The second season of American Idol premiered on January 21, 2003 and continued until May 21, 2003. It was the first season hosted by Ryan Seacrest exclusively. Brian Dunkleman reportedly hated working on the show and the studio was dissatisfied with his performance. Kristin Holt was a special correspondent, after being fired as a co-host. Angie Martinez, from NYC's Hot 97.1 FM, was also hired to be a fourth judge, but wound up quitting not long afterward.
It was won by Ruben Studdard. It was the first season to crown a male winner, and the first season to have a finale with two male contestants, being followed by the Season 7 with David Cook and David Archuleta; Season 8 with Kris Allen and Adam Lambert; and Season 14 with Nick Fradiani and Clark Beckham. Subsequent occurrences in the ABC era have always yielded a 2:1 gender ratio.
Auditions[]
- Main article: Season 2 Auditions
Auditions were held in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, Atlanta, Nashville, and Austin in the fall of 2002.
At the Miami auditions, a young man named Edgar Nova auditioned with an off-key and lyrically incorrect rendition of Enrique Iglesias' "My Love." None of the judges put him through to the Hollywood round. Instead of leaving the audition venue, Nova re-entered the line, telling other hopefuls that the judges had asked him to do so. Security was eventually called to escort him from the premises. Nova then flew at his own expense to Los Angeles to attend the auditions there. Sporting a different hairstyle than he had in Miami, he hoped that the judges would not recognize him from before. His ruse was a failure, but the judges allowed him to try out one more time. Nova's audition was again unsuccessful. He would resurface during Season 3 with yet another unsuccessful audition (which was not televised). Simon Cowell did, however, compliment him on his tenacity. Nova tried to enter yet another audition venue during Season 4, but security staff was shown advancing on him in a stairwell, causing him to leave hurriedly.
Another auditioner named Bryan Washington auditioned in Atlanta, Georgia, and made it to Hollywood, but did not make it into the top 32. He is now too old to audition, at the age of 29. He was also overweight at the time of his American Idol audition, which is why he would later be a contestant on The Biggest Loser (Season 4.)
Hollywood[]
The contestants performed in a series of rounds and number of contestants trimmed in each round. In the first round they performed a song, in the second round they were asked to compose a melody for one of five set of lyrics, and 80 remained after this round. In the third round the contestants were separate into the girls and boys and they performed in small groups. They chose a song from "Superstar", Seal's "Kiss from a Rose", Barry Manilow's "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again", Freda Payne's "Band of Gold", and Dionne Warwick's "(You'll Never Get to Heaven) If You Break My Heart". During the group performance, Corey Clark, who was later to claim a relationship with Paula Abdul, sang to Paula directly and kissed her hand. 48 contestants were left at the end of this round. In the last round each contestants performed solo. After their performances, the contestants were then divided into 3 group of 16 and placed in separate rooms. One group was eliminated, and 32 contestants proceeded on to the semi-final rounds.
Semi-Finals[]
The format changed slightly in Season 2; instead of three groups of 10, the semi-finalists were grouped into four groups of 8.
Wild Card Round[]
After 8 singers advanced on to the Top 12, nine contestants were chosen by the judges to compete in the Wild|}
Wild Card Round[]
After 8 singers advanced on to the Top 12, nine contestants were chosen by the judges to compete in the Wild Card Round. The nine competing were Kimberly Caldwell, Clay Aiken, Nasheka Siddall, Carmen Rasmusen, Olivia Mojica, Janine Falsone, Chip Days, Aliceyn Cooney & Trenyce. In the end the Judges chose Caldwell, Rasmusen and Trenyce to continue on in the competition as of Aiken was chosen by public vote.
Top 12[]
The following contestants were Season 2's Top 12
Finals[]
Top 12 perform[]
During the first round of the finals, the Top 12 performed a song from the Motor City for a spot in the Top 11.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Vanessa Olivarez was the first contestant to be eliminated on March 12, 2003, bringing the total down to 11 remaining contestants.
Top 11[]
The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the Top 11.
