The new season of American Idol — which is technically its 22nd — gets underway February 18 on ABC, and host Ryan Seacrest says this time around, the show is going home. Or at least, back to Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry‘s homes.
“We’re taking all of the judges back to their roots, back to their hometowns, and doing auditions in those hometowns,” Seacrest told ABC Audio about what viewers can expect. “Which has been great. I mean, Luke Bryan on his high school stage, where he performed in high school. Katy in Santa Barbara, Lionel back in Alabama … so I think that’ll be something that’s really interesting for the viewers to see.”
More specifically, the auditions will take place in Los Angeles, Nashville, Luke’s hometown of Leesburg, Georgia; Lionel’s hometown of Tuskegee, Alabama; and Katy’s hometown of Santa Barbara, California. Katy has said this will be her last year on American Idol; the current judging panel has been at it for seven seasons.
Last season’s winner, Iam Tongi, has since released an EP and several singles, and toured with fellow contestant Oliver Steele. Meanwhile, former Idols continue to make their mark.
Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson both have their own talk shows; Kelly was also recently nominated for a Grammy for her most recent album. Meanwhile, Fantasia is starring in the new movie version of The Color Purple, Chris Daughtry just topped Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart and Carrie Underwood has a successful Las Vegas residency at Resorts World.
Plus, Benson Boone, who made it to the Top 24 in Season 19 before dropping out of the show, currently has the #3 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Beautiful Things.”
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Michelle Yeoh to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
May 3, 2024
ABCGlobal action superstar and Everything Everywhere All at Once Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh…
Britney Spears shows off swollen ankle after paramedics called to her hotel
May 3, 2024
Scott Dudelson/Getty ImagesBritney Spears is responding to claims made by TMZ that police and…
Ed Sheeran won’t release new music this year: “I’m just going to sit on it for a bit”
May 3, 2024
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesEd Sheeran released two albums last year, – (Subtract) and Autumn…
Weekend Watchlist: What’s new on streaming
May 3, 2024
Ready, set, binge! Here's a look at some of the new movies and TV shows streaming this…
“I will not sit back and be attacked”: Kevin Spacey takes to social media about ‘Spacey Unmasked’ doc
May 3, 2024
Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesKevin Spacey has gone on the attack regarding a new U.K. documentary…
In Brief: Paul Walter Hauser joins Marvel Studios’ ‘Fantastic Four’, and more
May 3, 2024
Twilight actress Kristen Stewart and Dune's Oscar Isaac have been tapped to lead the cast of the…
Drew Barrymore to front new ‘Hollywood Squares’ for CBS
May 3, 2024
CBSAs part of its announcement of its 2024-25 season, CBS announced it has tapped Drew Barrymore to…
Dua Lipa releases ‘Radical Optimism,’ says she’s working on “putting the meaning back into pop”
May 3, 2024
Tyrone LebonThe spring of the pop girlies continues. Dua Lipa has released her long-awaited third…