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The setting was beautiful Churchill Downs, and the Louisville hopefuls chose some great songs to boot. See below for a complete list of songs by contestants and heard in the background during the show:
Title: Take A Bow
Artist Version: Rihanna
Contestant: OBIAMUJU OMWURAH

Title: Put Your Records On
Artist Version: Corinne Bailey
Contestant: FELICIA BARTON

Title: Blue Grass
Artist Version: Kay Starr
Contestant: n/a

Title: Kentucky Jelly
Artist Version: Brad Paisley
Contestant: n/a

Title: Call To The Post
Artist Version: Phil Thomas & Steve Buttleman
Contestant: n/a

Title: Hero
Artist Version: Mariah Carey
Contestant: TIFFANY SHEDD

Title: Because of You
Artist Version: Kelly Clarkson
Contestant: TIFFANY SHEDD

Title: We Belong
Artist Version: Pat Benatar
Contestant: JOANNA PACITTI

Title: Keep Holding On
Artist Version: Avril Lavigne
Contestant: JOANNA PACITTI

Title: Respect
Artist Version: Aretha Franklin
Contestant: n/a

Title: Bad Luck
Artist Version: Thom Shephard
Contestant: MARK MUD

Title: White Lightning
Artist Version: George Jones
Contestant: MARK MUD

Title: Can’t Get Enough
Artist Version: Bad Company
Contestant: BRENT KEITH

Title: The Adventure
Artist Version: Angels and Airwaves
Contestant: BRENT KEITH

Title: Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Artist Version: Judy Garland
Contestant: IRENE ANGUELOBA

Title: Take A Bow
Artist Version: Rihanna
Contestant: OBIAMUJU OMWURAH

Title: Tainted Love
Artist Version: Soft Cell
Contestant: WIL HEUSER

Title: Mr. Zebra
Artist Version: Tori Amos
Contestant: RYAN BENNINGFIELD

Title: Billy Jean
Artist Version: Michael Jackson
Contestant: PATRICK WARNER

Title: I Don’t Wanna Be
Artist Version: Gavin DeGraw
Contestant: MATT GIRAUD

Title: Best Days
Artist Version: Graham Colton
Contestant: MATT GIRAUD

Title: Cara Mia
Artist Version: Jay and the Americans
Contestant: ROSS PLAVSIK

Title: Love Me Tender
Artist Version: Elvis
Contestant: ROSS PLAVSIK

Title: Just Once
Artist Version: James Ingram
Contestant: ROSS PLAVSIK

Title: Shout
Artist Version: Isley Brothers
Contestant: n/a

Title: Dr. Feelgood
Artist Version: Aretha Franklin
Contestant: ALEXIS GRACE

Title: Walking in Memphis
Artist Version: Marc Cohn
Contestant: n/a

Title: Dr. Feelgood
Artist Version: Aretha Franklin
Contestant: ALEXIS GRACE

Title: So Small
Artist Version: Carrie Underwood
Contestant: n/a

Title: Tired
Artist Version: Adele
Contestant: SEGMENT SONG

Title: Have You Ever Seen The Rain
Artist Version: Creedence Clearwater
Contestant: AARON WILLIAMSON

Title: Before He Cheats
Artist Version: Carrie Underwood
Contestant: REBECCA GARCIA

Title: A Song For You
Artist Version: Donny Hathaway
Contestant: KRIS ALLEN

Title: Change Is Gonna Come
Artist Version: Sam Cooke
Contestant: RYAN JOHNSON

Title: I’ve Got The World On A String
Artist Version: Frank Sinatra
Contestant: SHERA LAWRENCE

Title: Breakaway
Artist Version: Kelly Clarkson
Contestant: LENESHE YOUNG

Title: Go The Distance
Artist Version: Michael Bolton
Contestant: n/a

People made some stellar song choices in the City by the Bay. American Idol also chose some songs to suit the mood of the show as well. Check out the list below for all the songs from the San Francisco Audition show:
Title: Somebody To Love
Artist Version: Jefferson Airplane
Contestant: n/a

Title: I Never Loved A Man
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Contestant: TATIANA NICOLE DEL TORO

