American Idol has made some music stars household names over the years. It’s also turned some of its also-rans into viral sensations. However, sometimes people who have auditioned for the show have gone on to become famous in their own right. Such was the case with Reacher star Alan Ritchson.
If you’re a fan of Idol, or of Ritchson, or you just spend far too many hours of your life on the internet, there’s a good chance you already knew that Alan Ritchson once auditioned for American Idol. The fact that he attempted to charm his way onto the Idol stage by serenading Paula Abdul is well-known. But if you haven’t seen the clip before, you really need to. It really is a hilarious preface to the actor's machismo-driven career path.
today I learned Alan Ritchson was on American Idol and managed to charm Paula Abdul in his audition pic.twitter.com/5G6xoTF1z2March 28, 2026
For as many people who have seen this clip before, there are always those for whom it is new when it ends up making the rounds on social media. It’s honestly worth it to see it every now and then because the reactions are always great. Comments here include:
- Alan Ritchson has always been hot before be beefed up. - @AreYourOrLah
- Crazy fit for AI? Alan Ritchson in Idol era must’ve been a vibe. - @yappingbucket
- wait alan ritchson on idol? that's wild - @UseVektorizeAI
- Don't think ive ever seen Reacher smile, nevermind sing - @gigidygigidygo
While some in the comments are critical of Ritchson’s singing, I’d argue he’s not all that bad. It’s difficult to imagine that he was ever going to win American Idol, but the guy can carry a tune.
The fact that we’re seeing this clip again is no accident. Ritchson’s name has been in the news recently following a physical altercation with a neighbor that resulted in a very different video going viral, one that showed Ritchson striking a man several times. In the end, it was Ritchson who was offered the opportunity to press charges in the incident, as the police believed the other man could be charged with reckless endangerment, but Ritchson declined.
The time will probably come several years down the line when the video of Ritchson's physical altercation will go viral again, and a lot of people will be surprised by it, having never seen it before.
For those fans keeping score, Alan Ritchson received three positive votes for his little serenade, but he was eliminated early in Season 3, before American Idol reached the final 32 contestants. No need to worry about him fizzling out of Hollywood, however, as indicated by all of his successes.
Ritchson recently wrapped post-production on Season 4 of Reacher, which is promised soon. He’s also expected to appear in the upcoming spinoff series Neagley. Both shows are available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription.
