ROUND 1: SMASHING SINGLE
CARRIE: The reigning American Idol, Carrie Underwood, released her first Idol themed single Inside Your Heaven soon after claiming the crown. In hindsight, the song sits among the familiar dreams of a winner rather than a bold breakthrough.
MELISSA: In contrast, Melissa O’Neil’s debut single for Canadian Idol stands out as a solid EP for any Idol winner to date. Blending pop hooks with a rock edge in the chorus, Alive echoes a vibe that could easily have found a home on a Kelly Clarkson record.
Sorry, Carrie. It looks like Melissa is winning this round with Inside Your Heaven. Mel scores!
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 0
MELISSA O’NEIL – 1
ROUND 2: RATINGS RUMBLE
CARRIE: Millions of Americans tuned into the season finale of American Idol 4 to see Carrie beat runner-up Bo Bice for the Idol title – 30.3 million viewers as a peak, with the show averaging about 12.5 million at any moment, according to Nielsen ratings.
MELISSA: While Canadian Idol enjoys strong local appeal, it can’t match the reach of its American counterpart. In Canada, roughly 5.8 million watched parts of the third season finale (about 2 million on average) in which Melissa outperformed Rex Goudie.
American Idol gave Carrie broader exposure. Carrie is in it to win!
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 1
MELISSA O’NEIL – 1
ROUND 3: NEAR KNOCKOUT
CARRIE: Amazingly, Carrie joined an elite group of American Idol finalists never to land in the bottom three, a list that includes Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken.
MELISSA: Melissa, meanwhile, faced a bottom three position during the first two weeks of the Top 10, but she bounced back to emerge as a strong contender.
Luckily for Mel, this round is not elimination. Carrie takes the lead!
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 2
MELISSA O’NEIL – 1
ROUND 4: SONG STYLE
CARRIE: Even though the Idol stage leans pop, Carrie Underwood remains a true country singer. On the show she performed Martina McBride’s Independence Day and Shania Twain’s Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
MELISSA: Melissa stays faithful to the show’s multi-genre roots. She started singing after hearing the Spice Girls and has shown versatility across big band, classic rock, and other styles.
Melissa is still Alive. The score is tied.
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 2
MELISSA O’NEIL – 2
ROUND 5: ROLE MODEL
CARRIE: Hailing from Checotah, Oklahoma, Carrie embodies the girl-next-door charm with a simple goal of happiness. She represents all-American southern warmth and shows that nice girls can finish first.
MELISSA: At 17, this Calgary talent stands as a beacon of Canadian pride. Melissa is the first female winner of Canadian Idol and she plans to stay in school, offering a positive example for Canadian teens.
Simply put, Melissa embodies the better fit of an Idol winner in this comparison.
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 2
MELISSA O’NEIL – 3
ROUND UP: Both Idol winners have proven their worth, but Melissa O’Neil stands out as the stronger presence. With a growing catalog and a homegrown following, Melissa remains a defining talent in Canadian singing.