Title: I’m Your Baby Tonight
Artist Version: Whitney Houston
Contestant: TATIANA NICOLE DEL TORO

Title: Vogue
Artist Version: Madonna
Contestant: n/a

Title: Stars
Artist Version: Simply Red
Contestant: DEAN-ANTHONY BRADFORD

Title: Nice And Slow
Artist Version: Usher
Contestant: JESUS VALENZUELA

Title: Unchained Melody
Artist Version: Righteous Brothers
Contestant: JESUS VALENZUELA

Title: You Found Me
Artist Version: The Fray
Contestant: JESUS VALENZUELA

Title: Bohemian Rhapsody
Artist Version: Queen
Contestant: ADAM LAMBERT

Title: You Are My Sunshine
Artist Version: YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
Contestant: in line

Title: Ooo Baby Baby
Artist Version: Smokey Robinson
Contestant: DALTON POWELL

Title: San Francisco (Flowers In Your Hair)
Artist Version: Scott McKenzie
Contestant: n/a
Title: War
Artist Version: Edwin Starr
Contestant: Simon/Kara BGrnd

Title: Weird Science
Artist Version: Oingo Boingo
Contestant: AKILAH ASKEW-GHOLSTON

Title: Natural Woman
Artist Version: Aretha Franklin
Contestant: AKILAH ASKEW-GHOLSTON

Title: Overjoyed
Artist Version: Stevie Wonder
Contestant: JOHN TWIFORD

Title: Son Of A Preacher Man
Artist: Dusty Springfield
Contestant: SARAH “RAQUEL” HOUGHTON

Title: Summertime
Artist Version: Ella Fitzgerald
Contestant: ANNIE MURDOCH

Title: Viva La Vida
Artist Version: Coldplay
Contestant: ADAM LAMBERT

Title: Over The Rainbow
Artist Version: Kamakawiwo’Ole
Contestant: KAI KALAMA

Title: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Artist Version: The Platters
Contestant: KAI KALAMA

Title: I Can Only Imagine
Artist Version: Mercy Me
Contestant: KAI KALAMA

Title: Dance With Me
Artist Version: The Sounds
Contestant: n/a

While Phil Stacey seemed to come into his own at the end of season six with some great country music numbers, he is taking on a new genre of music these days. The Idol Chatter blogger from USAToday.com spoke with Phil the other day, and this is what he had to say about his new focus:
‘”I didn’t know if I was even going with a label again. I started booking some services at church, and I realized how much I enjoy singing Christian music.”‘
Phil has recently been signed with Christian label Reunion Records. The label apparently took notice of Phil last September, when he appeared at a tribute concert for Michael W. Smith in Nashville.
Phil is currently in the studio with highly respected producer Brown Bannister, who has also worked with Amy Grant and fellow Idol Mandisa. While collaborating with others on some of the songwriting, Phil has actually written several songs on his own. Although it’s not official, Phil is hoping for a summer release date.
Mandisa isn’t the only Idol with whom Phil has ties these days. He has also been doing some writing with fellow season six finalist Chris Sligh:
‘”I’ve always known Chris was a great writer,” he says. “He’s like a brother to me so any time I’m going to write with him is a benefit.”‘
One thing Phil didn’t really showcase in front of the judges was his great sense of humor. Check out our interview with him, as he talks about his first album, and offers some funny advice for future hopefuls.

Whether it was a song from an auditioner or one you heard in the background, you surely found yourself tapping your toe to at least one of the songs from the Kansas City audition show. Check out the titles, artists, and contestants listed below:

