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  3. 'American Idol': All-Time Best Performances

'American Idol': All-Time Best Performances

As the series ends, here's our nominees of Hall of Fame moments that keep us coming back for more, from Carly Smithson's "Blackbird" to David Cook's "Hello"
By Kate Ward and EW Staff April 07, 2016 at 06:48 PM EDT
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Colton Dixon, "Piano Man"

Colton Dixon, "Piano Man"
Credit: FOX via Getty Images

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Carly Smithson, "Blackbird"

Carly Smithson, "Blackbird"
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox

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Jordin Sparks, "I (Who Have Nothing)"

Jordin Sparks, "I (Who Have Nothing)"
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

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Pia Toscano, "I'll Stand by You"

Pia Toscano, "I'll Stand by You"
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

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Casey Abrams, "Nature Boy"

Casey Abrams, "Nature Boy"
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

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Katharine McPhee, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"

Katharine McPhee, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
Credit: Fox

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Jason Castro, "Hallelujah"

Jason Castro, "Hallelujah"
Credit: Michael Caulfield/Getty Images

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Melinda Doolittle, "My Funny Valentine"

Melinda Doolittle, "My Funny Valentine"
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

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Tamyra Gray, "A House Is Not a Home"

Tamyra Gray, "A House Is Not a Home"
Credit: Kevin Winter/Fox/Getty Images

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Kimberly Locke, "Over the Rainbow"

Kimberly Locke, "Over the Rainbow"

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Ruben Studdard, "A Whole New World"

Ruben Studdard, "A Whole New World"
Credit: Ray Mickshaw/Fox

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David Cook, "Hello"

David Cook, American Idol, ...
Credit: Frank Micelotta

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James Durbin, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"

James Durbin, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

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Haley Reinhart, "The House of the Rising Sun"

Haley Reinhart, "The House of the Rising Sun"
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox/PictureGroup

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Blake Lewis, "You Give Love a Bad Name"

American Idol, Blake Lewis | ''You Give Love a Bad Name'' by Bon Jovi (1986), sung during Top 6 — Bon Jovi night Mentor Jon Bon Jovi gave Blake aÂ…
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

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Sarina-Joi Crowe, "Mama Knows Best"

Sarina-Joi Crowe, "Mama Knows Best"
Credit: Jeff Neira/FOX

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Candice Glover, "Lovesong"

Candice Glover, "Lovesong"
Credit: FOX via Getty Images

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Crystal Bowersox, "Me and Bobby McGee"

Crystal Bowersox, "Me and Bobby McGee"
Credit: Michael Becker/PictureGroup

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Jennifer Hudson, "Circle of Life"

Jennifer Hudson, "Circle of Life"

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Phillip Phillips, "Volcano"

Phillip Phillips, "Volcano"
Credit: FOX via Getty Images

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Kelly Clarkson, "Natural Woman"

Kelly Clarkson, "Natural Woman"
Credit: Ray Mickshaw/Fox

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Caleb Johnson, "Dazed and Confused"

Caleb Johnson, "Dazed and Confused"
Credit: Michael Becker/FOX

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Allison Iraheta, "Cry Baby"

American Idol, Allison Iraheta | 12. ALLISON IRAHETA, ''Cry Baby,'' Exit Performance (Season 8) Like Mommie Dearest, Allison never got the respect she was entitled to — at least notÂ…
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

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Trent Harmon, "Chandelier"

Trent Harmon, "Chandelier"
Credit: Michael Becker/FOX

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Chris Daughtry, "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)"

Chris Daughtry, "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)"
Credit: Ray Mickshaw/WireImage.com

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David Archuleta, "Imagine"

David Archuleta, American Idol, ...
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

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Carrie Underwood, "Alone"

American Idol, Carrie Underwood | ''Alone'' by Heart (1987), sung during Top 11 — Billboard Number Ones night Nobody figured the corn-fed country girl could rock out, but when CarrieÂ…
Credit: Fox

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Clay Aiken, "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Clay Aiken, "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Credit: Ray Mickshaw/WireImage.com

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Elliott Yamin, "Moody's Mood for Love"

Elliott Yamin, "Moody's Mood for Love"
Credit: Fox

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Jena Irene, "Can’t Help Falling in Love"

Jena Irene, "Can’t Help Falling in Love"
Credit: FOX via Getty Images

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Kris Allen, "Heartless"

Kris Allen, American Idol
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox

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Fantasia Barrino, "Summertime"

American Idol, Fantasia Barrino | Fantasia killing it with ''Summertime'' It became Fantasia's signature performance, and for good reason: ''Summertime" was vulnerable and raw, as well as confident and astonishing.Â…
Credit: Ray Mickshaw/Fox

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Bo Bice, "In a Dream"

Bo Bice | 5. BO BICE, ''In a Dream'' (Season 4) Talk about cojones! Late in Idol 's fourth season, when viewers knew things were coming down toÂ…

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Kelly Clarkson, "Stuff Like That There"

Kelly Clarkson, "Stuff Like That There"

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Adam Lambert, "Mad World"

American Idol, Adam Lambert
Credit: F Micelotta/Getty Images

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David Cook, "The World I Know"

American Idol | CUT ''GREATEST HITS'' ON FINALE NIGHT No matter how talented the singer, there's no re-creating an '' Idol Moment.'' So why does the show insistÂ…
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

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Joshua Ledet, "It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World"

Joshua Ledet, "It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World"
Credit: FOX via Getty Images)

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 37 Colton Dixon, "Piano Man"
    2 of 37 Carly Smithson, "Blackbird"
    3 of 37 Jordin Sparks, "I (Who Have Nothing)"
    4 of 37 Pia Toscano, "I'll Stand by You"
    5 of 37 Casey Abrams, "Nature Boy"
    6 of 37 Katharine McPhee, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
    7 of 37 Jason Castro, "Hallelujah"
    8 of 37 Melinda Doolittle, "My Funny Valentine"
    9 of 37 Tamyra Gray, "A House Is Not a Home"
    10 of 37 Kimberly Locke, "Over the Rainbow"
    11 of 37 Ruben Studdard, "A Whole New World"
    12 of 37 David Cook, "Hello"
    13 of 37 James Durbin, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
    14 of 37 Haley Reinhart, "The House of the Rising Sun"
    15 of 37 Blake Lewis, "You Give Love a Bad Name"
    16 of 37 Sarina-Joi Crowe, "Mama Knows Best"
    17 of 37 Candice Glover, "Lovesong"
    18 of 37 Crystal Bowersox, "Me and Bobby McGee"
    19 of 37 Jennifer Hudson, "Circle of Life"
    20 of 37 Phillip Phillips, "Volcano"
    21 of 37 Kelly Clarkson, "Natural Woman"
    22 of 37 Caleb Johnson, "Dazed and Confused"
    23 of 37 Allison Iraheta, "Cry Baby"
    24 of 37 Trent Harmon, "Chandelier"
    25 of 37 Chris Daughtry, "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)"
    26 of 37 David Archuleta, "Imagine"
    27 of 37 Carrie Underwood, "Alone"
    28 of 37 Clay Aiken, "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
    29 of 37 Elliott Yamin, "Moody's Mood for Love"
    30 of 37 Jena Irene, "Can’t Help Falling in Love"
    31 of 37 Kris Allen, "Heartless"
    32 of 37 Fantasia Barrino, "Summertime"
    33 of 37 Bo Bice, "In a Dream"
    34 of 37 Kelly Clarkson, "Stuff Like That There"
    35 of 37 Adam Lambert, "Mad World"
    36 of 37 David Cook, "The World I Know"
    37 of 37 Joshua Ledet, "It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World"

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