Kelly Clarkson and Kris Allen are the only winners to not have their entire audition shown on television - while Kris had a clip of his shown, Kelly's was not shown at all.
Kelly Clarkson holds the record for the most albums sold by an American Idol alumni with nearly 10 million records. Also, her songs have been downloaded nearly 10 million times. Carrie Underwood is second with album and digital download sales of 15.7 million.
Ruben Studdard beat Clay Aiken by only 134,000 votes out of the 24 million cast in the Season 2 finale. It remains one of the closest votes in the show's history.
Two brothers from Denver named Jimmy and Scott Osterman were among the hopefuls at the "American Idol 2" tryouts in Austin, Texas. Their audition, which included a cringe-making version of Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract", had judge Simon Cowell about to deliver a scathing putdown when the pair revealed themselves to be Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly in disguise and that Cowell was the victim of a practical joke for their show Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002). McPartlin and Donnelly are also the hosts of Pop Idol (2001) the original British show from which "American Idol" is adapted, and for which Cowell also serves as a judge.
At the end of the Houston, Texas auditions during the third season, hopeful Jonathan Rey from Conroe, Texas approached judge Simon Cowell at the judges' table after Cowell gave Rey's audition an unfavorable review. Rey's hand was extended, leading Cowell to believe that Rey wanted to shake his hand, but Rey instead grabbed a large cup of water on the table and threw its contents at Cowell, drenching him. On-site security called Houston police, who detained Rey outside the audition venue for questioning, releasing him only after Cowell refused to press assault charges.