Title: Kansas City
Artist Version: Fats Domino
Contestant: n/a
Title:Black and White Town
Artist Version: The Doves
Contestant: n/a
Title: Without You
Artist Version: Mariah Carey
Contestant: CHELSEA MARQUARDT
Title: Footprints in the Sand
Artist Version: Leona Lewis
Contestant: ASHLEY ANDERSON
Title: Love Song
Artist Version: Sara Bareilles
Contestant: ASHLEY ANDERSON
Title: Kansas City
Artist Version: Lee Dixon
Contestant: n/a
Title: A Thousand Miles
Artist Version: Vanessa Carlton
Contestant: Casey Carlson
Title: Think
Artist Version: Aretha Franklin
Contestant: Brian Hettler
Title: You Raise Me Up
Artist Version: Josh Groban
Contestant: Brian Hettler
Title: Billy Jean
Artist Version: Michael Jackson
Contestant: David Cook
Title: When You Say Nothing At All
Artist Version: Alison Krauss
Contestant: James Michael
Title: Reflection
Artist Version: Christina Aguilera
Contestant: Billy Vinson
Title: You’re Still You
Artist Version: Josh Groban
Contestant: Chris Jones
Title: Amazing Grace
Artist Version: traditional
Contestant: Deandre Hopkins
Title: Sir Duke
Artist Version: Stevie Wonder
Contestant: Von Smith
Title: Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Artist Version: Judy Garland
Contestant: Von Smith
Title: In Love With A Girl
Artist Version: Gavin DeGraw
Contestant: Michael Castro
Title: The Banana Man
Artist Version: Tally Hall
Contestant: Vaughn English
Title: Ain’t No Sunshine
Artist Version: Bill Withers
Contestant: Matt Breitzke
Title: Feels Like Tonight
Artist Version: Chris Daughtry
Contestant: Matt Breitzke
Title: Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Artist Version: Judy Garland
Contestant: Jasmine Joseph
Title: If I Only Had A Brain
Artist Version: Wizard of Oz-Karaoke Version
Contestant: n/a
Title: Cry Baby
Artist Version: Janis Joplin
Contestant: Jessica Furney
Title: You And Me
Artist Version: Lifehouse
Contestant: Jessica Furney
Title:Push It
Artist Version: Salt N Peppa
Contestant: India/Asia Morrison
Title: California Dreamin’
Artist Version:Mamas and the Papas
Contestant: Jamar Rogers
Title: Train from Kansas City
Artist Version: Neko Case
Contestant: Jamar and Danny
Title: Hometown Glory
Artist Version: Adele
Contestant: Danny Gokey
Title: Heard It Through The Grapevine
Artist Version: Marvin Gaye
Contestant: Danny Gokey
Title: I’ll Be Seeing You
Artist Version: Billie Holiday
Contestant: n/a
Title: My All
Artist Version: Mariah Carey
Contestant: Jenna Gardner
Title: You Ain’t Woman Enough
Artist Version: Loretta Lynn
Contestant: Melissa Stark
Title: Thank You
Artist Version: Boyz II Men
Contestant: Anoop Desai
Title: Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours (Motown Remixed
Artist Version: Stevie Wonder
Contestant: n/a
Title: You Gotta Get A Gimmick
Artist Version: 2008 Broadway Cast Reporting
Contestant: n/a
Title: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Artist Version: traditional
Contestant: Andrew Lang
Title: Ain’t Too Proud To Beg
Artist Version: The Temptations
Contestant: Andrew Lang
Title: My Girl
Artist Version: The Temptations
Contestant: Andrew Lang
Title: The Way You Make Me Feel
Artist Version: Michael Jackson
Contestant: Asa Barnes
Title: A Movie Script Ending
Artist Version: Death Cab For Cutie
Contestant: Asa Barnes
Title: With You
Artist Version: Chris Brown
Contestant: Dennis Brigham
Title: Used To Love You
Artist Version: John Legend
Contestant: Dennis Brigham
Title: Move On Up
Artist Version: Curtis Mayfield
Contestant: Dennis Brigham
Title: With You
Artist Version: Jessica Simpson
Contestant: Kellye Vetter
Title: Loving You
Artist Version: Minnie Ripperton
Contestant: Mia Conley
Title: Happy Trails
Artist Version: Roy Rogers
Contestant: Mia Conley
Title: Falls Apart Again
Artist Version: Brandi Carlile
Contestant: Lil Rounds
Title: All I Do
Artist Version: Stevie Wonder
Contestant: Lil Rounds
Title: I Believe
Artist Version: Fantasia
Contestant: n/a

