Seasons · Fox
Season 5 (2006)
Aired on Fox from January 17, 2006 to May 24, 2006. The 12 finalists (Top 12): the contestants listed for season 5 in the Contestants table of Wikipedia's List of American Idol finalists. The same 12 names appear in the season article's Top 12 finalists section and elimination chart.[1][2]
Finalists
- Winner
- Runner-up
- Other finalists
| Finalist | Show result | After the show |
|---|---|---|
| Winner[1][2][3] Last competed May 24, 2006 | Latest documented update (June 16, 2023): Taylor Hicks made his Grand Ole Opry debut on June 16, 2023, after releasing the single Porch Swing in February 2023. He has released music on Modern Whomp since 2008, after Arista and 19 Recordings from 2006 to 2008.[4][5] | |
| Runner-up[1][2][3] Last competed May 24, 2006 | Katharine McPhee tours with producer David Foster in the show An Intimate Evening with David Foster and Katharine McPhee, with dates booked into 2026. She signed with the Nashville label Melody Place in 2024, and in June 2026 she was the guest vocalist on a new duet version of the late Dan Seals's song The Healing Kind.[6][7][8] | |
| Eliminated 3rd[1][2] Last competed May 17, 2006 | Latest documented update (2020): Elliott Yamin collaborated with Blake Lewis on Lewis's studio album Wanderlust Unknown, released in 2020. He also collaborated on Phil Lassiter's album Party Crashers, released digitally on July 6, 2018. His fourth studio album, As Time Goes By, was released in Japan on November 5, 2015.[9][10] | |
| Eliminated 4th[1][2] Last competed May 10, 2006 | Chris Daughtry fronts the rock band Daughtry, which in September 2026 announced a second leg of its acoustic "20 Years Unplugged" tour running into early 2027. In July 2026 the band released "There And Back Again", an 11-track set of re-recorded catalog songs.[11] | |
| Eliminated 5th[1][2] Last competed May 3, 2006 | Latest documented update (2019): Paris Bennett released the single Unapologetically Me in 2019, after All I Need for Christmas in 2018. Her albums include Princess P (2007) and A Royal Christmas, released October 14, 2008. She has been active since 2006.[12] | |
| Eliminated 6th[1][2] Last competed April 26, 2006 | Latest documented update (February 2022): In February 2022 Kellie Pickler began work as a DJ on SiriusXM's The Highway. Her most recent studio album, The Woman I Am, was released on November 11, 2013, on Black River Entertainment.[13][14] | |
| Eliminated 7th[1][2] Last competed April 19, 2006 | Latest documented update (June 13, 2019): It was announced in June 2019 that Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo would lead the first national tour of First Date, planned to launch in fall 2020. He played Joseph on the U.S. tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from January 2014 to April 2015.[15] | |
| Eliminated 8th[1][2] Last competed April 12, 2006 | Latest documented update (July 14, 2015): Bucky Covington's most recent documented release is the self-released EP Happy Man, dated July 14, 2015. His second studio album, Good Guys, came out on September 11, 2012, on E1 Music.[16] | |
| Eliminated 9th[1][2] Last competed April 5, 2006 | Latest documented update (April 18, 2024): Mandisa was found dead on April 18, 2024. Her releases run from True Beauty in 2007 through singles in 2021, including the compilation Overcomer: The Greatest Hits on February 7, 2020. She won the 2014 Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Overcomer.[17][18][19] | |
| Eliminated 10th[1][2] Last competed March 29, 2006 | Latest documented update (July 2020): In July 2020 Lisa Tucker released a country-folk ballad titled Fickle. She has been active since 2003 and was formerly signed to Ne-Yo's Compound Entertainment, with a recording deal through Island Def Jam.[20] | |
| Eliminated 11th[1][2] Last competed March 22, 2006 | Latest documented update (2019): In 2019 Kevin Covais appeared in an episode of The Rookie. From 2012 until 2014 he had a recurring role as Victor DeLeseur on Good Luck Charlie.[21] | |
| Eliminated 12th[1][2] Last competed March 15, 2006 | Latest documented update (July 17, 2014): As of July 2014, Melissa McGhee was performing regularly at Enigma in St. Petersburg and writing toward an EP, after returning to Tampa stages the year before. Her cover of What About Love is the first track on American Idol Season 5: Encores, released May 23, 2006.[22][23] |
Semifinalists
