The 11th season of American Idol premieres tonight (8/7c, Fox), and in the past 10 seasons we've seen a lot of incredible auditions and a lot of really, really mind-bogglingly awful ones.
Since we're bound to see lots of lost souls belt out heinous renditions of pop songs tonight (how many people will attempt Adele's "Rolling in the Deep?"), we thought we'd gather some of the worst auditions in American Idol history to see how tonight's wannabes stack up. And because we actually like it better when Idol features the truly talented singers, we've also rounded up the best auditions of all time to remind you that there are always a few diamonds scattered among those rough audition rounds.
5. William Hung
William Hung's rendition of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" (complete with choreographed dance moves) during Idol's third season was so bad that it somehow became awesome. The judges couldn't stop laughing during his audition, but it was Hung who got the last laugh. He scored a record deal and went on to release three albums (Hung for the Holidays is our personal favorite).
4. Steven Theon
You knew that things weren't going to go well when ginger-haired Steven Theon compared himself to Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. But his high-pitched version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" still managed to reach surprising levels of horribleness. The judges dissolved into fits of giggles pretty much immediately, and at one point Paula Adbul laughed so hard she snorted. High praise indeed.
3. James Lewis
James Lewis seems like a really nice guy and he's probably a great tour guide. But his low (loooooow), mumbling version of "Let My People Go" left no doubt that he would NOT be the next American Idol. Judge Randy Jackson knew he had to be cruel to be kind: "This is not your thing dawg. Singing's not your thing."
2. Isadora Furman
Palm reading, yoga, cowboy hats, sweet dance moves, this audition has it all! Isadora Furman's garbled, tamborine-accompanied rendition of "Lady Marmalade" was so strange that at one point guest judge Joan Collins had to remove her glasses just to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
1. Derek Stillings
Wild and wacky auditions have become the norm over Idol's 10 seasons, but we think Derek Stillings' boy band style try-out takes the cake for the worst ever. Why? Derek auditioned during season 1, so we know he wasn't faking it or trying to get on TV. The guy genuinely thought he could give Timberlake a run for his money, and we loved every awkward moment of it.
Best
5. Elliot Yamin
Elliot Yamin finished third on the fifth season of American Idol, and when you watch his perfectly in-tune version of Leon Russell's "A Song for You," it's easy to see why. The pharmacy clerk didn't look like a star, but he knew that he had a gift and he faced the judges with confidence. That's the stuff great auditions are made of.
4. Carrie Underwood
As soon as Carrie Underwood opened her mouth to let out the first sweet strains of "I Can't Make You Love Me," you knew this girl would be going places. Pair that with her cute blond curls, charming disposition, and copious footage of her traipsing around the farm, and you had the early makings of a future country queen.
3. Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken didn't look like a pop star and he didn't dress like a pop star, but he sure as hell sounded like a pop star when he auditioned for American Idol's second season. "You had some good talent [last season], but I think as far as the top 10 goes, I could have been up there. I could got the #1 or #2, at least," Aiken confidently told the judges. He ended up being right, of course.
2. Kelly Clarkson
The first ever American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson was a vocal powerhouse with a winning personality from her very first audition. She sang a gorgeous version of Etta James' "At Last" dressed in a homemade denim ensemble, then switched seats with Randy and playfully pretended to judge him. The rest, as they say, is history.
1. Kellie Pickler
Record execs often talk about the "It Factor," and Kellie Pickler definitely had "it" in her first Idol audition. From the way the 19-year-old encouraged the judges to "Pick Pickler!" to the way she belted out "With a Broken Wing," to the way she talked over Simon without realizing it, Kellie was delightfully refreshing. The small town cutie ended up finishing in 6th place that season and has gone on to have a very healthy country music career.