This season also featured future EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, who finished seventh in the competition.

In addition to Fantasia and Diana DeGarmo, Jasmine Trias, LaToya London, George Huff, Jennifer Hudson, and Camile Velasco all released albums since the season ended.

The men and the ladies were separate and they were each given three different songs to choose: the ladies had The Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love," Vonda Shepard's "Tell Him," or Candi Staton's "Young Hearts Run Free"; the men had Billy Joel's "Tell Her About It," Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," or The Drifters's "Up on the Roof."

As with the second season, two performers from each group were selected by public vote to proceed on to the top 12, and those who failed at any of the previous stages were given a second chance in the Wild Card round.

Four contestants in the wildcard round were eliminated by the judges before they had the chance to sing: Lisa Leuschner, Eric Yoder, Tiara Purifoy, and Marque Lynche.

This season, guests were introduced as celebrity judges and often also served as mentors for the week they appeared.

[14] Color key: Both Jennifer Hudson and LaToya London, part of final twelve, were eliminated, despite high praises from the judges.

After Hudson was eliminated, Elton John, who was a mentor for that season, criticized the vote as "incredibly racist" in a press conference.

Hudson, London, and Barrino (who would eventually go on to win the competition) were all female, African-American, highly praised singers — all appealing to the same demographic bloc of voters.

All three of these previously popular singers ended up in the "bottom three" the night Hudson was eliminated, having the lowest individual vote counts.

[16] Live + same day ratings This season the show was ranked second overall in total viewer for the 2003–2004 TV seasons, with its Tuesday episodes taking the top spot, averaging 25.73 million viewers, while the Wednesday episodes ranked third with 24.31 million.

Note 1: The Top 8 shows were shifted to Wednesday and Thursday due to a presidential address on Tuesday.

Live + 7 day (DVR) ratings Home for the Holidays: Kelly, Ruben & Fantasia aired in November 2004.