Before becoming the unstoppable Jack Reacher, Alan Ritchson was testing out his singing chops on American Idol. In the wake of his fight with a neighbor in Tennessee, caught on camera, the actor's 2004 audition is going viral.
In the hazy throwback that's over 20 years old, a young Richardson is seen entering the iconic audition room in front of three judges. At the time, the judges' panel was made up of Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson. It appears that Ritchson's good looks were immediately a show-stopper for Abdul.
The now 43-year-old actor went into the audition ready to singStevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life," before Cowell had a few words to say after noticing Abdul's blushing reaction.
"Sorry, Alan, can I just say before you start, thank you for putting a little smile on Paula’s face," said Cowell in the resurfaced clip. "God bless you for that."
With his charming smile, the then 20-year-old happily admitted that he was single. Cowell and Jackson wanted to give Abdul a private show and left the room to allow Ritchson to serenade the "Straight Up" singer. The video even cuts to a backstage interview with Abdul, where she admits the future actor was "totally hot" and was left alone with Rithcson so he could "sing the whole audition to me."
"Now listen, I’m a professional, and it didn’t sway my decision … much," said Abdul.
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today I learned Alan Ritchson was on American Idol and managed to charm Paula Abdul in his audition pic.twitter.com/5G6xoTF1z2
— internet hall of fame (@InternetH0F) March 28, 2026The clip then cuts back to Ritchson kneeling behind the judge's table in front of Abdul as he serenades her with Wonder's song. While Abdul hasn't commented on the resurfaced video, Ritchson did talk about it in a 2023 interview with Jimmy Kimmel. DuringAmerican Idol, Ritchson admits the show edited his clips to make him look bad, but looks back on the experience fondly. He was eliminated during the Hollywood group round.
The American Idol clip of Ritchson's singing abilities may not come as a surprise to fans who have followed him for years. Before being the tough-as-nails military officer in Reacher, Ritchson played the comedic role of Thad Castle in Blue Mountain State when he was in his late 20s. He also played Aquaman in Smallville, and is known among fans for his comedic timing and jokes.
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