Both the Idol who started it all, Kelly Clarkson, and the teen phenom who just missed winning this year, David Archuleta, have #1 songs. This brings American Idol‘s total to 221 on the Billboard charts! Check out the information below:

218 2/7/09
DAVID ARCHULETA, “Crush” (1 week) Hot 100 Recurrents

219 2/7/09
KELLY CLARKSON, “My Life Would Suck Without You” (1 week) Hot 100

220 2/7/09
KELLY CLARKSON, “My Life Would Suck Without You” (1 week) Hot Digital Songs

221 2/7/09
KELLY CLARKSON, “My Life Would Suck Without You” (1 week) Hot Digital Tracks

David Archuleta’s style seemed to get more adventurous with his tremendous success throughout last season–check out his Transformation Gallery.

You’ve probably noticed that many of the song choices this year have been extremely intriguing. Whether it was sung by a contestant or heard in the background of a favorite episode, you have probably also wanted to know the title. We have the song choices from Phoenix below:

Title: What A Wonderful World
Artist Version: Louis Armstrong
Contestant: n/a

Title: A Daily Anthem
Artist Version: David Cook
Contestant: n/a

Title: Summer In The City
Artist Version: The Lovin’ Spoonful
Contestant: n/a

Title: Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough
Artist Version: Michael Jackson
Contestant: TUAN NGUYEN

Title: The Way You Make Me Feel
Artist Version: Michael Jackson
Contestant: TUAN NGUYEN

Title: Careless Whisper
Artist Version: George Michaels
Contestant: TUAN NGUYEN

Title: Barracuda
Artist Version: Heart
Contestant: EMILY WYNNE – HUGHES

Title: Dust In The Wind
Artist Version: Kansas
Contestant: RANDY MADDEN PRE/POST

Title: Living On A Prayer
Artist Version: Bon Jovi
Contestant: RANDY MADDEN

Title: Flying Without Wings
Artist Version: Ruben Studdard
Contestant: J.B. AHFUA

Title: Jaws
Artist Version: Original Soundtrack
Contestant: MICHAEL GURR

Title: Starts With Goodbye
Artist Version: Carrie Underwood
Contestant: MICHAEL GURR

Title: Sometimes You Leave
Artist Version: Carrie Underwood
Contestant: MICHAEL GURR

Title: Tears for Fears
Artist Version: Mad World
Contestant: WILLIAM KUNICK

Title: It’s All Coming Back To Me Now
Artist Version: Celine Dion
Contestant: D.J. BRADLEY

Title: I Know I’ll Never Love This Way Again
Artist Version: Dionne Warwick
Contestant: SHAWN VASQUEZ

Title: Put Your Records On
Artist Version: Corinne Bailey Rae
Contestant: ARIANNA AFSAR

Title: Shake It
Artist Version: Metro Station
Contestant: n/a

Title: Before Your Love
Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Contestant: SEASON 5 AUDITION

Title: Bohemian Rhapsody
Artist Version: Queen
Contestant: SEASON 6 AUDITION

Title: I’ll Sail Upon A Dog Star
Artist Version: traditional
Contestant: SEASON 7 AUDITION

Title: Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe
Artist Version: Barry White
Contestant: ELIJAH SCARLETT PRE

Title: You’re The First, The Last, My Everything
Artist Version: Barry White
Contestant: ELIJAH SCARLETT

Title: Everytime We Touch
Artist Version: Cascada
Contestant: LEA MARIE GOLDE

Title: At Last
Artist Version: Etta James
Contestant: STEVIE WRIGHT

Title: Rooms On Fire
Artist Version: Stevie Nicks
Contestant: n/a

Title: Blue Collar Man
Artist Version: Travis Tritt
Contestant: n/a

Title: Thank You
Artist Version: Boyz II Men
Contestant: MICHAEL SARVER

Title: (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You
Artist Version: NSYNC
Contestant: MONTAGE