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Performances[]
The contestants performed in the following order:
- Kimberley Locke - "(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave" by Martha and the Vandellas
- Josh Gracin - "Baby I Need Your Loving" by The Four Tops
- Charles Grigsby - "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" by Marvin Gaye
- Kimberly Caldwell - "Nowhere to Run" by Martha and the Vandellas
- Rickey Smith - "1-2-3" by Len Barry
- Julia DeMato - "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Supremes
- Clay Aiken - "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" by The Four Tops
- Vanessa Olivarez - "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by The Supremes
- Corey Clark - "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" by The Isley Brothers
- Carmen Rasmusen - "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes
- Trenyce - "Come See About Me" by The Supremes
- Ruben Studdard - "Baby I Need Your Loving" by The Four Tops
Group performance:
- "(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave" by Martha and the Vandellas
Top 11 perform[]
During the first round of the finals, the Top 10 performed a song from the soundtrack of a movie for a spot in the Top 10.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Charles Grigsby was the second contestant to be eliminated on March 19, 2003, bringing the total down to 10 remaining contestants.
Top 10[]
The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the Top 10.
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Performances[]
The contestants performed in the following order:
- Corey Clark - "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" by Phil Collins (Against All Odds)
- Ruben Studdard - "A Whole New World" by Brad Kane & Lea Salonga (Aladdin)
- Trenyce - "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard)
- Clay Aiken - "Somewhere Out There" by Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram (An American Tail)
- Kimberly Caldwell - "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" by Betty Everett (Mermaids)
- Josh Gracin - "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith (Armageddon)
- Carmen Rasmusen - "Hopelessly Devoted to You" by Olivia Newton-John (Grease)
- Charles Grigsby - "You Can't Win" by Michael Jackson (The Wiz)
- Rickey Smith - "It Might Be You" by Stephen Bishop (Tootsie)
- Julia DeMato - "Flashdance... What a Feeling" by Irene Cara (Flashdance)
- Kimberley Locke - "Home" by Stephanie Mills (The Wiz)
Group performance:
- "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins
- "(I've Had) the Time of My Life" by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
Top 10 perform[]
During this round of the finals, the Top 10 performed a Country Rock song for a spot in the Top 9.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Julia DeMato was the eliminated contestant on March 26, 2003, bringing the total down to 9 remaining contestants.
Top 9[]
The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the Top 9.
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Performances[]
The contestants performed in the following order:
- Josh Gracin - "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til The Sun Comes Up)" by Garth Brooks
- Trenyce - "I Need You" by LeAnn Rimes
- Kimberley Locke - "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt
- Corey Clark - "Drift Away" by John Henry Kurtz
- Carmen Rasmusen - "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride
- Rickey Smith - "I've Done Enough Dyin' Today" by Larry Gatlin
- Kimberly Caldwell - "Anymore" by Travis Tritt
- Ruben Studdard - "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Julia DeMato - "Breathe" by Faith Hill
- Clay Aiken - "Someone Else's Star" by Davis Daniel
Group performance:
- "Where the Blacktop Ends" (Keith Urban)
- "God Bless the USA" (Lee Greenwood)
Top 9 perform[]
During this round of the finals, the Top 9 performed a song from Disco music for a spot in the Top 8.
Disqualified Contestant[]
Corey Clark was disqualified from the competition after being discovered that he had undisclosed pending criminal charges. Due to his disqualification, the total was brought down to the Top 8 instead of the Top 9.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Prior to Clark's disqualification, it was never revealed whether Trenyce or Rasmusen had received the lowest amount of votes that week and so both were declared safe.
Top 8[]
The following contestants were safe from that round.
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Performances[]
The contestants performed in the following order:
- Rickey Smith - "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind & Fire
- Carmen Rasmusen - "Turn the Beat Around" by Vicki Sue Robinson
- Kimberly Caldwell - "Knock on Wood" by Eddie Floyd
- Clay Aiken - "Everlasting Love" by Robert Knight
- Trenyce - "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan
- Ruben Studdard - "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" by Barry White
- Kimberley Locke - "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls
- Josh Gracin - "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang
Group performance:
- "A Night to Remember" by Shalamar
- "Boogie Wonderland" by Earth, Wind & Fire and The Emotions
Top 8 perform (redux)[]
During this round of the finals, the Top 8 performed a song from Billboard Number Onesfor a spot in the Top 7.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Rickey Smith was the eliminated contestant on April 9, 2003, bringing the total down to 7 remaining contestants.
Top 7[]
The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the Top 7.
