The Worst American Idol Auditions That Made Contestants Famous

Few reality shows have thrived as long as American Idol, and even fewer have thrived on failure the way it has. Since 2002, the series has churned out superstars, fan favorites, and unforgettable meltdowns—but it’s the truly terrible auditions that gave the show its most viral, meme-worthy moments. There’s something about unshakable confidence paired with catastrophic singing that makes for compulsive viewing.

While most contestants dream of chart-topping success, some ended up achieving a different kind of fame—one built on cringe, chaos, and complete musical breakdowns. These auditions didn’t just miss the mark; they missed the whole target. And yet, the contestants behind them became household names, if only briefly, thanks to performances so bizarre they etched themselves into the collective memory of millions.

This list isn’t about the next Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood. It’s about the people who couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket—but who walked into that audition room, gave it everything they had, and somehow walked out iconic. Here are the worst American Idol auditions that made contestants famous, for reasons the show’s judges never saw coming.

1. Keith Beukelaer

When Keith Beukelaer stepped onto the American Idol stage in Season 2, he seemed harmless enough. Soft-spoken and claiming to be “entertaining and unique,” he gave off the vibe of a nervous but earnest contestant. That illusion shattered the second he opened his mouth to sing Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” combining a shaky falsetto with dance moves that looked more like spasms than choreography.

The judges tried to hold it together, but the trainwreck kept rolling. Simon Cowell, ever the glutton for punishment, asked him to sing another tune. Beukelaer obliged with a jarring rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” performed with the same off-key sincerity and twitchy enthusiasm. Simon famously declared him “the worst singer in the world,” while Randy Jackson could only shake his head and say, “That was horrific, man.”

Somehow, that wasn’t the end of Keith’s story. Ten years later, he resurfaced on The X-Factor with a head-scratching performance of “Baby Got Back.” This time, the judges inexplicably voted him through, but his revival was short-lived—he didn’t make it past boot camp. Regardless, Beukelaer secured his place as one of the most unforgettable “so-bad-it’s-good” contestants in Idol history.

2. Larry Platt

Larry Platt wasn’t supposed to be on American Idol. At 62, he was far above the show’s age limit, but producers let him audition anyway. What followed was the birth of a pop culture phenomenon. With the presence of a man who had seen real history, Platt launched into an original track called “Pants on the Ground,” aimed squarely at young men who preferred to let gravity handle their waistlines.

The performance was spirited, if nothing else, and it had everyone cracking up—except for Simon Cowell, who managed only a tight-lipped smirk. Even so, he predicted, “I have a horrible feeling that song is going to be a hit,” and he wasn’t wrong. “Pants on the Ground” blew up online, with memes, remixes, and downloads piling up in the weeks that followed. Platt had gone from local legend to viral sensation overnight.

Despite not advancing due to the age restriction, Platt got a hero’s sendoff. He was invited back for the season finale and even released the song officially, racking up hundreds of thousands of downloads. Platt’s appearance is a reminder that even a short stint on Idol can launch a legacy—especially when it comes wrapped in a catchy chorus and pulled-down jeans.

3. Renaldo Lapuz

Renaldo Lapuz brought pure, unfiltered joy to the American Idol stage. At 44, he too was ineligible to move forward, but that didn’t stop him from making an impact. Dressed in a fluffy white costume and beaming with positivity, Lapuz performed an original tune titled “We’re Brothers Forever”—a heartfelt, if repetitive, anthem of unity and friendship.

As the chorus wore on (and on), the judges started getting into it. Paula Abdul danced. Randy Jackson threw an arm around Lapuz. Even Ryan Seacrest got roped in for the festivities. Simon Cowell, surprisingly, offered a kind “no” while admitting, “I actually like you.” Lapuz, undeterred, thanked everyone warmly and told Simon he was admired by many—proof that kindness can shine even in rejection.

Lapuz returned for the season finale with the USC marching band backing him, turning his performance into a full-blown celebration. He later released a holiday album and became a bit of a cult hero. Even while working as a janitor at Walmart, he became a local VIP—proving that charisma and positivity can outlast a single viral moment.