Title: Dancing on the Fire
Artist Version: India
Contestant: MONTAGE

Title: Last Name
Artist Version: Carrie Underwood
Contestant: NOEL HERNANDEZ

Title: Barbie Girl
Artist Version: Aqua
Contestant: n/a

Title: Vision of Love
Artist Version: Mariah Carey
Contestant: KATRINA DARRELL

Title: I Kissed a Girl
Artist Version: Katy Perry
Contestant: n/a

Title: The Candy Man
Artist Version: Karaoke – PoSound Band
Contestant: n/a

Title: Ribbon In The Sky
Artist Version: Stevie Wonder
Contestant: ERIC THOMAS

Title: The Candy Man
Artist Version: Sammy Davis Jr. & Mike Curb COngregation – 20TH Century Masters: The Millenium Collection, The Best of Sammy Davis Jr.
Contestant: n/a

Title: Let’s Hear It For The Boy
Artist Version: Denise Williams
Contestant: BRIANA QUIJADA

Title: Killing Me Softly
Artist Version: Roberta Flack
Contestant: BRIANA QUIJADA

Title: Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay
Artist Version: Otis Redding
Contestant: DEANNA BROWN

Title: Wonderful World
Artist Version: James Morrison
Contestant: CODY SHELDON

Title: Baby Come Back To Me
Artist Version: James Ingram
Contestant: ALEX TRUGMAN WAGNER

Title: God Save The Queen
Artist Version: Coldstream Guards
Contestant: n/a

Title: Wanted Dead or Alive
Artist Version: Karaoke Version Starlite
Contestant: MONTAGE

Title: Wanted Dead or Alive
Artist Version: Bon Jovi
Contestant: MONTAGE

Title: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Artist Version: Ennio Morricone
Contestant: n/a

Title: Lost
Artist Version: Coldplay
Contestant: n/a

Title: And So It Goes
Artist Version: Billy Joel
Contestant: SCOTT MACINTYRE

Title: All I Do
Artist Version: Stevie Wonder
Contestant: LIL ROUNDS

Title: I’ll Be Seeing You
Artist Version: Billie Holiday

Season three’s Jon Peter Lewis was in Salt Lake City, digging deep to find out how the hopefuls were feeling on the big audition day. Whether it was his engaging personality or the fact that he was an AI finalist, the auditioners really opened up to him.

Watch the video now!

According to Billboard.com, Kelly Clarkson is on the verge of making history on this week’s Billboard Hot 100, to be posted tomorrow (Jan. 29). She will have the largest leap to No. 1 in the chart’s 50-year history with her new single, “My Life Would Suck Without You”.

The single is set to hit 97-1 after selling 280,000 digital downloads in its first week. Billboard also notes that the song is also faring well at radio, jumping 58-38 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and 27-18 on the Mainstream Top 40 list.

“My Life” is the introductory number off her upcoming March album, All I Ever Wanted. This is the second time Kelly has set the record for largest jump to No. 1. “A Moment Like This” was the first in 2002. She held the record for nearly five years until Maroon 5 soared 64-1 with “Makes Me Wonder” in May 2007. This has been broken four more times since then, most recently by Britney Spears’ “Womanizer”.

Make sure to watch tonight’s show for a sneak peek of the video for “My Life Would Suck Without You”!

We apologize to any viewers who were offended by the misinterpretation of the contestant’s comment to “be careful” upon completion of his audition in Louisville, KY. Our visits to audition cities are relatively brief and sometimes regional greetings and salutations are lost in translation. We had not heard that phrase from any other contestants during the day, so it took everyone by surprise. We now know better and look forward to visiting Louisville again someday.

With album sales totaling 400,000 units, according to Nielsen Soundscan sales reporting, Bucky Covington‘s self-titled first CD is the best-selling country debut release of the 2007 class. The singer’s debut album, Bucky Covington, delivered three consecutive top 10 hits at country radio – “A Different World,” “It’s Good To Be Us” and “I’ll Walk”. He’s also the best selling debut artist of the 2007 class, and is one of only three male country artists since 2005 to have three consecutive top 10 singles from his debut album.

Bucky is currently in the studio with producers Mark Miller and Dale Oliver recording new music for his sophomore CD. The first single from the new project is expected to release in the coming weeks. Fans can also see Bucky make his big screen debut on April 10 in Hannah Montana The Movie.

Take a look at how Bucky evolved over season five in his Transformation Gallery.