[10] The Hollywood rounds of the audition process were held over four days in November 2006 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

The second round took place on the second and third days, and consisted of groups of three or four contestants rehearsing and then performing one of nine pre-selected songs.

The third round took place on the fourth day, where each contestant performed one song from a pre-selected list accompanied by a piano and backup singers.

The final round took place at the Pasadena Civic Center on January 14–15, 2007, just before the regional audition shows began airing.

Also as in past years, one finalist was eliminated every week, with the exception of the April 25 show, when all contestants were declared safe.

Jon Bon Jovi and David Bryan served as guest mentors this week.

Every past winner of American Idol gave a special performance except for Fantasia, who was appearing in The Color Purple in New York City and was thus unavailable.

Color key: On the April 3 show, Ryan Seacrest announced the first American Idol songwriting contest.

There was controversy surrounding the judges' comments over the audition of a Special Olympics participant named Jonathan Jayne.

[14] American Idol producer Ken Warwick responded by saying: "It's not a conscious decision, It's just that the further we go in the series, there are less and less good singers, so the numbers are made up by more bad ones."

Warwick said that he thinks everyone has the right to audition, and added that in some instances when there are singers with certain disabilities who just want to meet the judges, the producers will "turn the cameras off and bring them in.

On the results show the next day, Cowell stated: "I may not be the nicest person in the world, but I would never, ever, ever disrespect those families or those victims, and I felt it was important to set the record straight."

[17] Live + 7 day (DVR) ratings American Idol Extra, a behind-the-scenes show, also returned for a second season, corresponding with the start of the finals in March.

On the March 8 results show, Ryan Seacrest announced an initiative to give back to people in poverty in both Africa and the United States, including those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

MySpace created a special profile page for the event in order to spread the word.

Donations from viewers were accepted by phone and through the website during the April 25 results show, in a manner similar to a telethon.

Between contestant performances, video vignettes showing Seacrest and the judges and visiting and observing squalid conditions in Africa and the United States were aired.

In response to the anticipated call volume, each contestant was assigned two toll free numbers.

The results show was broadcast from two locations—the regular American Idol stage and Walt Disney Concert Hall, which included many celebrity actors and personalities.

The show featured Justin Guarini as a correspondent along with Kimberly Caldwell and Rosanna Tavarez.

[39] Originally, a collage of the finalists' head shots from the top 24 photo shoot was used as album art on AmericanIdol.com, with the title American Idol 6: Greatest Moments; at present, the covers of Sparks' and Lewis' EPs are used instead.

The American Idol: Season 6 – "Greatest Hits" & "The Collector's Edition" were eventually released on June 12, 2007.

Sparks' first non-American Idol single was the top hit "Tattoo", which received platinum certification.

The album's title track became Jordin's fifth top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10.

This made Jordin Sparks the only American Idol contestant to have their first five singles become Top 20 Hits.