
| "We've Got Tonite" | Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band | ||
| Final 2 | "Stand by Me" | Ben E. King | WINNER |
| "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" | Billy Joel | ||
| "Home" | Phillip Phillips |
Trivia[]
- Phillip served as a mentor for Season 21's Hollywood Round, alongside Catie Turner in the "Songwriting" category.[3][4]
- Throughout his Idol tenure, Phillip underwent eight procedures for kidney stones and contemplated quitting the competition due to the pain.[5][6][7]
- Phillip's coronation single, "Home", debuted at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100,[8] and subsequently became the best-selling Idol alum song with over 5 million copies sold in the USA.[9] It was even adopted by NBC for use during the 2012 Summer Olympics, causing a further resurgence in sales.[10]
Quick Links[]
- Phillip Phillips – Website
- Phillip Phillips on Apple Music
- Phillip Phillips on Facebook
- Phillip Phillips on Instagram
- Phillip Phillips on Spotify
- Phillip Phillips on TikTok
- Phillip Phillips on Twitter (X)
- Phillip Phillips on YouTube [Videos]
| Season 11 |
| Finalists |
| ·Phillip Phillips ·Jessica Sanchez ·Joshua Ledet ·Hollie Cavanagh ·Skylar Laine ·Elise Testone ·Colton Dixon ·DeAndre Brackensick ·Heejun Han ·Erika Van Pelt ·Shannon Magrane ·Jermaine Jones ·Jeremy Rosado |
| Semifinalists |
| ·Reed Grimm ·Jen Hirsh ·Brielle Von Hugel —— ·Adam Brock ·Baylie Brown ·Hallie Day ·Creighton Fraker ·Eben Franckewitz ·Haley Johnsen ·Chase Likens ·Aaron Marcellus ·Chelsea Sorrell |
References[]
- ↑ https://www.phillphill.com/biography-old/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCXpvtBPsvY
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/lists/american-idol-mentors-season-21-interviews/
- ↑ https://parade.com/tv/american-idol-2023-changes-hollywood-week-mentors
- ↑ https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/03/report-american-idol-contestant-phil-phillips-rushed-to-hospital/
- ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/reality-rocks/phillip-phillips-comes-hiding-rocks-yahoo-music-214420559.html
- ↑ https://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2012/05/surgery-wont-affect-idols-tour-phillips-says/1
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/pro/phillip-phillips-storms-hot-100s-top-10-gotye-has-years-longest-running-no-1/
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/american-idol-final-season-cut-four-weeks-short-6805220/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120813043123/http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/08/09/how-phillip-phillips-home-was-chosen-for-olympics/