Semifinal round: the Top 24, twelve women and twelve men, who sang over three weeks (Top 24, Top 20 and Top 16) from February 21, 2006; the bottom two women and bottom two men left each week. The 12 who did not reach the Top 12 are listed as semifinalists.[1]
| Semifinalist | Show result | After the show |
|---|---|---|
| Eliminated in the Top 16[1] Last competed March 9, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 16[1] Last competed March 9, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 16[1] Last competed March 9, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 16[1] Last competed March 9, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 20[1] Last competed March 2, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 20[1] Last competed March 2, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 20[1] Last competed March 2, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 20[1] Last competed March 2, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 24[1] Last competed February 23, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 24[1] Last competed February 23, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 24[1] Last competed February 23, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. | |
| Eliminated in the Top 24[1] Last competed February 23, 2006 | No career summary documented yet. |
Sources
23 sources
- American Idol season 5 — Wikipedia, updated May 18, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (8) of source 1
- Infobox (first aired, last aired); lead section; Top 12 finalists section; elimination chart: “The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006, and concluded on May 24, 2006.”
- Elimination chart row Taylor Hicks: Pl. 1, Winner in the Finale column (5/24); ratings table episode 'Season 5 Finale', May 24, 2006
- Lead section: “Taylor Hicks was named the winner, while Katharine McPhee was the runner-up.”
- Elimination chart row Katharine McPhee: Pl. 2, Runner-up in the Finale column (5/24); ratings table episode 'Season 5 Finale', May 24, 2006
- Elimination chart row Elliott Yamin: Pl. 3, Eliminated in the Top 3 column (5/17); ratings table episode 'Top 3 Results', May 17, 2006
- Elimination chart row Chris Daughtry: Pl. 4, Eliminated in the Top 4 column (5/10); ratings table episode 'Top 4 Results', May 10, 2006
- Elimination chart row Paris Bennett: Pl. 5, Eliminated in the Top 5 column (5/3); ratings table episode 'Top 5 Results', May 3, 2006
- Elimination chart row Kellie Pickler: Pl. 6, Eliminated in the Top 6 column (4/26); ratings table episode 'Top 6 Results', April 26, 2006
- List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (8) of source 2
- Contestants table, rows with season 5
- Contestants table, row Taylor Hicks: season 5, place finish Winner
- Contestants table, row Katharine McPhee: season 5, place finish Runner-up
- Contestants table, row Elliott Yamin: season 5, place finish 3rd
- Contestants table, row Chris Daughtry: season 5, place finish 4th
- Contestants table, row Paris Bennett: season 5, place finish 5th
- Contestants table, row Kellie Pickler: season 5, place finish 6th
- Contestants table, row Ace Young: season 5, place finish 7th
- Hicks takes 'American Idol' crown — Lawrence Journal-World (Associated Press), published May 25, 2006. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 3
- Article text: “Taylor Hicks, the mop-topped manic dancer who wooed TV audiences with his raw singing style and boisterous personality, was named the new “American Idol” Wednesday”
- Article text: “after collecting more viewer votes than runner-up Katharine McPhee, 22, of Los Angeles”
- Taylor Hicks (Wikipedia revision 1364623378) — Wikipedia, updated July 17, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 4
- 2009–present: “Hicks made his Grand Ole Opry debut on June 16, 2023.”
- Infobox label: “Modern Whomp (2008–present)”
- Taylor Hicks Delivers Romantic Soul in Porch Swing — Taste of Country, published February 26, 2023. News report. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 5
- Article opening: “the release of his newest single, "Porch Swing,"”
- David Foster and Katharine McPhee to perform at CFCC's Wilson Center — WECT, published September 17, 2025. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 6
- Tour details paragraph: “The Wilmington performance is scheduled for February 11, 2026.”
- Katharine McPhee Signs With Melody Place — MusicRow, published August 13, 2024. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 7
- First paragraph: “Artist and actress Katharine McPhee has signed an exclusive record deal with Nashville-based label Melody Place.”
