The talent contest opens its fifth season with open auditions in Los Angeles.

Open auditions are held in Dallas.

Season 5's open auditions continue.

Preliminary auditions continue.

Open auditions continue.

Open auditions continue.

Disparate acts are featured in continuing preliminary auditions.

Preliminary auditions continue.

Season 5's preliminary auditions continue.

Auditions continue.

Contestants perform for the judges in Las Vegas in hopes of making it into the top 48.

The stress spikes when judges Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel and Piers Morgan deliberate over which acts to select for a spot in the Top 48.

Performance showcases in Los Angeles kick off with 12 acts from the Top 48 taking the stage.

Four winning acts are selected for the sought-after Top 24 in a results edition.

Twelve acts from the Top 48 showcase their talents in the second week of performance shows.

Four acts advance to the Top 24 in a results installment. Cirque du Soleil perform the show "Kà," and the rock band Train sing "Hey, Soul Sister."

Twelve acts perform in the third week of showcases.

Four acts win a slot in the Top 24 in a results show. Singer-songwriter Mike Posner and hip-hop dance troupe JabbaWockeeZ perform.

Twelve acts from the Top 48 take the stage in the fourth week of performance showcases.

Four acts advance to the Top 24 in a results edition. Rocker Bret Michaels and British singer-songwriter Taio Cruz perform.

Twelve acts from YouTube perform in Hollywood.

Four acts from YouTube advance to the semifinal round.

Twelve previously eliminated acts return to the contest and perform in a wild-card round.

Four wild-card acts advance to the semifinal round. Country songstress LeAnn Rimes and illusionist Criss Angel perform.

The semifinal round begins with 12 acts performing in a bid to break into the Top 10.

Five semifinal contestants win a position in the Top 10 in a results show. Jimmy Fallon and singer Kylie Minogue perform.

The semifinal round continues with 12 acts performing.

Five winning acts advance to the Top 10.

The Top 10 acts perform in Hollywood in their quest to win a sought-after position in the final four. Enrique Iglesias performs "I Like It."

The final four acts are revealed. Sarah McLachlan sings "Forgiveness" and the cast of the stage show "American Idiot" performs.

In Season 5's penultimate episode, the remaining four acts perform in Hollywood for the final time.

The winning act is revealed in the Season 5 finale, which features performances by an array of Las Vegas and Hollywood stars.