The Top 10 of season 1 of American Idol started on July 17th, 2002 and ended September 4th, 2002.
Contestants[]
| Christina Christian | Kelly Clarkson |
| EJay Day | A.J. Gil |
| Tamyra Gray | Justin Guarini |
| R.J. Helton | Nikki McKibbin |
| Ryan Starr | Jim Verraros |
Top 10[]
The theme this week was "Motown"
| Ryan Starr | "If You Really Love Me" (Stevie Wonder) | Safe |
| R.J. Helton | "I Can't Help Myself" (The Four Tops) | Safe |
| Nikki McKibbin | "Ben" (Michael Jackson) | Bottom 3 |
| EJay Day | "My Girl" (The Temptations) | Eliminated |
| Tamyra Gray | "Touch Me in the Morning" (Diana Ross) | Safe |
| Justin Guarini | "For Once in My Life" (Stevie Wonder) | Safe |
| Jim Verraros | "Easy" (Commodores) | Eliminated |
| Kelly Clarkson | "You're All I Need to Get By" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) | Safe |
| A.J. Gil | "My Cherie Amour" (Stevie Wonder) | Safe |
| Christina Christian | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) | Safe |
Bottom Three: Nikki McKibbin, EJay Day, Jim Verraros
Top 8[]
The theme this week was "1960s"
| R.J. Helton | "Under the Boardwalk" (The Drifters) | Safe |
| Tamyra Gray | "A Fool in Love" (Ike & Tina Turner) | Safe |
| Nikki McKibbin | "Piece of My Heart" (Erma Franklin) | Safe |
| A.J. Gil | "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" (Marvin Gaye) | Eliminated |
| Kelly Clarkson | "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin) | Safe |
| Christina Christian | "When a Man Loves a Woman" (Percy Sledge) | Bottom 3 |
| Justin Guarini | "Sunny" (Bobby Hebb) | Safe |
| Ryan Starr | "You Really Got Me" (The Kinks) | Bottom 2 |
Bottom Three: A.J. Gil, Christina Christian, Ryan Starr
Top 7[]
The theme this week was "1970s"
| Nikki McKibbin | "Heartbreaker" (Pat Benatar) | Bottom 3 |
| Ryan Starr | "Last Dance" (Donna Summer) | Eliminated |
| Christina Christian | "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers) | Safe |
| Justin Guarini | "Someday We'll All Be Free" (Donny Hathaway) | Bottom 2 |
| Kelly Clarkson | "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" (Ben E. King) | Safe |
| R.J. Helton | "Superstition" (Stevie Wonder) | Safe |
| Tamyra Gray | "If I Were Your Woman" (Gladys Knight & The Pips) | Safe |
Bottom Three: Nikki McKibbin, Ryan Starr, Justin Guarini
Top 6[]
The theme this week was "Big Band"
| Tamyra Gray | "Minnie the Moocher" (Cab Calloway) | Safe |
| Justin Guarini | "Route 66" (Nat "King" Cole) | Safe |
| Nikki McKibbin | "Hard-Hearted Hannah" (Dolly Kay) | Bottom 3 |
| Christina Christian | "The Glory of Love" (Benny Goodman and His Orchestra) | Eliminated |
| R.J. Helton | "I Won't Dance" (Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers) | Bottom 2 |
| Kelly Clarkson | "Stuff Like That There" (Betty Hutton) | Safe |
Bottom Three: Nikki McKibbin, Christina Christian, R.J. Helton
Top 5[]
The theme this week was "Burt Bacharach Love Songs"
| Kelly Clarkson | "Walk on By" (Dionne Warwick) | Safe |
| R.J. Helton | "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (Christopher Cross) | Eliminated |
| Tamyra Gray | "A House is Not a Home" (Dionne Warwick) | Safe |
| Justin Guarini | "The Look of Love" (Dusty Springfield) | Safe |
| Nikki McKibbin | "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" (Lou Johnson) | Bottom 2 |
Bottom Two: R.J. Helton, Nikki McKibbin
Top 4[]
The theme this week was "1980s/1990s". The four contestants performed twice this week.
| Tamyra Gray | "New Attitude" (Patti LaBelle) | Eliminated |
| Nikki McKibbin | "Mary Jane" (Alanis Morissette) | Bottom 2 |
| Kelly Clarkson | "It's Raining Men" (The Weather Girls) | Safe |
| Justin Guarini | "Get Here" (Brenda Russell) | Safe |
| Tamyra Gray | "Feel the Fire" (Stephanie Mills) | Eliminated |
| Nikki McKibbin | "I'm the Only One" (Melissa Etheridge) | Bottom 2 |
| Kelly Clarkson | "I Surrender" (Celine Dion) | Safe |
| Justin Guarini | "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (Michael Jackson) | Safe |
Bottom Two: Tamyra Gray, Nikki McKibbin
Top 3[]
The theme this week was "Contestant's Choice/Judges' Choice". The three contestants performed twice this week.
| Nikki McKibbin | "Edge of Seventeen" (Stevie Nicks) | Eliminated |
| Justin Guarini | "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green) | Advanced |
| Kelly Clarkson | "Think Twice" (Celine Dion) | Advanced |
| Nikki McKibbin | "Black Velvet" (Alannah Myles) | Eliminated |
| Justin Guarini | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Elton John) | Advanced |
| Kelly Clarkson | "Without You" (Badfinger) | Advanced |
Eliminated: Nikki Mckibbin
Top 2[]
The final two contestants performed three times.
| Justin Guarini | "Before Your Love" (Justin Guarini) | Runner-up |
| Kelly Clarkson | "A Moment Like This" (Kelly Clarkson) | Winner |
| Justin Guarini | "Get Here" (Brenda Russell) | Runner-up |
| Kelly Clarkson | "Respect" (Aretha Franklin) | Winner |
| Justin Guarini | "A Moment Like This" (Justin Guarini) | Runner-up |
| Kelly Clarkson | "Before Your Love" (Kelly Clarkson) | Winner |
American Idol: Kelly Clarkson
Notes[]
- The Top 8 contestants sang "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & The Papas for the results show.
- The Top 7 contestants sang "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night for the results show.
- Christina Christian was absent for the Top 6 results show for having to go to the hospital due to stress.
- The Top 6 contestants sang "Bandstand Boogie" by Barry Manilow for the results show.
- Burt Bacharach served as a mentor for the Top 5 performance round.
- The Top 5 contestants sang "That's What Friends Are For" by Rod Stewart for the performance show and a medley of Burt Bacharach songs for the results show.
- The Top 4 contestants sang a medley of Paula Abdul songs for the results show.
- The Top 3 contestants sang "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Neil Sedaka for the results show.