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Performances[]
The contestants performed in the following order:
- Clay Aiken - "At This Moment" by Billy Vera
- Kimberley Locke - "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion
- Rickey Smith - "Endless Love" by Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
- Kimberly Caldwell - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" by Bryan Adams
- Josh Gracin - "Amazed" by Lonestar
- Carmen Rasmusen - "Call Me" by Blondie
- Trenyce - "The Power of Love" by Jennifer Rush
- Ruben Studdard - "Kiss and Say Goodbye" by The Manhattans
Group performance:
- "All Night Long (All Night)" by Lionel Richie
Top 7 perform[]
During this round of the finals, the Top 7 performed a song from Billy Joel for a spot in the Top 6.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Kimberly Caldwell was the eliminated contestant on April 16, 2003, bringing the total down to 6 remaining contestants.
Top 6[]
The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the Top 6.
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Performances[]
The contestants performed in the following order:
- Kimberly Caldwell - "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
- Ruben Studdard - "Just the Way You Are"
- Kimberley Locke - "New York State of Mind"
- Carmen Rasmusen - "And So It Goes"
- Josh Gracin - "Piano Man"
- Trenyce - "Baby Grand"
- Clay Aiken - "Tell Her About It"
Group performance:
- "The Longest Time" by Billy Joel
- "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood
Top 6 perform[]
During this round of the finals, the Top 6 performed a song written by Diane Warren for a spot in the Top 5.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Carmen Rasmusen was the eliminated contestant on April 23, 2003, bringing the total down to 5 remaining contestants.
Top 5[]
The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the Top 5.
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Performances[]
The contestants performed in the following order:
- Kimberley Locke - "If You Asked Me To" by Patti LaBelle
- Clay Aiken - "I Could Not Ask for More" by Edwin McCain
- Trenyce - "Have You Ever?" by Brandy
- Josh Gracin - "That's When I'll Stop Loving You" by 'N Sync
- Carmen Rasmusen - "Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne
- Ruben Studdard - "Music of My Heart" by 'N Sync and Gloria Estefan
Group performance:
- "Shine" by Ashanti
Top 5 perform[]
During this round of the Finals, the Top 5 contestants performed a song from the year 1960 and a song from Neil Sedaka for a spot in the Top 4.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Trenyce was the eliminated contestant on April 30, 2003, bringing the total down to 4 remaining contestants.
Top 4[]
The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the Top 4.
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Performances[]
The contestants performed in the following order:
- Ruben Studdard - "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations
- Trenyce - "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Josh Gracin - "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" by Don Cherry
- Kimberley Locke - "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by The Miracles
- Clay Aiken - "Build Me Up Buttercup" by The Foundations
- Ruben Studdard - "Breaking Up is Hard to Do"
- Trenyce - "Love Will Keep Us Together"
- Josh Gracin - "Bad Blood"
- Kimberley Locke - "Where the Boys Are"
- Clay Aiken - "Solitaire"
Group Performances:
- Top 5 - 1960's medley
- Top 9 - "What the World Needs Now Is Love" by Jackie DeShannon
Top 4 perform[]
During this round of the Finals, each contestant will perform two songs from Bee Gees for a spot in the Top 3.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Josh Gracin was the eliminated contestant on May 7, 2003, bringing the total down to 3 remaining contestants.
Top 3[]
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Performances[]
The contestants performed in the following order:
- Josh Gracin - "Jive Talkin'"
- Clay Aiken - "To Love Somebody"
- Kimberley Locke - "I Just Want to Be Your Everything"
- Ruben Studdard - "Nights on Broadway"
- Josh Gracin - "To Love Somebody"
- Clay Aiken - "Grease"
- Kimberley Locke - "Emotion"
- Ruben Studdard - "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"
Group performance:
- Bee Gees medley
Top 3 perform[]
During this round of the finals, the Top 3 performed a song picked by the producers randomly, a song picked by the judges and a song of their choice for a spot in the Top 2.
Eliminated Contestant[]
Kimberley Locke was the eliminated contestant on May 14, 2003, bringing the total down to 2 remaining contestants.
Top 2[]
The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the Top 2.
Performances[]
(The first round of performances were chosen by the producers randomly, the second round were chosen by the judges and the final round was the contestant's choice). The contestants performed in the following order:
- Kimberley Locke - "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne
- Ruben Studdard - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" by Stevie Wonder
- Clay Aiken - "Vincent" by Don McLean
- Kimberley Locke - "Anyone Who Had a Heart" by Dionne Warwick (chosen by Randy Jackson)
- Ruben Studdard - "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin (chosen by Simon Cowell)
- Clay Aiken - "Mack the Knife" by Louis Armstrong (chosen by Paula Abdul)
- Kimberley Locke - "Inseparable" by Natalie Cole
- Ruben Studdard - "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" by Peabo Bryson
- Clay Aiken - "Unchained Melody" by Todd Duncan
Group performance:
- "Up Where We Belong" by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes, "Reunited" by Peaches & Herb and "Solid" by Ashford & Simpson
Top 2 perform[]
During the final round of the finals, the Top 2 performed four songs of their choice and their first winning single for a spot as Season 2's American Idol.
