11. Kelly Clarkson, ''Express Yourself'' (season 1)*
Interestingly enough, viewers of American Idol's first season never got to see eventual winner Kelly's fresh twist on Madonna's ode to female empowerment, not until after she'd advanced to the semifinals — hence, an asterisk on this one. But that doesn't mean the bubbly young Texan's audition wasn't championship material. Indeed, from her arrival in a shirt sewn out of a pair of jeans (how very Project Runway!) to her seat-swapping antics with Randy to her Simon-prompted diss of Ryan Seacrest's hair (''you have to fix your highlights!''), Kelly's first small steps toward her crown were among her most entertaining.

Kelly Clarkson's audition: Watch it on YouTube