During intial auditions to find the first American Idol, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson narrow the list of hopefuls to 100 contestants.
The judges require the initial contestants to learn singing and dancing routines and then perform them in small groups.
Tamyra Gray, Jim Verraros, Adriel Herrera, Rodesia Eaves, Natalie Burge, Brad Estrin, Ryan Starr, Justinn Waddell, Kelli Glover, and Christopher Aaron are the first contestants to perform.
Tamyra Gray, Jim Verraros, and Ryan Starr move into the top ten from the first group auditions.
Second group performers Alexis Lopez, Gil Sinuet, Angela Peel, A.J. Gil, Tenia Taylor, Alexandra Bachelier, Jazmin Lowery, Jamar, Kelly Clarkson, and Justin Guarini do their best to make it into the top ten finalists.
Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, and A.J. Gil survive the elimination to become among the top ten finalists.
Ten more performers, R.J. Helton, Kristin Holt, Mark Scott, Nikki McKibbin, Chris Badono, Melanie Sanders, Ejay Day, Tanesha Ross, Khaleef Chiles, and Christina Cristian, compete for a spot in the top ten finalists.
EJay Day, Nikki McKibbin, and Christina Cristian become the next contestants among the top ten finalists.
During a wild card audition for the tenth finalist, R.J. Helton beats out rivals Angela Peel, Alexis Lopez, Christopher Aaron, and Kelli Glover for the coveted spot.
Ryan Starr, R.J. Helton, Nikki McKibbin, Ejay Day, Tamyra Gray, Justin Guarini, Jim Verraros, Kelly Clarkson, A.J. Gil, and Christina Cristian perform Motown hits.
Of the bottom three performers, Nikki McKibbin remains in the competition, while EJay Day and Jim Verraros are eliminated.
Tamyra Gray, Ryan Starr, Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, A.J. Gil, Christina Christian, Nikki McKibbin, and R.J. Helton perform songs from the 1960s.
Ryan Starr and Christina Christian stay in the competition, but A.J. Gil is sent home.
Tamyra Gray, Ryan Starr, Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Christian, Nikki McKibbin, and R.J. Helton sing song of the 1970s.
Ryan Starr is sent home, saving Justin Guarini and Nikki McKibbin from being eliminated.
Tamyra Gray, Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Christian, Nikki McKibbin, and R.J. Helton perform songs from the Big Band era.
R.J. Helton and Nikki McKibbin survive their round in the bottom three, but Christina Christian is eliminated.
The remaining five contestants, Tamyra Gray, Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, Nikki McKibbin, and R.J. Helton, perform love songs for the judges.
In the bottom two performances, Nikki McKibbin edges out R.J. Helton to remain in the competition.
Tamyra Gray, Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, and Nikki McKibbin perform two songs each, one from the 1980s and one from the 1990s.
Frequent low-scorer Nikki McKibbin manages to stay in the competition, but Tamyra Gray is sent home.
The three remaining contestants, Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, and Nikki McKibbin, perform two songs each.
Nikki McKibbin is finally eliminated from the competition, leaving Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson to sing their best for the judges.
Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini compete for the title of the first American Idol.
Kelly Clarkson wins the title of the first American Idol.