Skip to content

Top Navigation

EW.com EW.com
    • All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Animated
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
    • All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
    • All Music
    • Music Reviews
    • All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
    • All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
    • All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
    • All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe

Explore EW.com

EW.com EW.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Comic-Con 2022: Stars strike a pose in EW's photo studio

      Comic-Con 2022: Stars strike a pose in EW's photo studio

      From the casts of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever  and The Walking Dead  to Chris Pine and Regé Jean-Page, see who dropped by EW's Comic-Con headquarters at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego. Read More
    • Power players: Inside The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

      Power players: Inside The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

      Go behind the scenes of Amazon Prime Video’s ambitious fantasy epic, which hopes to introduce J.R.R. Tolkien to a new generation. Read More
    • Biggest bombshells in unsealed Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard court docs: Erectile dysfunction, nude photos, and Marilyn Manson

      Biggest bombshells in unsealed Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard court docs: Erectile dysfunction, nude photos, and Marilyn Manson

      Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be more to learn about the high-profile defamation trial, more than 6,000 pages of court docs were released over the weekend. Read More
  • TV

    TV

    See All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Animated
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
  • Movies

    Movies

    See All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
  • Music

    Music

    See All Music
    • Music Reviews
  • What to Watch

    What to Watch

    See All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
  • BINGE

    BINGE

    See All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
  • The Awardist

    The Awardist

    See All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
  • Books

    Books

    See All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
  • Theater

    Theater

    See All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
  • Events

    Events

    See All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Gallery
  3. 'American Idol': All-Time Best Makeovers

'American Idol': All-Time Best Makeovers

From Kelly to Clay, Katharine to Carrie, 18 contestants who sharpened their style to match their talent
By MJ Santilli Updated March 14, 2012 at 06:00 PM EDT
Skip gallery slides
FB

1 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

David Cook (season 7, winner)

American Idol | Sure, David Cook totally rocked Bon Jovi's ''Living on a Prayer'' in his audition, but it was hard to concentrate on his singing with what…
Credit: Fox

Sure, David Cook totally rocked Bon Jovi's ''Living on a Prayer'' in his audition, but it was hard to concentrate on his singing with what looked like a rooster sitting on top of his head. And that argyle sweater. No. Just no. His style screamed poser, but that would change at one pivotal moment during the finals: when Cook debuted his New Hair on top 9 Country Night. Goodbye, bad comb-over. Hello, hotness! Once again, concentrating on his exquisite cover of Dolly Parton's ''Little Sparrow'' was tough—but this time for all the right reasons.

1 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Clay Aiken (season 2, runner-up)

American Idol | ''I'm the American Idol,'' declared Clay Aiken at his initial audition in front of the judges. That pronouncement was hard to believe considering the special-education…
Credit: Fox; Ray Mickshaw/Getty Images

''I'm the American Idol,'' declared Clay Aiken at his initial audition in front of the judges. That pronouncement was hard to believe considering the special-education instructor's baggy, unflattering clothes and a short 'do that accentuated his Alfred E. Newman-like ears. Clay's geek-to-chic style makeover included a flattering ear-minimizing haircut and a fashionable wardrobe that not only matched his pop-star pipes, but literally had the ladies swooning.

2 of 18

3 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Katharine McPhee (season 5, runner-up)

American Idol | Ill-fitting clothes and thin, stringy looking hair mattered not when Katharine McPhee sang a soulful and sweet ''God Bless the Child'' for the judges at…
Credit: Fox; Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Ill-fitting clothes and thin, stringy looking hair mattered not when Katharine McPhee sang a soulful and sweet ''God Bless the Child'' for the judges at her San Francisco audition. But by the time Kat hit the finale with Taylor Hicks, she had slimmed down and glammed up into the Smash babe we now know and love.

3 of 18

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Kimberley Locke (season 2, third place)

American Idol | Kimberly Locke, with her geeky glasses and mop of unruly hair, looked every bit the future law-school student she was at her audition. By the…
Credit: Fox

Kimberly Locke, with her geeky glasses and mop of unruly hair, looked every bit the future law-school student she was at her audition. By the time she was eliminated in third place, her hair was straightened and the glasses were gone—revealing some super classic cheekbones. Who knew the girl was so pretty? She could sing her face off but we really didn't want her to.

