Taylor Reuben Hicks (born October 7th, 1976) was a contestant on Season 5 of American Idol.
Audition[]
Taylor auditioned in Las Vegas. He sang "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. Although Simon voted "no", Randy and Paula voted "yes", sending him to the next round.
Hollywood Round[]
Taylor was shown in the first part of Hollywood Round, singing "The First Cut is the Deepest" by Sheryl Crow. After that, he was not shown on the third day briefly, singing Ain't No Sunshine by "Bil Withers. At the final deliberation, they told him he had made the Top 24.
Top 24[]
Taylor sang "Levon" by Elton John. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for that week.
Top 20[]
Taylor sang "Easy" by Commodores. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for that week.
Top 16[]
Taylor sang "Takin' It to the Streets" by The Doobie Brothers. He received enough votes to become a Top 12 finalist.
Top 12[]
Taylor sang "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder. He received enough votes to be "safe" for another week.
Top 11[]
Taylor sang "Not Fade Away" by The Crickets, ft. Buddy Holly. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for another week.
Top 10[]
Taylor sang "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for that week.
Top 9[]
Taylor sang "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for another week.
Top 8[]
Taylor sang "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for another week.
Top 7[]
Taylor sang "You Send Me" by Sam Cooke. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for that week.
Top 6[]
Taylor sang "Just Once" by James Ingram. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for another week.
Top 5[]
Taylor sang "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry and "Something" by The Beatles. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for another week.
Top 4[]
Taylor sang "Jailhouse Rock" and "In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for another week.
Top 3[]
Taylor sang "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen (as chosen by Clive Davis), "You Are so Beautiful" by Joe Cocker (as chosen by Randy Jackson) and "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding. He received enough votes to advance to the Finale.
Season 5 Finale[]
Taylor sang "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder, "Levon" by Elton John and "Do I Make You Proud". He received more votes than Katharine McPhee, making him the American Idol.
Trivia[]
- Taylor started going grey at age 15.
- He and Nick Fradiani are tied for being the oldest contestants to ever win American Idol, both doing so at age 29. He is also the oldest American Idol winner by date of birth (October 7th, 1976).
- He is the first Caucasian male American Idol winner.
- He and Rueban Studdard are the only American Idol winners born in the 1970s.
- He is the only American Idol winner that a judge (in this case, Simon Cowell) voted "no" to during their audition.
| Season 5 |
| Finalists |
| Taylor Hicks · Katharine McPhee · Elliott Yamin · Chris Daughtry · Paris Bennett · Kellie Pickler · Ace Young · Bucky Covington · Mandisa · Lisa Tucker · Kevin Covais · Melissa McGhee |
| Semifinalists |
| Gedeon McKinney · Ayla Brown · Will Makar · Kinnik Sky · Jose "Sway" Penala · David Radford · Heather Cox · Brenna Gethers · Patrick Hall · Stevie Scott · Bobby Bennett · Becky O'Donohue |