Summary
- ABC has announced American Idol season 23.
- American Idol season 4 winner and country music superstar Carrie Underwood will take Katy Perry’s place as a judge alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Host Ryan Seacrest will also return.
- American Idol season 23 online auditions are open from May 3, 2024 through October 15, 2024.
American Idol season 23 has been announced by ABC, and the upcoming season of the show will look very different now that judge Katy Perry has exited the reality singing competition series. ABC revived American Idol in 2018, after its cancelation by FOX in 2016. Katy, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan joined the judging panel, and they’ve been together since day one of the revival. In addition, longtime American Idol host Ryan Seacrest returned to emcee the show.
American Idol season 22 was one of the most competitive in the history of the show. It culminated with Abi Carter, a 21-year-old musician from Indio, California, being crowned the winner. She bested runner-up Will Moseley, a 23-year-old musician from Hazlehurst, Georgia, and third place finisher Jack Blocker, a 25-year-old graphic designer from Dallas, Texas. During the finale, the Top 6 female contestants honored Katy by singing a medley of her hits. In addition, in her final performance, Katy paid tribute to seven seasons of contestants by wearing a skirt decorated with images of their faces. As Katy says goodbye, here’s what to know about American Idol season 23.
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American Idol Season 23 News
On May 10, 2024, ABC announced American Idol season 23 via Instagram. The post read, “Keep the stage lights on because #IDOL will be back for another season on ABC and Stream on Hulu.” In the comments section of the post, the show added directions about how to audition for the show, writing, “Want to #BeAnIdol? You can send in your audition right now!!! americanidol.com/auditions.”
American Idol Season 23 Judges
On August 1, 2024, American Idol announced via Instagram that season 4 winner and country music superstar Carrie Underwood will take her seat alongside Lionel and Luke on the judging panel. Carrie will join the show twenty years after her win. Host Ryan Seacrest will also return for American Idol season 23. Before Carrie’s announcement, Many superstars had been mentioned as potential replacements for Katy, including former American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez, American Idol season 22 mentors Jelly Roll, Meghan Trainor, and Jon Bon Jovi, American Idol season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift.
In the Instagram post, American Idol shared a video of Carrie’s season 4 journey from twenty years ago, set to her hit song, “So Small,” which included her audition and the moment she won. The video announced, “This season Carrie Underwood comes home. Welcome American Idol’s newest judge.“ The caption of the post reads, “CARRIE – From #AmericanIdol hopeful, to global icon…to IDOL judge! Home-grown superstar @carrieunderwood will join us for Season 8! #CUonIDOL.”
In the video, Carrie reflected on her American Idol experience. She remembered being at home in Checotah, Oklahoma, and seeing on TV that there were auditions in St. Louis. Her mom told her that if she wanted to go, she’d drive her. She recalled, “I went from nobody knowing my name to tens of millions of people watching the show.“ Carrie added, “I’m proud of everything that I was able to accomplish on the show, and I’m so proud of everything that I’ve accomplished since.”
Since her American Idol season 4 win, Carrie has achieved so much, including 85 million records sold worldwide, 28 #1 singles, 8 Grammys, 17 American Music Awards, 10 People’s Choice Awards, and 7 CMA Awards. With her incredible talent and stage presence, sweet and kind personality, and firsthand experience with the show, Carrie was the perfect choice to replace Katy. She also knows what it takes to have an amazingly successful career after American Idol.
American Idol Season 23 Auditions
According to americanidol.com/auditions, American Idol season 23 online video auditions may be submitted between May 3, 2024 and October 15, 2024. No audition videos will be accepted after 11:59 p.m. PT on October 15. Those who wish to audition must be born between June 2, 1995 and Feb 15, 2010 and a legal U.S. resident. Those who previously placed first in any season of American Idol are ineligible to participate. In addition, contestants must not have any contractual arrangements that would prohibit them from fully participating in the show.
American Idol season 22 was one of the best yet, and it raised the bar for future seasons. American Idol season 23 will certainly be very different without Katy. However, the heart and purpose of the show always remains, which is to find the next music superstar. Carrie, Lionel, and Luke are the perfect trio to do that.
American Idol
season 22 is available to stream on Hulu.
Sources: ABC/Instagram, American Idol/Instagram, americanidol.com/auditions
American Idol
American Idol is a reality singing competition that adds to the international “Idol” brand, conceived initially in the U.K. as Pop Idol. Holding massive auditions across the U.S., American Idol invited several contestants to perform in front of a panel of judges that would determine whether or not they’d go on to future rounds for a chance at competing in the fully televised premiere of the show. Contestants are voted off each week by American participation via voting through various mediums, and the winner of the competition would be given a contract with a record label to secure a future as America’s next musical idol.