Who's ready for moreAmerican Idol? The long-running singing competition series returned for a new season on Monday — and this time, things look noticeably different.
Going into Season 24,American Idolshowrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick felt compelled to capitalize on the momentum of the show'srecord-breakinglast season. Her plan? To introduce a new voting method and completely shake up the filming locations.
"There's always an immense amount of pressure regarding how we level up. What do we do that's different? We don't know who is going to come across our door, but we want to use the momentum of last season to bring in new people and fire them up," Michaels Wolflicktold Deadline.
Here's everything you need to know about the newest season ofAmerican Idol— including the major format and location changes that are to come.
When didAmerican IdolSeason 24 premiere?
American IdolSeason 24 premiered on Monday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes will air live on Monday each week and will be available to stream on Hulu the next day.
Who are the judges?
Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and formerAmerican Idolwinner Carrie Underwood have returned as judges for Season 24. This season will mark Underwood's second at the judges' table since replacing Katy Perry in 2025.
"[Carrie] was a totally different beat. We could have found a personality similar to Katy," Michaels Wolflicktold Deadline. "In the music world, there are plenty of female pop singers who would have brought a zaniness, whereas we went completely other way.American Idolbringing Carrie on was the first time globally on Idol that a former winner had come on the panel."
Is Ryan Seacrest still hosting?
Yes. Ryan Seacrest has once again returned as host ofAmerican IdolSeason 24. Seacrest has remained a fixture of the long-running singing competition series, having served as its emcee since its inaugural season in 2002.
Are there any changes coming to theAmerican Idolformat?
American Idolviewers can expect a shake-up this season. For starters, Season 24 will mark the first time the show — and any reality television competition — is incorporating social voting. This means fans will be able to vote for their favorite singers live on social media. Text and phone voting will still be available.
Part of introducing social voting is to appeal to younger demographics, as Michaels Wolflicktold Deadline, "If we can get Gen Alpha and Gen Z to weigh in a little bit more in the easiest way possible, that's very exciting. It could tip the scale. Trends are always different."
Michaels Wolflick added, "We have to meet the audience where they are. Back in 2002 when the show began, texting was the new hot thing. We also have to meet the technology where it is, as well. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote for their favorites, weigh in from their couch with their second screen, in real time."
Where wereAmerican IdolSeason 24 auditions held?
Farewell, Los Angeles! WhileAmerican Idolhas a storied history of kicking things off in the City of Angels, Season 24 will largely take place in Nashville. Pretaped auditions were held exclusively at Nashville's Belmont University, which marks a noted shift from the show's previous format of holding auditions in multiple cities.
"I live an hour away," Underwoodtold Music Mayhemof her proximity to Belmont University. "So we have so much talent to go through that if we're wrapping at 10:00, 10:30 at night, if I'm going to get home at like 11:30, and then I'm going to be back in the makeup chair at 7:00. … I've been doing a little bit of that. I've been trying to bounce back and forth."
With the shift to the Music City, Hollywood Week, the round that comes after the judges utter the famous words, "You're going to Hollywood!" will take place in Nashville instead. The round has been rebranded as Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover.
What is the Ohana Round inAmerican IdolSeason 24?
For the first time inAmerican Idolhistory, the show will no longer be sending contestants through to Hollywood. Instead, Hollywood Week will be replaced by the Ohana Round, a three-episode spectacle filmed at the Aulani Resort in Kapolei, Hawaii.
Rather than allow the judges to select the top 20 contestants, the power will be in the hands of a focus group called "industry tastemakers," which includes Shirley Halperin, coeditor-in-chief of Rolling Stone, and cultural commentator Evan Ross Katz.
"The judges have the power right all the way up to America's Vote of who they want to put through and I thought it'd be interesting to do some sort of focus group before they get to America's Vote to inform the judges of who people are responding to," Michaels Wolflicktold Deadline. "The judges will comment, and at the end, each of the groups will pick their favorite person."
Did anything notable happen during the Season 24 premiere?
Monday night'sAmerican Idolseason premiere ended with Underwood in tears. Khloe Grace, a 15-year-old contestant, performed an original song in honor of a 13-year-old girl named Aubreigh Paige Wyatt, who took her life after being cyberbullied.
Though Grace didn't know Wyatt personally, she felt compelled to write a song in her honor. Underwood was visibly moved by the performance, commending Grace for writing so vulnerably and inspiring those around her.
"To potentially even think about all of the people that hear that and see you, and hear this story [and] maybe decide to change their mind about something," Underwood said. "It's pretty incredible."