4. Steven Thoen

Some songs are just too ambitious for your average singer, and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is definitely one of them. Steven Thoen, however, decided to give it a go during Season 6—and it was an instant disaster. From the first faltering note, it was clear things weren’t going to get any better. His shaky falsetto and bizarre delivery had the judges in stitches before he even hit the chorus.

Simon Cowell wasn’t laughing for long. After Thoen suggested Cowell coach him instead of rejecting him, Simon quipped that it would be like “coaching a one-legged man to win the hundred-meter sprint.” It was a brutally honest moment, but Thoen didn’t seem to grasp just how far off-key his performance really was. He left the stage frustrated, venting his disappointment to Ryan Seacrest.

His hometown newspaper later published a quote from his mother, who bluntly said, “My son can’t carry a tune.” She questioned why the show even let him audition in the first place. But that’s exactly the point—American Idol has always known the entertainment value of an epic fail. And Thoen’s audition was one of its most bizarre, making him an accidental icon of delusion.

5. Jennifer “The Hotness” Chapton

Jennifer Chapton, better known by her self-appointed nickname “The Hotness,” wasn’t lacking in confidence during her Season 6 audition. Unfortunately, confidence couldn’t carry her through a painful rendition of “Baby I” by Tenderoni. Her voice cracked, dipped, and missed nearly every note, much to the horror of the judges—and probably anyone else within earshot.

Simon Cowell tried to be blunt but not cruel, calling it a “terrible audition” and suggesting that the song—and she—were “all over the place.” Chapton didn’t take that well. She snapped back that Cowell didn’t know music and dismissed his opinion entirely. Her frustration boiled over into a second impromptu performance, while the judges begged her to stop.

Cowell, never one to back down, joked that he had been about to say yes—clearly sarcastic. Chapton stormed off, still certain the judges were wrong. Though she didn’t move on, her meltdown made for unforgettable TV. In Idol history, there’s a special place for contestants who bring both the drama and the delusion.

6. Sophie Powers

When Sophie Powers walked in to audition during Season 23, the judges likely expected a standard ballad or acoustic pop song. Instead, they got an original rap track titled “Shut the F*** Up.” Delivered in a flat, deadpan monotone over an upbeat instrumental, the song quickly veered into absurdity as Powers listed everything and everyone that should follow the song’s title—including babies, traffic, groceries, and dinosaurs.

The judges didn’t know what to make of it. Carrie Underwood finally asked the question on everyone’s mind—how would Sophie fit into American Idol? Powers’ reply was unexpectedly hilarious: “Yeah, neither do I, I’m literally Canadian.” That moment alone may have earned her a fan base, even if her audition didn’t quite fall in line with the show’s usual vibe.

Turns out, Powers wasn’t exactly banking on a golden ticket. Her Idol moment was more like a quirky promo. Soon after, she dropped her single “Nosebleed” under Atlantic Records and started gaining traction in the alt-pop scene. It just goes to show—even the weirdest auditions can serve as launchpads for real careers.

7. Trista Giese

When Trista Giese appeared in Season 6, she made it clear she wasn’t there to follow the rules. Instead of choosing a conventional pop song, she performed “If I Were the King of the Forest” from The Wizard of Oz, complete with growls, snarls, and the shaky vocal cadence of the Cowardly Lion. Her dedication to the bit was impressive—if confusing—and it left the judges utterly stunned.

Simon Cowell struggled to process what he had just witnessed. “What am I supposed to say?” he asked, visibly baffled. After a moment of mental recovery, he finally labeled it “one of the strangest auditions” he’d ever heard. While Giese didn’t move forward in the competition, her unusual approach carved out a strange little corner of Idol infamy.

Her notoriety grew online, where she became known as “Chewbacca Girl.” In 2018, she and other infamous auditionees embraced their meme status with a spoof performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, poking fun at their place in Idol history. Giese didn’t land a music career, but she did earn a lasting spot in the hall of fame for auditions gone spectacularly wrong.

8. Leroy Wells

Leroy Wells didn’t so much audition for American Idol in Season 4 as he did launch himself at the stage with unmatched energy. He began rapping, yelling, and urging the judges to “get crunk” before they could even ask his name. For a moment, it was unclear whether he had misunderstood the assignment or simply didn’t care about it at all.

