The Best 'American Idol' Auditions of All Time, Ranked

From tear-jerker tributes to silly performances, there's nothing quite as entertaining as the audition round of American Idol. It's where the world was introduced to William Hung's viral rendition of "She Bangs" and where the show's first-ever winner, Kelly Clarkson, won the nation over with her natural charm. I can't tell you how many times I've laughed, gasped, or held my breath as the contestants waited for feedback from the judges—and it's always a treat to see where my favorites end up after the competition.

Now that season 23 is in full swing, there's no shortage of memorable performances. But these are just a few of several auditions that caught me eye over the years. Below, I've ranked 20 of my absolute favorites, including Kelly Clarkson, Tori Kelly, Jennifer Hudson and more.

Is it even accurate to call this an audition? Moseley essentially performs a mini concert for the judges, who are clearly having the time of their lives as they enjoy his original song, "Gone For Good."

At just 17 years old, Sparks made history as the youngest person to ever win American Idol, and it all started with this audition. Then 16, the songstress covered Céline Dion's "Because You Loved Me" and knocked it out of the park.

I'm a huge sucker for soulful singers, so when I first heard Bennett sing in her season five audition, I was immediately sold. First, she sings "Cowboy Take Me Away" by the Dixie Chicks, then follows up with a short performance of "Take Five."

Kelly is truly a rare talent, thanks to the tone and texture in her powerful voice—and it's evident in her audition, where she sings "Gravity" by John Mayer. Though she didn't make the top 24 in season nine, her music career has since thrived.

Humility and great talent go so well together—and Dolittle is all the proof you need. Her stunning take on Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life" is easily one of the best I've ever heard. She sings it with such passion and she has great vocal control.

Lambert's theatrical cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" may have been met with mixed reactions, but there's no denying his stellar vocal talent. Thanks to his powerful, versatile voice he finished as the runner-up on the eighth season.

Ready your tissues, because this audition is sure to tug at the heartstrings. After recovering from a near-fatal accident, McCormick appeared before the judges and put his own spin on Rascal Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road," which moved Lionel Richie to tears.

Ajii offers a soulful and emotional cover of Teddy Swims' single, "Lose Control" and, guys, I guarantee it'll give you goosebumps. Even Swims approved of the cover, commenting on YouTube, "Let's go Ajii !!! I'm so honored!!"

In his audition, the former church janitor performed his original song, “Almost Heaven,” and I'm still blown away by his vocal range and songwriting skills. (FYI, you can listen to the song in its entirety here.)

Barrino's natural stage presence and distinct sound immediately set her apart on Idol, starting with her unforgettable audition. At the time, the season three winner sang Lauryn Hill's "Killing Me Softly," then treated the judges to a fabulous rendition of Tina Turner's "Rolling on the River."

The farmgirl-turned-country-star was a winner from the moment she auditioned in season four. She impressed the judges with her vocal range and vibrato while singing Bonnie Raitt's classic, "I Can't Make You Love Me," then treated them to a surprisingly convincing impression of a chicken.

It's hard for me to watch this audition and not think "I want Kelly Clarkson to be my bestie." Yes, her voice is beyond brilliant when she sings "Express Yourself" by Madonna, but she's also bubbly and genuine and so endearing. Those qualities shine through as she plays along with Jackson and pretends to be a judge—making this audition all the more entertaining.

Hess probably didn't expect to serenade a trio of Grammy-winning artists as they stood around the piano, just mesmerized by her voice. But considering her flawless rendition of "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones, I can see why. Hess is seriously talented and yet, she makes performing look easy. She's a natural.

Aiken's stellar audition is a good reminder to never judge a book by its cover, because I never would've guessed that this bespectacled North Carolina native had such a great voice. Here, he delivers a swoon-worthy cover of Heatwave's "Always and Forever," which catches both Jackson and Cowell off-guard. Classic.

Who could forget about Carter's breathtaking performance of Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?" The season 22 winner immediately wins the judges over with her soothing and angelic voice. Following her audition, Bryan calls it when he tells Richie, "That may be the winner of American Idol."

Guys, the stark difference between Ani's speaking voice and her singing voice still gets me every time, but her American Idol audition is incredible. Here, she demonstrates her impressive range with Demi Lovato's "Anyone," and every single time I listen it gives me chills.

As seen in this audition, Hudson has been carrying herself with unwavering confidence since day one. Her cover of Aretha Franklin's "Share Your Love With Me" is brilliant and it feels more like a performance than an audition. It's no wonder the singer went on to portay Franklin in the 2021 biopic, Respect. (Talk about a full circle moment.)

Did you know that Renée was just 17 years old when she auditioned? All three judges were (understandably) stunned when the vocalist began to sing, proving that her rich and soulful voice could easily tackle Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools."

To this day, I still listen to this mesmerizing cover of Rihanna's "Diamonds." The late Willie Spence stunned the judges with his seasoned vocals and impressive runs—so much so that Luke Bryan confessed he didn't want the performance to end. (TBH, same.)