3 ‘Idol’ alumni target holiday season for debuts

Pushing the 'Boundaries'

Kris Allen performs the Kara DioGuardi-written "No Boundaries" on Tuesday, May 19, his final performance of the season on "American Idol." (F Micelotta / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Saving grace

Kris Allen performed two songs on the show that landed him in the final two. Simon Cowell wasn’t so thrilled with Allen’s version of “Apologize,” by One Republic, for which he played piano. For his second song, Kanye West’s “Heartless,” he switched to guitar and won the judges back. Simon Cowell flat-out told him he’d written Allen off after the first song, then changed his mind. (Frank Micelotta / Fox) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Here come old flat-top

On Rock Night, Allen sang The Beatles’ famed “Come Together.” The judges came together, but not in a positive way. “It was rather like eating ice for lunch,” said Simon Cowell, meaning the performance left nothing to remember. (R Mickshaw / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Singing a wedding-day standard

On Rat Pack Night, Allen sang the love song “The Way You Look Tonight.” It didn’t exactly romance Simon Cowell, who said the performance was “safe,” and compared it to “taking a well-trained spaniel for a walk.” (F Micelotta / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Shop till you drop

On Disco Night, Allen sang Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard For the Money,” thus launching the infamous “women’s underwear” fight between Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. Abdul was trying to make a point about Allen choosing a song made famous by a woman and referred to him shopping in the women’s department, and the judges’ debate deteriorated from there. “Forget those kids over there,” Randy Jackson scoffed at his fellow judges, proclaiming Allen “amazing.” (M Becker / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Night at the movies

For movie-song night, Allen chose “Falling Slowly” from the film “Once.” Kara DioGuardi thought he took a risk in choosing what she called an “obscure song.” But can a tune really be that obscure if it won the 2008 Academy Award for best original song? (F Micelotta / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Hold the bus!

Allen’s version of “How Sweet It Is” pleased judge Kara DioGuardi, who appreciated that he didn’t just channel James Taylor. But Simon Cowell slammed his onstage presence, saying “you could be at a bus stop.” (Fox) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Stardom starts to show

On country night, Allen took on Garth Brooks’ “Make You Feel My Love,” performing without either guitar or piano. Simon Cowell told him that it was with this performance that he began to believe Allen actually had a shot in the competition. (Michael Becker / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Lending a hand

Allen first brought out the guitar for “Remember the Time,” and the judges were pleased with the results. Kara DioGuardi also praised Allen for spending a lot of his free time helping the other contestants. (Michael Becker / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

The next 'American Idol'?

Kris Allen seemed like another face in the crowd when the season 8 finals began in March. Instead, the Conway, Ark., resident has survived the battle of attrition and is staking his claim on the title. (Fox) Share Back to slideshow navigation