Eventually, Randy Jackson steered him toward something resembling a traditional audition, suggesting James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” Wells gave it a shot, but his performance included so much off-beat scatting and improvised hype-man antics that the actual singing got lost in the chaos. Simon Cowell summed it up with a blunt “It’s just ridiculous.”

Years later, Wells’ name popped back up—this time in headlines for a far more serious reason. In 2021, he was charged in connection with a shooting outside a recording studio. It was a sobering contrast to his chaotic but harmless TV debut, reminding audiences that viral fame can sometimes take a dark turn.

9. Martik Manoukian

If American Idol ever awarded points for intensity alone, Martik Manoukian might’ve taken the crown in Season 6. Known by his stage name “Eccentric,” he opened his audition with panther growls, half-naked dancing, and slow, unsettling movements that had the judges visibly on edge. And that was all before he started singing.

When he finally launched into his original song “Sweetest Princess,” it was a bizarre mishmash of squeaky vocals and abrupt staccato delivery. The performance left the judges speechless for a moment until Simon Cowell finally broke the silence with a sharp, “What. The hell. Was that?” The critique only escalated from there, calling the entire performance “horrific” and “ridiculous.”

Manoukian didn’t take the rejection personally. Speaking to Ryan Seacrest afterward, he confidently claimed he might become “bigger than Michael Jackson.” That prediction didn’t pan out. He later created and starred in a short Persian-language film, but like his Idol performance, it came and went without much fanfare.

10. James Lewis

James Lewis walked into the Season 7 auditions full of confidence and armed with the classic spiritual “Go Down Moses.” But once he started singing, the judges were hit with a bizarre monotone drone that sounded less like gospel and more like a robotic chant. His delivery was so strange that it seemed almost otherworldly.

Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul struggled to contain their laughter while Simon Cowell maintained his poker face, trying to absorb what he was witnessing. When the performance ended, Lewis asked to sing another song—despite Simon’s clear refusal. As Lewis launched back into song, the judges’ composure fell apart for good.

Despite the surreal audition, Lewis managed to land a role in a 2009 indie western parody titled Saddle Up With Dick Wrangler and Injun Joe, which also featured Mickey Rooney. It didn’t spark a Hollywood career, but it did confirm that Lewis knew how to stand out—if not always for the reasons he intended.

11. Douglas Davidson

Douglas Davidson’s American Idol Season 7 audition began with strange vocal warmups that should’ve served as a warning. When he finally jumped into Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer,” it was delivered at full volume but with zero pitch control. It was more shouting than singing, and the result was a disaster that couldn’t be ignored.

When the song ended, Davidson oddly claimed he’d only missed “one note,” to which Randy Jackson replied that more like “20 or 30 notes” were off. Instead of cutting his losses, Davidson launched into another round of warmups and began singing again—despite the judges’ repeated pleas for him to stop. Eventually, producers had to physically escort him out.

He didn’t disappear entirely, though. Davidson kept his music alive—on MySpace, of all places. His old page still features a few cover tracks, including a jaw-dropping attempt at Kelly Clarkson’s “Sober.” He may not have gotten a ticket to Hollywood, but he left behind a fascinating digital time capsule of Idol excess.

12. William Hung

There are bad auditions, and then there’s William Hung. In Season 3, he performed Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs” with such earnestness—and such a lack of rhythm—that he instantly became a legend. The off-key delivery, the stiff dancing, the unwavering smile—it all created a perfect storm of lovable awkwardness.

What set Hung apart was his attitude. Even after a verbal dismantling from Simon Cowell, he kept his head high. America fell in love with him not for his voice, but for his unshakable optimism. Soon, he was everywhere—talk shows, comedy sketches, and eventually record stores, where he released not one, but three albums under Koch Records.

Hung embraced his unexpected fame with grace. In a 2024 interview, he reflected on his journey, saying, “It’s OK for people to enjoy themselves.” He never claimed to be a great singer—just someone chasing a dream. And for that reason alone, he remains one of Idol‘s most enduring and oddly inspiring figures.