NASHVILLE (CelebrityAccess) – One of the most popular music competition series, American Idol, welcomes season four winner and eight-time GRAMMY Award winner Carrie Underwood to the judging panel after Katy Perry’s show departure. Music industry icons Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie will return for their eighth consecutive season as judges, and longtime host Ryan Seacrest also returns when the show premieres in spring 2025 for the franchise’s 23rd overall season. Since it began airing on ABC, American Idol has been a top unscripted series on ABC in Total Viewers. Season to date, American Idol ranks as the No. 1 most social entertainment series on broadcast or cable, with over 63 million total social interactions.
The news of Underwood’s return was announced with a video showing an undiscovered Underwood preparing for her Idol audition 2 decades ago. “I remember being at home in our little house in Checotah and seeing on TV that there were auditions in St. Louis,” the Oklahoma native says in a video revealing the big news. “My mom said, ‘If you wanna go, I’ll drive you.'”
“This upcoming season marks 20 years since Carrie won America’s hearts on ‘Idol’ and launched her successful multi-GRAMMY Award-winning career. As a former Idol and dynamic musical force, she brings a remarkably unique perspective to one of the most popular shows on television,” said Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group. This is a full-circle moment both for the show and audiences at home who have been tuning in for over two decades. Welcome home, Carrie.”
“Carrie Underwood is the first ‘American Idol’ alum ever to join the judging panel. Her global superstar status as the most successful ‘Idol’ winner to date makes her a perfect fit for the show. She embodies the true spirit of ‘Idol’ as she herself is the definition of the Cinderella story. Our future hopefuls will have the chance to receive advice from someone who has walked in their exact footsteps every step of the way. Carrie has always been a strong supporter of ‘Idol,’ and I’m thrilled for her to be reunited with our ‘Idol’ Family,” said Megan Wolflick, showrunner and executive producer of American Idol.
This season’s auditions will kick off Monday (August 12) with the return of “Idol Across America,” the live virtual nationwide search for the next superstar, taking place across all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. Those auditioning will have the opportunity to showcase their talents face-to-face with an American Idol producer, from anywhere in America, across any official audition date for a chance to proceed to the judge auditions. Contenders will also be allowed to audition during open call dates, and auditions will be open worldwide to all those eligible.
Idol Across America auditions will be held as follows (subject to change):
Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi (August 12)
Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas (August 14)
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina (August 16)
Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington (August 19)
Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (August 21)
Nationwide open call (August 23)
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming (August 26)
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin (August 28)
Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia (August 29)
West and Midwest open call (September 4)
Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Tennessee (September 6)
Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington D.C. (September 9)
Nationwide open call (September 11)
The South open call (September 13)
East Coast open call (September 17)