4 of 18

Advertisement

5 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Adam Lambert (season 8, runner-up)

American Idol | Adam Lambert was stylish from the minute he walked into his San Diego audition in skinny jeans and simple layered top and black jacket. Eventually…
Credit: Fox; M Becker/Getty Images

Adam Lambert was stylish from the minute he walked into his San Diego audition in skinny jeans and simple layered top and black jacket. Eventually he would rock the black nail polish, fingerless gloves, platform-boots and studded jackets. The outfits could be outrageous, but always uniquely Adam.

5 of 18

6 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Kelly Clarkson (season 1, winner)

American Idol | Kelly Clarkson was cute as ever in her audition, but what the heck was that tie-dyed top she was wearing? The rip in the back…
Credit: Fox; Lucy Nicholson/AP

Kelly Clarkson was cute as ever in her audition, but what the heck was that tie-dyed top she was wearing? The rip in the back looked like she caught it on something. With a little styling, Kelly was both cute and chic.

6 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Elliott Yamin (season 5, third place)

American Idol | Elliott first appeared on Idol in scruffy clothes and a short, unflattering haircut. While it was his soulful tenor that mattered, he became a bonafide…
Credit: Fox; Ray Mickshaw/Getty Images

Elliott first appeared on Idol in scruffy clothes and a short, unflattering haircut. While it was his soulful tenor that mattered, he became a bonafide Idol when he grew his hair out and upgraded his wardrobe. When the dude cleaned up, he became downright handsome.

7 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Lauren Alaina (season 10, runner-up)

American Idol | Country cutie Lauren Alaina turned into the Amazing Shrinking Teen as she lost 16 pounds during the course of the season. By the time she…
Credit: Fox; Michael Becker/Fox

Country cutie Lauren Alaina turned into the Amazing Shrinking Teen as she lost 16 pounds during the course of the season. By the time she came in second place to fellow country teen Scotty McCreery, Lauren was looking good in sleek ensembles and signature boots.

8 of 18

Advertisement

9 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Taylor Hicks (season 5, winner)

American Idol | Are you someone's dad? That was the question on everyone's lips when gray-haired Taylor Hicks auditioned for Idol . His shapeless short-sleeved shirt screamed ''I'm…
Credit: Fox; Vince Bucci/Getty Images

Are you someone's dad? That was the question on everyone's lips when gray-haired Taylor Hicks auditioned for Idol. His shapeless short-sleeved shirt screamed ''I'm off to the lanes with my buds!'' The soul man eventually succumbed to a decent haircut and some spiffy duds but refused a dye job. A shrewd move, as the combination of his salt-and-pepper locks and throwback style made him a hit with the older set, propelling him past front-runner Chris Daughtry for the win.

9 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Carrie Underwood (season 4, winner)

American Idol | Carrie Underwood was 100 percent wholesome milkmaid when she auditioned for Idol in a pink T-shirt and curly blond hair. The former farm girl would…
Credit: Fox; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Carrie Underwood was 100 percent wholesome milkmaid when she auditioned for Idol in a pink T-shirt and curly blond hair. The former farm girl would eventually rock some pretty sexy looks by the time she stood center stage in tears as she took the crown—foreshadowing her future as a country superstar and style icon.

10 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Haley Reinhart (season 10, third place)

American Idol | Haley Reinhart began her season 10 journey as a retro hippie-chick in Milwaukee, but by the time she was eliminated in third place, she had…
Credit: Fox; Michael Becker/Fox

Haley Reinhart began her season 10 journey as a retro hippie-chick in Milwaukee, but by the time she was eliminated in third place, she had adopted a sexier and sleeker style. Her newly glamorous look was a perfect complement to the soulful chanteuse's jazz-infused vocals.

11 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Jon Peter Lewis (season 3, eighth place)

American Idol | Dubbed the Pen Salesman by Simon Cowell when he walked into his Hawaii audition dressed in his Sunday best: a short-sleeved dress shirt and tie.…
Credit: Fox

Dubbed the Pen Salesman by Simon Cowell when he walked into his Hawaii audition dressed in his Sunday best: a short-sleeved dress shirt and tie. By the time the finals began, JPL left the Mormon Missionary look behind for vintage velvet jackets and fashionable jeans.

12 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

13 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Melinda Doolittle (season 6, third place)

American Idol | The unassuming background singer with the big voice arrived at her audition in a cute hat, jeans, and vest ensemble. Although Melinda upgraded her look…
Credit: Fox; Michael Becker/AP

The unassuming background singer with the big voice arrived at her audition in a cute hat, jeans, and vest ensemble. Although Melinda upgraded her look for Idol, she told Ryan Seacrest in a sit down that ''the high heels and these dresses'' were the hardest part of the show. ''I like my tennis shoes and my sweatpants!'' declared Melinda.

