Fantasia Barrino’s ‘American Idol’ Rendition of “Summertime” Is “Still Hands Down the Greatest Performance of All Time”

While American Idol produced some mesmerizing performances over the years, season 3 offered a plethora of amazing talent. Looking back on the season that aired in 2004, the competition welcomed singers like Diana DeGarmo, George Huff, LaToya London, Jennifer Hudson, and Fantasia Barrino. Although Barrino ended up winning the competition, each of the singers mentioned went on to release albums. And for Barrino, who is set to appear on American Idol as a guest mentor, her performance of “Summertime” is considered one of the top moments in the show’s history. 

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First performing the George Gershwin song when landing in the Top 8 on American Idol, Barrino caught the attention of voters, who couldn’t get enough of the singer’s powerful vocals. When it came to the finale, she once again decided to perform the song as Simon Cowell considered her one of the best contestants ever to compete on American Idol at the time. Thankfully, that performance was uploaded back in 2006. 

Looking at the comments, fans never forgot when Barrino took the stage as one person wrote, “Will never forget how Fantasia had households all over the country shook this night. My family was completely silent the whole performance.” Another fan suggested the moment defined her career on the show. “This is exactly when and where she became American idol winner fantasia.” Continuing the praise, another fan wrote, “2025 anyone ? still hands down the greatest performance of all time.”

[RELATED: Where Are They Now? ‘American Idol’ Winner Fantasia Barrino]

Fantasia Barrino Remembers ‘American Idol’ Producers Not Wanting Her To Discuss Her Child

Agreeing with fans, Barrino took a trip back to season 3 when she teamed up with producer Adam Blackstone to reimagine the song. Releasing the song on streaming platforms, the singer explained, “For me, going back to ‘Summertime,’ it means a lot because that’s the song that made people change their mind on me. When I first was on ‘American Idol,’ you’re thinking someone who’s clean, polished, who has somewhat of a perfect story, and I do not have that. I was already a young mom. I had already been speaking about how I got there.”

Although thrilled with the success that followed her on American Idol, Barrino recalled how the producers wanted her to fit the “Idol” persona. “They would come to me and say, ‘Hey, maybe don’t speak so much about your daughter,’ because I was young. I wasn’t quite giving off the ‘Idol’ vibe.” She continued, “I had a hard time in the beginning of the show. Some of the voters didn’t like the fact that I had dropped out of school and had a baby out of wedlock. How could I be a role model for their kids?”

With Barrino not about to shy away from her past, she charged forward, letting her voice, not life, win over the voters. And it worked. “I wanted people to see me. Yes, I had a child at a young age. Yes, I dropped out of school. I’m here with my gift and my future looks bright – maybe you can’t see it, but I can.”

(Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban)