Alan Ritchson shares singing video, revisiting ‘American Idol’ history

Actor Alan Ritchson, known for his role in ‘Reacher’, recently shared a video on Instagram of himself singing a cover of ‘Human Nature’ from a hotel room. The post has reignited interest in his 2004 audition for season three of ‘American Idol’.

During that audition, then 20-year-old Ritchson prompted judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson to briefly exit the room after Paula Abdul commented on his appearance. Ritchson proceeded to serenade Abdul with Stevie Wonder’s ‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’ before the other judges returned. Despite the dramatic moment, all three judges voted ‘yes’, allowing him to advance to the final 32 before he was eventually eliminated from the competition.