13 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

14 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Lee DeWyze (season 9, winner)

American Idol | Lee DeWyze, a dude who never met a beanie he didn't like, dressed simply for his Chicago audition in a black T-shirt and jeans. Eventually…
Credit: Fox; Michael Becker/AP

Lee DeWyze, a dude who never met a beanie he didn't like, dressed simply for his Chicago audition in a black T-shirt and jeans. Eventually the indie rocker incorporated leather and suit jackets with loose ties into his wardrobe—a relaxed yet fashionable look for the eventual Idol winner.

14 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

15 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Crystal Bowersox (season 9, runner-up)

American Idol | Crystal Bowersox never lost the hippie-chick vibe she walked into her Chicago audition with, but she did dress up her look with vintage jewelry and…
Credit: Fox; Michael Becker/Fox

Crystal Bowersox never lost the hippie-chick vibe she walked into her Chicago audition with, but she did dress up her look with vintage jewelry and handsome ensembles that featured long dark jackets and pants. She even wore long funky dresses and occasionally wore her dreads up—a look that was funky, but chic.

15 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

16 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Casey Abrams (season 10, fifth place)

American Idol | He didn't want to trim his bushy red beard, but after being brought back from the abyss by the judges' save at top 11, Casey…
Credit: Fox

He didn't want to trim his bushy red beard, but after being brought back from the abyss by the judges' save at top 11, Casey finally realized that sporting a look that was possibly scaring small children was not the way to stay in the competition. He came back the following week with neatly trimmed hair and beard, helping the jazz man stick around a little longer.

16 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

17 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Haley Scarnato (season 6, eighth place)

American Idol | Haley Scarnato favored long glamorous dresses when she first strutted the Idol stage, but after she hit the bottom 3, she ditched the skirts for…
Credit: Fox; Frank Micelotta/Fox

Haley Scarnato favored long glamorous dresses when she first strutted the Idol stage, but after she hit the bottom 3, she ditched the skirts for short shorts that showed off those long, long legs. The guys didn't mind at all, and it might have helped the former gymnast to make it as far as she did, despite bad critiques from the judges (Simon could never remember her name).

17 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

18 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Alexis Grace (season 8, eleventh place)

American Idol | Alexis' audition was soulful, but the judges didn't care for her girl-next-door looks. ''Just dirty yourself up,'' suggested judge Kara DioGuardi. ''Go home and make…
Credit: Fox

Alexis' audition was soulful, but the judges didn't care for her girl-next-door looks. ''Just dirty yourself up,'' suggested judge Kara DioGuardi. ''Go home and make love to your fiancé.'' We have no idea if that second part happened, but Alexis did put some hot-pink stripes in her hair, and wore a formfitting onesie as she took Kara's advice to heart with a performance of ''Dirty Diana.'' Alas, a pitchy ''Jolene'' did her in the following week on Grand Ole Opry night.

18 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By MJ Santilli

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 18 David Cook (season 7, winner)
    2 of 18 Clay Aiken (season 2, runner-up)
    3 of 18 Katharine McPhee (season 5, runner-up)
    4 of 18 Kimberley Locke (season 2, third place)
    5 of 18 Adam Lambert (season 8, runner-up)
    6 of 18 Kelly Clarkson (season 1, winner)
    7 of 18 Elliott Yamin (season 5, third place)
    8 of 18 Lauren Alaina (season 10, runner-up)
    9 of 18 Taylor Hicks (season 5, winner)
    10 of 18 Carrie Underwood (season 4, winner)
    11 of 18 Haley Reinhart (season 10, third place)
    12 of 18 Jon Peter Lewis (season 3, eighth place)
    13 of 18 Melinda Doolittle (season 6, third place)
    14 of 18 Lee DeWyze (season 9, winner)
    15 of 18 Crystal Bowersox (season 9, runner-up)
    16 of 18 Casey Abrams (season 10, fifth place)
    17 of 18 Haley Scarnato (season 6, eighth place)
    18 of 18 Alexis Grace (season 8, eleventh place)

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    EW.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EW.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://ew.com

    View image

    'American Idol': All-Time Best Makeovers
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.