- Katharine McPhee joins Dan Seals to reimagine 'The Healing Kind' — The Music Universe, published June 5, 2026. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 8
- Article body: “The song appears on the upcoming Dan Seals all-star collaboration album”
- Blake Lewis (Wikipedia revision 1371036908) — Wikipedia, updated August 24, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 9
- 2016–present section: “Lewis released his fourth studio album, Wanderlust Unknown , on January 24, 2020”
- 2016–present section: “The album featured collaborations with fellow American Idol alum Elliott Yamin”
- Elliott Yamin (Wikipedia revision 1371522462) — Wikipedia, updated August 26, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 10
- Collaborations, Party Crashers: “released digitally on July 6, 2018”
- 2015 section: “On November 5, 2015, Yamin released, again exclusively for the Japanese market, his fourth studio album, As Time Goes By”
- DAUGHTRY Announces Second Leg Of '20 Years Unplugged' Tour — Blabbermouth.net, published September 29, 2026. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 11
- Paragraphs 1 and 5: “In July, the band released "There And Back Again", an 11-track collection of newly re-recorded versions of catalog cornerstones”
- Paragraph 1: “extending the intimate acoustic celebration into 2027 with 26 newly announced dates”
- Paris Bennett (Wikipedia revision 1376073019) — Wikipedia, updated September 21, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (3) of source 12
- Singles table, 2019 row: “Unapologetically Me”
- Albums table, Princess P: “Released: May 8, 2007”
- Infobox years_active: “2006–present”
- Kellie Pickler (Wikipedia revision 1372762867) — Wikipedia, updated September 2, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 13
- 2013 section: “In February 2022, Pickler began work as a DJ”
- Kellie Pickler discography (Wikipedia revision 1372589256) — Wikipedia, updated September 1, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 14
- Studio albums table: “Release date: November 11, 2013”
- Ace Young (Wikipedia revision 1373713120) — Wikipedia, updated September 7, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 15
- Post-Idol, First Date sentence and its citation date: “are set to lead the first national tour of First Date, which is set to launch in the fall of 2020.”
- Post-Idol, Joseph tour sentence: “from January 2014 to April 2015.”
- Bucky Covington (Wikipedia revision 1314736572) — Wikipedia, updated October 3, 2025. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 16
- Extended plays table, Happy Man row: “Release date: July 14, 2015”
- Unreleased second album section: “Covington released his second studio album, Good Guys, on September 11, 2012.”
- Mandisa (Wikipedia revision 1371035176) — Wikipedia, updated August 24, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 17
- Death: “On April 18, 2024, Mandisa was found dead at her home in Franklin, Tennessee”
- Mandisa discography (Wikipedia revision 1360241369) — Wikipedia, updated June 20, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 18
- Compilation albums, Overcomer: The Greatest Hits: “Released: February 7, 2020”
- Mandisa Grammy Awards and Nominations — Recording Academy. Official record. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 19
- Artist header: “Wins 1 Nominations 5”
- Lisa Tucker (singer) (Wikipedia revision 1373795624) — Wikipedia, updated September 8, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (3) of source 20
- Post-Idol, final paragraph: “In July 2020, she released a country-folk ballad titled "Fickle."”
- Infobox years_active: “2003–present”
- Post-Idol, Compound Entertainment paragraph: “formerly signed to recording artist Ne-Yo's production company Compound Entertainment”
- Kevin Covais (Wikipedia revision 1371036264) — Wikipedia, updated August 24, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 21
- Television table, 2019 row: “The Rookie”
- Career, 2008-present: “From 2012 until the show's series finale in 2014, Covais held a recurring role on Good Luck Charlie as Victor DeLeseur.”
- Idol vet Melissa McGhee re-emerges in Tampa Bay's music scene — Watermark Out News, published July 17, 2014. News report. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 22
- Article body, return to performing: “she took time off and re-emerged in Tampa's music scene last year”
- Article body, current work: “She currently performs regularly at Enigma in downtown St. Petersburg”
- American Idol Season 5: Encores (Wikipedia revision 1368978083) — Wikipedia, updated August 12, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 23
- Infobox released and track listing: “released = May 23, 2006”