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Rickey Smith, Jr. (born May 10th, 1979 - May 6th, 2016) was a contestant on Season 2 of American Idol.

Audition[]

Ruben auditioned in Nashville. He sang "One Last Cry" by Brian McKnight. All three judges voted "yes", sending him to the next round.

Hollywood Round[]

Rickey was shown in a group with Ruben Studdard. He was also shown on the final day, with Juanita Barber assisting him on stage. Later, it was revealed he did enough to make the Top 32.

Top 32[]

Rickey performed in Group 3, he sang "One Last Cry" by Brian McKnight. He received enough votes to land in the Top 12.

Top 12[]

Rickey sang "1-2-3" by Len Barry. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for that week.

Top 11[]

Rickey sang "It Might Be You" by Stephen Bishop. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for that week.

Top 10[]

Rickey sang "I've Done Enough Dyin' Today" by Larry Gatlin. He was placed in the Bottom 3 for that week.

Top 8 (Week 1)[]

Rickey sang "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind & Fire. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for that week.

Top 8 (Week 2)[]

Rickey sang "Endless Love" by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. He was eliminated at this stage of the competition.

Death[]

On May 6th, 2016, Rickey was killed in a car crash. He is the second American Idol finalist to die after Michael Johns. Coincidentally, both Rickey and Michael placed eighth in their respective years.

Trivia[]

  • Rickey was the final televised audition of Season 2.
  • He is well-known for quoting "Hercules! Hercules!" while clapping his hands when he found out he made it to Hollywood, in reference to the 1996 film The Nutty Professor.
Season 2
Finalists
 ยทRuben Studdard ยทClay Aiken ยทKimberley Locke ยทJosh Gracin ยทTrenyce ยทCarmen Rasmusen ยทKimberly Caldwell ยทRickey Smith ยทCorey Clark ยทJulia DeMato ยทCharles Grigsby ยทVanessa Olivarez
Semifinalists
 ยทChip Days ยทNasheka Siddall โ€” ยทJ.D. Adams ยทJuanita Barber ยทRebecca Bond ยทSylvia Chibiliti ยทSamantha Cohen ยทCandice Coleman ยทEquoia Coleman ยทAliceyn Cooney ยทMeosha Denton ยทJanine Falsone ยทPatrick Fortson ยทJennifer Fuentes ยทLou Gazzara ยทHadas ยทAshley Hartman ยทKimberly Kelsey ยทPatrick Lake ยทOlivia Mojica ยทBettis Richardson ยทJordan Segundo ยทJacob John Smalley ยทGeorge Trice โ€“ ยทFrenchie Davis ยทJaered Andrews
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