Top 30 Songs on ‘American Idol’ That Led to the Most Eliminations and Advances

Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman,” Cyndi Lauper‘s “True Colors” and Fred Astaire’s “The Way You Look Tonight” are just three of the songs that led to the most eliminations on American Idol, according to a new report by market research firm Action Network.

Compiled using 20 years’ worth of data covering nearly 3,000 performances on American Idol since the show first premiered in 2002 — season 1 through season 20 — Action Network determined the 30 top songs that led to the most eliminations. The firm also researched the top 35 songs that led to a contestant’s advancement within the 20-year history of the series.

The study was conducted prior to the beginning of season 21 and does not account for songs currently being used by contestants.

Among the list of songs that led to the most eliminations within the 20 seasons of American Idol, “Feeling Good,” originally performed by Cy Grant in 1964 and later made popular by Nina Simone a year later, led to the most eliminations on the show within the past two decades. Specifically, the song led to three eliminations and one bottom-two placement.

The Four Tops’ 1965 hit “I Can’t Help Myself, along with the aforementioned songs by Sledge, Lauper and Astaire, came in second place for songs that led to the most eliminations. 

Among the safest songs for contestants to sing were Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” the Beatles’ “Come Together” and Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” which all lead to the most advancements into the next rounds of the competition at eight times each.

Overall, Stevie Wonder‘s songs have led to the most overall eliminations at 21, according to the report, followed by Elton John with 19 eliminations and Whitney Houston at 15. 

The report also took a look at the top 40 most covered artists and songs. Though Wonder made the top of the most songs that led to the elimination list, he’s still the most covered artist on American Idol. Wonder’s hits have been performed 71 times on the show, according to Action Network, followed by the Beatles with 66 covers and John with 55 covered songs on American Idol.

Houston, who is the most covered female artist on the show with her songs performed 50 times, also tops the list for having the most covered song with her 1992 Bodyguard hit “I Have Nothing.” The song has been used 12 times, followed by Janis Joplin’s “Peace of My Heart” and the Beatles’ “Come Together,” which have both been covered nine times.

See the full Top 40 covered songs and artists featured on American Idol below.

Photo (The Beatles): David Redfern/Redferns / Graphs: Courtesy of Action Network