Harry Connick Jr. joined the American Idol judges' panel for season 13, bringing his wisdom and experience to the show, and we're here to relive his most unforgettable American Idol moments. Prior to officially being a judge, he acted as a mentor. He also had several guest appearances on the show. There's no question that the multi-talented musician and actor is quite the charmer, and he definitely brought some spice to American Idol.
Harry is a famous singer who's renowned for his smooth crooning. He's married to former Cosmopolitan cover model Jill Goodacre. He was born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr. in 1967, in New Orleans, USA. Currently 53, Harry has sold 16 million records during his long and esteemed career. Naturally, he was an ideal choice as an American Idol guest, mentor, and judge.
Hijinks With Keith Urban
During a break in auditions, when Jennifer Lopez had to go to the bathroom, Harry and Keith Urban were left to their own devices. The male judges decided to do a little role-playing. Keith took on the role of judge as Harry pretended to be an inexperienced lounge singer who wanted to audition for American Idol. The exchange that ensued was hilarious. Harry did an impression of nearly every audition, saying lines that viewers were familiar with. He even ended it by asking for Keith's autograph, which the country singer was more than happy to provide. Keith signed Harry's ankle. His tryout definitely wasn't one of the worst auditions of all time.
Playing Piano For Jess Lamb
It’s not a surprise that many of the people who auditioned were starstruck when they walked in and saw the panel of judges. Jess Lamb was no exception. After her stunning rendition of "Ain’t No Sunshine" by Bill Withers, she asked Harry to play the piano with her. Magic ensued soon after. Harry can play the piano beautifully. He's someone who does a lot of things very well.
Medley Performance To Promote His Record
Who could forget the medley Harry did to promote his album, Alone With My Faith. The stage was decorated for his performance, and contestants and judges were fortunate to witness the performance live. In the performance, Harry played a number of instruments, changing the tempo from slow to upbeat. It is something exciting to look back on when viewers are stressing about American Idol finale songs and results.
Reactions To Contestants Who Didn't Know Who He Was
With all of his popularity, it might be hard to believe that there is someone out there that doesn’t know who Harry Connick Jr. is. However, these people do exist. American Idol put together a compilation of moments in which people who auditioned either blanked on Harry's name or didn’t know him at all. Each interaction is more hilarious than the next. Throughout these clips, Harry displays plenty of charisma. He makes the encounters entertaining.
However, the best of the compilation has got to be the moment when Harry had a fan walk into the audition stating that he read his Wikipedia page every night before bed. When Harry heard this, he was nothing short of amazed. He even walked over to the contestant and hugged him, lifting him off the ground. While contestants probably should have known who Harry was, they didn't do anything really questionable, as Caleb Kennedy did.
Another Medley With A Jazz Vibe
Now, we're back to Harry doing what he does best, which is performing. In American Idol season 13, Harry did another medley of One Fine Thing and Come By Me. The band's jazzy accompaniment was superb. However, it was probably Harry's voice that made the fans go wild. Harry has already done so much for American Idol, and fans of the show are excited to see him revisit the stage. While he hasn’t been a judge for the more recent seasons of the show, he is still beloved by fans. He'll always be an American Idol legend.