The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006. It remains the highest-rated season in the show's run so far. Two of the more prominent contestants during the Hollywood round were the Brittenum twins who were later disqualified for identity theft.
Taylor Hicks, season five winner
Chris Daughtry's performance of Fuel's "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" on the show was widely praised and led to an invitation to join the band as Fuel's new lead singer, an invitation he declined. His performance of Live's version of "I Walk the Line" was well-received by the judges but later criticized in some quarters for not crediting the arrangement to Live. He was eliminated at the top four in a shock result.
On May 30, 2006, Telescope announced that a total of 63.5 million votes were cast in the finale round. A total of 580 million votes were cast in the entire season. Taylor Hicks was named American Idol, with Katharine McPhee the runner-up. "Do I Make You Proud" was released as Taylor Hicks' first single and "My Destiny" Katharine McPhee's.
Despite being eliminated earlier than expected, Daughtry became the biggest star to emerge from this season. Many other contestants from this season, such as Kellie Pickler, Elliott Yamin, Bucky Covington, Mandisa, the winner Taylor Hicks and runner-up Katharine McPhee, also enjoyed varying level of success, and this season remains the most productive in the number of successful recording artists it generated.
Chris Daughtry's performance of Fuel's "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" on the show was widely praised and led to an invitation to join the band as Fuel's new lead singer, an invitation he declined. His performance of Live's version of "I Walk the Line" was well-received by the judges but later criticized in some quarters for not crediting the arrangement to Live. He was eliminated at the top four in a shock result.
On May 30, 2006, Telescope announced that a total of 63.5 million votes were cast in the finale round. A total of 580 million votes were cast in the entire season. Taylor Hicks was named American Idol, with Katharine McPhee the runner-up. "Do I Make You Proud" was released as Taylor Hicks' first single and "My Destiny" Katharine McPhee's.
Despite being eliminated earlier than expected, Daughtry became the biggest star to emerge from this season. Many other contestants from this season, such as Kellie Pickler, Elliott Yamin, Bucky Covington, Mandisa, the winner Taylor Hicks and runner-up Katharine McPhee, also enjoyed varying level of success, and this season remains the most productive in the number of successful recording artists it generated.