| American Idol | |
|---|---|
| Season 5 | |
 | |
| Hosted by | Ryan Seacrest |
| Judges | Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Randy Jackson |
| Winner | Taylor Hicks |
| Runner-up | Katharine McPhee |
| Finals venue | Kodak Theatre |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Original release | January 17 – May 24, 2006 |
| Season chronology | |
The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006, and concluded on May 24, 2006. Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson returned as judges, while Ryan Seacrest returned as host. Taylor Hicks was named the winner, while Katharine McPhee was the runner-up. 18 contestants (including all of the top 10 and a few semifinalists) got record deals – nine of them with major labels.