Top 20 ‘Idol’ Contestants of All Time – 8: Fantasia Barrino
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- January
- 14
The real-life story of Fantasia Barrino is literally a Lifetime original movie—the convergence of the American Dream and “American Idol.”
A high-school dropout and functionally illiterate single mom from North Carolina, Barrino impressed the “Idol” judges from Day 1 as an auditioner in Atlanta. In the earliest rounds of voting, Randy Jackson half-jokingly declared her the winner. It rang so true, I didn’t bother laughing.
With a slew of excellent performances, including her signature rendition of “Summertime,” she so dominated Season 3 that it was boring to watch. In my mind, the only three contestants who had a shot were runner-up Diana DeGarmo (far more for her ‘tween appeal than for her voice), seventh-place finisher and eventual Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson (who, again, didn’t seem to bring her A-game that year) and unfairly booted Lisa Leuschner (don’t get me started). In reality though, it wasn’t even close and I almost resented Barrino for how easy she made it look.
Her first album, “Free Yourself,” went double-platinum with help from the Tamyra Gray-penned “I Believe.” Her follow-up album “Fantasia”—highlighted by the hypnotic and headbob-inducing “Hood Boy”—went gold. She’s also been nominated for about a gazillion image and music awards.
And while some “Idols” have found a home on Broadway, Barrino finds ways to keep shows there. After announcing she’d be appearing in the show and performing a song from it on “Idol” and Oprah Winfrey’s show, “The Color Purple” box office reportedly “took in $6 million in advance ticket sales before she even stepped onstage for the first time,” according to MTV News.
So often the “Idol” judges say some form of the phrase “You are what this competition is all about.” In Fantasia’s case, there’s no better example.
Also see:
– Top 20 ‘Idol’ Contestants of All Time – Epilogue-No. 1: Kelly Clarkson
-No. 2: Carrie Underwood
-No. 3: Chris Daughtry
-No. 4: Jennifer Hudson
-No. 5: Sanjaya Malakar
-No. 6: William Hung
-No. 7: Clay Aiken
-No. 9: Blake Lewis
-No. 10: Tamyra Gray
-No. 11: Jordin Sparks
-No. 12: Melinda Doolittle
-No. 13: Bo Bice
-No. 14: Elliott Yamin
-No. 15: Ruben Studdard
-No. 16: Katharine McPhee
-No. 17: Taylor Hicks
-No. 18: Diana DeGarmo
-No. 19: Frenchie Davis
-No. 20: Lisa Leuschner
-Top 20 intro and criteria/Honorable Mentions (Nos. 21-31)
(Photo courtesy of FOX.)
This entry was posted
on Monday, January 14th, 2008 at 9:30 am by Chris Serico.
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What a wonderful write-up about the amazingly talented Fantasia! I adore the girl, and to think she has only been in the biz for 4 years and has accomplished so much. Can’t wait to see what she does next!
I would place Fantasia at #1!! Your list so far includes many who should be at the top. Perhaps you’re basing your selections on album success rather than actual talent.To place fembot Underwood ahead of Frenchie, Elliott, Melinda or Fantasia is laughable.
Fantasia is the only Idol contestant that made me ever feel the show had accomplished what it set out to do , that is , find a true superstar . Of course she wasn’t the perfect pop princess that they were hoping to find , she was something altogether different and in subsequent seasons no-one has even come close to this young woman
This guy is retarded! He has William Hung and Sanjaya in the #5 and #6 positions? Who the Hell is Lisa Leuschner? LOL
This list CANNOT be taken seriously!!! Kelly Clarkson? Her star stopped shinning a couple of years ago. Carrie Underwood? Sanjaya Malakar is more successful than Fantasia Barrino? Well, you could have FOOLED ME!!!! And, both Sanjaya and William Hung are both more successful than Clay Aiken? THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE BIGGEST JOKE OF THE YEAR!