The season three finale of American Idol was a history-making moment in the series – it marked the first time that the top two finalists were both female. Fantasia and Diana DeGarmo were the last two contestants standing and when Ryan Seacrest opened the envelope to reveal the winner’s name, Fantasia claimed victory and DeGarmo was named runner-up. Both women were signed to label deals – Fantasia to J and DeGarmo to RCA, and both released post-Idol albums. DeGarmo’s single, “Dreams,” went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Singles Sales chart. She went on to star in Hairspray and Hair on Broadway and off-Broadway productions of The Toxic Avenger and The Marvelous Wonderettes, as well as national tours of 9 to 5 and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and an international tour of Jekyll and Hyde.
