Looking back throughout the last 10 seasons of ‘American Idol,’ it seems like the most talented contestants always get cut before they should!
1. Pia Toscano: With two-to-one odds of winning the competition, no one expected Pia Toscano, 22, to be the ninth contestant eliminated on Season 10. Everyone thought she was a fan favorite!The world was stupefied when the talented and beautiful Pia Toscano was eliminated from American Idol April 7. However, the 22-year-old belter’s elimination isn’t necessarily the most shocking moment in the show’s history. Remember when Kris Allen beat Adam Lambert in season eight? What about when Chris Daughtry got the boot before Katharine McPhee in season five? Check out our Top 10 most shocking moments in Idol history and tell us which one surprised you most!
2. Adam Lambert: When Ryan Seacrest announced Kris Allen was the season eight winner of American Idol, he was shocked. Everyone — including him — thought Adam Lambert was going to take home the top prize.
3. David Archuleta: Even though he was only 16 years old at the time, David Archuleta was the predicted winner of season seven of American Idol. However, in May 2008 he finished as runner-up to David Cook, which shocked even Simon Cowell.
4. Chris Daughtry: Despite having great success post-American Idol, Chris Daughtry only made it to fourth place in Season 5, getting the boot before Katharine McPhee.
5. Constantine Maroulis: Placing sixth-place in Season 4, Constantine Maroulis was expected to go much further in the competition and has had continued success since getting kicked off the show.
6. Jennifer Hudson: When Jennifer Hudson got seventh place in Season 3, many people were outraged and blamed a power outage in her hometown of Chicago on her low number of votes. She’s since gone on to win an Academy Award.
7. Tamyra Gray: Simon Cowell has said he was shocked and disappointed when Tamyra Gray was eliminated in fourth place in Season 1 because he expected her to potentially win the entire contest.
8. Gina Glocksen: After appearing in Season 5 at Hollywood Week, Gina Glocksen was determined to go all the way in Season 6. However, the rainbow-haired singer only made it to ninth-place, even though she’d never been in bottom three before she was given the boot.
9. Clay Aiken: Clay Aiken had a fan base akin to no one else in Season 2 — however, he was still beaten out by Ruben Studdard in the season finale. It was the first time in Idolhistory America was shocked by the winner.
10. Casey Abrams: Casey Abrams was shockingly eliminated in Season 10, but the judges quickly used their one save of the season, despite still having 11 contestants remaining. There was more swearing in this episode than in any in the show’s history!