Runner-up[]
Clay Aiken was the runner-up of Season 2. Ruben Studdard being the winner.
Performances[]
(The first and second performance were two songs from their favorite performances, the last was their winner single). The contestants performed in the following order:
- Ruben Studdard - "A House is Not a Home" by Dionne Warwick
- Clay Aiken - "This is The Night"
- Ruben Studdard - "Imagine" by John Lennon
- Clay Aiken - "Here, There and Everywhere" by The Beatles
- Ruben Studdard - "Flying Without Wings" by Westlife
- Clay Aiken - "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel
Winner[]
Ruben Studdard was the winner of American Idol Season 2 on May 21, 2003.
Controversies[]
Finals Voting[]
This time, Ruben Studdard emerged as the winner with Clay Aiken as a very close runner-up. Out of 24 million votes recorded, Studdard finished just 130,000 votes ahead of Aiken. The accuracy of the reported results remains very controversial. There was much discussion in the communications industry about the phone system being overloaded, and that more than 150 million votes were dropped, making the voting results suspect. Since then the voting methods have been modified to help avoid this problem though many have complained that it may have made things worse. In an interview prior to the start of season 5, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe revealed for the first time that Aiken had led the fan voting from the wild card week onward until the finale. Despite Studdard's win, Aiken has enjoyed more widespread popularity, emerging as the season's true breakout star.
A mini-controversy emerged after the finale when Simon Cowell alleged that Clay Aiken knew the results of the show nearly an hour before they were announced on-air because he had sneaked a peek at Ryan Seacrest's handheld cue card backstage. On Larry King Live the next day, Aiken admitted he had indeed seen the card but could not read it in the backstage light; however, he had seen enough to determine that the name on it was too long to be "Clay Aiken". On the live broadcast, Aiken can be seen turning his body to face Studdard and whispering something in his ear right before the results were announced, a visual clue fans took as confirmation that Aiken had somehow found out he was not the winner.
During the course of the contest, Ruben became known for wearing 205 Flava jerseys representing his area code; when asked about them early in the season, Ruben told Ryan Seacrest that he was "just representing 205". Shortly after the end of the contest, Ruben sued 205 Flava, Inc. for $2 Million dollars for using his image for promotional purposes. 205 Flava responded by alleging that Ruben had accepted over $10,000 in return for wearing 205 shirts, and produced 8 cashed checks to validate their claim. The allegations, if true, were a clear violation of the American Idol rules. The lawsuit was settled out of court.
Corey Clark allegations[]
The rumor mills were buzzing once again in 2005 when Season Two contestant Corey Clark -- who was himself kicked off the show because of a police record he had not disclosed to the show -- alleged that he had had an affair with judge Paula Abdul. Clark also alleged that Abdul gave him preferential treatment on the show because of their alleged romance. A subsequent investigation by Fox found no evidence to support Clark's charges.
Notable past Idol contestants[]
- Frenchie Davis, who had auditioned in New York City, made it all the way to the top 32 but was disqualified when nude photos of her taken when she was 19 were revealed by the Smoking Gun website. In 2011, she auditioned for season 1 of the NBC show The Voice and finished in 5th place with pop superstar Christina Aguilera as her mentor.
- Rhian and Cara Morgan aka The Morgan Twins, who both auditioned for season 2, were cut in Hollywood week. In 2013, they auditioned for season 4 of The Voice with Blake Shelton as their mentor but were eliminated in the Battle Rounds.
- Patrique Fortson, who was eliminated in the semifinals, later tried out for season 15 of The Voice where he was eliminated in the Live Playoffs. He was mentored by season 3 Idol alum Jennifer Hudson.
- Coffey Anderson, who was cut in Hollywood week, later auditioned for the fourth season of Nashville Star, finishing fourth. He has since released many country albums, with 2022's "Mr. Red White and Blue" going viral.
- Katherine Edmonson, who was cut in Hollywood week, was later signed by Sony Music and has released numerous jazz and traditional pop albums under the name Kat Edmonson, with significant success.