Flashback: Nikki McKibbin's "I'm the Only One"

Nikki McKibbin wasn't the only one excited about her making the Top 4 on Idol's first season, as she was able to outlast front runner Tamyra Gray. Before the shocking results were ready, Nikki belted out her own version of Melissa Etheridge's "I'm the Only One," one of two songs she sang during 1990's week. Watch the performance below:

While this performance was no masterpiece, it was apparently good enough to get her into third place (because we all know her performance of "Mary Jane" didn't get her there). While Nikki had a bumpy road on her season, she clicked with a certain segment of the population and for that she will always be remembered.

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Flashback: Tamyra Gray's "A House Is Not a Home"

Tamyra Gray was the favorite to take the crown running up to the close of Idol's first season, but her premature ouster will remain one of the biggest disappointments in the show's entire history. Despite giving memorable showings on a weekly basis over the course of the Summer of 2002, they weren't enough to propel her to the win. One of her most spectacular performances happened during Top 5 week when she sang Luther Vandross' "A House Is Not a Home" on Burt Bacharach night. Watch it below:

Since this performance, Simon Cowell has seen many, many performances on TV, and so even though he has most likely seen superior performances to this one, he probably would still agree this is "on-par with Whitney and Christina."

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Flashback: Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This"

As we look ahead to Wednesday's grand finale for Idol's ninth season, it only makes sense to revisit the finale that gave this show a reason to continue. Kelly Clarkson was never the front runner to take the title on the first season of the show until her main rival, Tamyra Gray, was sent home in the first shocker of the series during Top 4 results night.

Kelly proved she had exactly what it took to become the American Idol, and her crowning moment and performance of "A Moment Like This" were extremely memorable. Relive the moment below:

This moment still gives me chills. Kelly's quips of excitement throughout the performance showed just why she won, because she won over America with not only her outstanding vocals but her personality and stage presence as well. No matter who wins on Wednesday, this will always be the most moving winning moment in Idol history.

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Flashback: Jim Verraros's "Easy"

Jim was one of the worst finalists in Idol history, and the greatest evidence of this was his showing during Top 10 week on the show's first season. The only thing that was more surprising than him being the second one to get the boot that night was the fact that he wasn't the first. Watch his performance of "Easy" during Motown Week below:

Jim didn't deserve Paula's non critique, but she was still new at the Idol game back then so she gets a pass. Still, it's somewhat of an honor that he will forever be able to say he was the second finalist to ever be eliminated from the show (and the first 9th-place finisher), right?

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Flashback: Kelly Clarkson's audition

As we embark on another season of Idol tomorrow night, let's take a look back at the original idol's first moment in the spotlight, at least, in front of the judges that would later witness her as the first champion of the most successful talent program of last decade. Relive Kelly Clarkson's magical audition from the show's first season below:

Kelly's choice of "At Last" was the perfect song selection, and the fact that she saild through to Hollywood with "Yes" votes from all there judges was a testament to Kelly's raw talent. It is only fitting that as we start anew once again, Kelly gets credit for a phenomenon that she had a major role in creating.

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Flashback: RJ Helton's "Superstition"

RJ Helton made it far in Idol's maiden voyage despite drawing fire from Simon Cowell on a regular basis. Although he wavered on a few performances, he also had a few good ones here and there. During Top 7 week, when the crew took on songs from the 1970s, RJ selected Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." Watch the performance below:

Although it wasn't his best offering, RJ gained notice for his dance moves. Maybe those were responsible for getting him through another three weeks on the show? Actually, probably not.

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Poll of the week: "Idols Live!" 2008 is fave

In results that could be seen only as an overwhelming sense of nostalgia for Season 7, voters in IDOL LIVE's poll of the week chose that season's "Idols Live!" tour as their favorite.

It was nothing short of a slaughter in last week's poll, with 243 votes going to the tour for the season of the Davids in 2008. That's a ridiculous 94% total take of the 256 votes cast in all. None of the other tours got so much as an honorable mention.

In this week's edition of the poll of the week, readers are asked which lead-off single of Carrie Underwood's is their favorite. Voting will be open for exactly one week.

Season 1 (2002) 1 (0%)
Season 2 (2003) 1 (0%)
Season 3 (2004) 1 (0%)
Season 4 (2005) 2 (0%)
Season 5 (2006) 3 (1%)
Season 6 (2007) 2 (0%)
Season 7 (2008) 243 (94%)
Season 8 (2009) 3 (1%)

Total votes: 256

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Flashback: Christina Christian's "Ain't No Sunshine"

Top 7 week of Idol's first season marked the first time the 1970s would be used as a theme for a performance episode, and Christina Christian's choice of song would become a standard for many an Idol finalist, including the show's latest winner, Kris Allen. Watch Christina perform Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" below:

Although she would be eliminated the next week of the competition, Christina demonstrated an understanding of vocal control and dynamics in this performance, and it remains one of the highlights of the premiere season.

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Flashback: Ryan Starr's "Last Dance"

In the spirit of last week's exposition of disco songs by the current cast of Idol finalists, it is worth taking a look at the performance that sent Ryan Starr home in seventh place during disco week all the way back in Season 1. Watch Ryan's take on Donna Summer's "Last Dance" below:

This performance got Ryan the boot, and is what started a series of "cursed" songs, as it would later be responsible for sending LaKisha Jones home five seasons later. Still, Ryan was ahead of her time

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Flashback: Kelly Clarkson's "Stuff Like That There"

In what is widely considered to be her "moment" on Idol, Kelly Clarkson's take on Bette Middler's "Stuff Like That There" was something magical to close out the Top 6's Big Band night back in Season 1. Relive the performance below:

This performance is a perennial choice to make it on Top 10 lists of the greatest performances this show has ever delivered, and showed that Kelly was original enough to be seen as a viable contender, and was ultimately crowned the winner of the show.

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