The sixth season began on Tuesday, January 16, 2007. The premiere episode of the season drew a massive audience of 37.3 million viewers, peaking in the last half hour with more than 41 million viewers.
Jordin Sparks, season six winner
Teenager Sanjaya Malakar was the season's most talked-about American Idol contestant,as a weak singer who managed to survive elimination for many weeks, as well as for his widely commented-on hairdo. The weblog Vote for the Worst and satellite radio personality Howard Stern both encouraged fans to vote for Sanjaya. However, on April 18, after over 38 million votes, Sanjaya was voted off. Semi-finalist Antonella Barba also drew some attention due to racy photographs of her which emerged during the show.
This year saw the first ever Idol Gives Back telethon-inspired event, which raised more than $76 million in corporate and viewer donations. No contestant was eliminated that week, but two, Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson, were eliminated the next. Melinda Doolittle, an early favorite, was eliminated on top three.
Jordin Sparks was declared the winner on May 23, 2007, with a new record of 74 million votes in the finale against runner-up Blake Lewis. Sparks has enjoyed some success as a recording artist post-Idol.
This year saw the launch of the American Idol Songwriter contest which allowed fans to vote for the "coronation song". Thousands of recordings of original songs were submitted by songwriters, and 20 entries selected for the public vote. The winning song, "This Is My Now", was performed by both finalists during the finale and released by the winner Jordin Sparks on May 24, 2007.
Teenager Sanjaya Malakar was the season's most talked-about American Idol contestant,as a weak singer who managed to survive elimination for many weeks, as well as for his widely commented-on hairdo. The weblog Vote for the Worst and satellite radio personality Howard Stern both encouraged fans to vote for Sanjaya. However, on April 18, after over 38 million votes, Sanjaya was voted off. Semi-finalist Antonella Barba also drew some attention due to racy photographs of her which emerged during the show.
This year saw the first ever Idol Gives Back telethon-inspired event, which raised more than $76 million in corporate and viewer donations. No contestant was eliminated that week, but two, Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson, were eliminated the next. Melinda Doolittle, an early favorite, was eliminated on top three.
Jordin Sparks was declared the winner on May 23, 2007, with a new record of 74 million votes in the finale against runner-up Blake Lewis. Sparks has enjoyed some success as a recording artist post-Idol.
This year saw the launch of the American Idol Songwriter contest which allowed fans to vote for the "coronation song". Thousands of recordings of original songs were submitted by songwriters, and 20 entries selected for the public vote. The winning song, "This Is My Now", was performed by both finalists during the finale and released by the winner Jordin Sparks on May 24, 2007.