History of American Idol in Timeline
American Idol is a singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller. It was initially broadcast on Fox for 15 seasons (2002-2016) before going on hiatus. The show was revived in 2018 and began airing on ABC. The show aims to discover new solo recording artists, with winners determined by viewer voting. It's a significant force in popular music and television entertainment.
2001: Pop Idol Debuts in Britain
In 2001, Pop Idol, the British show that inspired American Idol, debuted in Britain. Nigel Lythgoe was the showrunner and Simon Cowell was one of the judges. It was a success with the viewing public.
2001: Selling Pop Idol Format to the United States
In 2001, Simon Fuller, Simon Cowell, and Simon Jones attempted to sell the Pop Idol format to the United States. Initially, television networks showed little interest until Rupert Murdoch decided to buy the series for Fox.
June 11, 2002: American Idol Debut
On June 11, 2002, American Idol premiered on Fox, marking the beginning of the series' 15-season run. It was created by Simon Fuller and produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment.
June 2002: American Idol Premiere
In June 2002, American Idol premiered and became a surprise summer hit show. The first show drew 9.9 million viewers, and the finale averaged 23 million viewers.
June 2002: First Season Debut
In June 2002, the first season of American Idol debuted on Fox with Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman as co-hosts and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell as judges.
September 4, 2002: Kelly Clarkson Wins
On September 4, 2002, Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol, defeating Justin Guarini in the final showdown.
2002: American Idol airs on RCTI in Indonesia
From 2002 to 2003 season American Idol aired on RCTI in Indonesia.
2002: American Idol broadcast on Fox and CTV
From 2002 to 2016, American Idol was broadcast on Fox, and in Canada, the first thirteen seasons of American Idol were aired live countrywide by CTV and/or CTV Two, in simulcast with Fox.
2002: Venue: CBS Television City
From 2002 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022, the finals of American Idol were broadcast from CBS Television City in Los Angeles.
2002: First Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks
In 2002, the decision to send the first season winner to sing the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks was poorly received by many.
2002: Lowest-rated Wednesday show
In 2002, the results show in which Kristy Lee Cook was eliminated delivered its lowest-rated Wednesday show among the 18–34 demo since the first season.
2002: American Idol Debut
In the summer of 2002, American Idol: The Search for a Superstar debuted on Fox. Nigel Lythgoe took on the role of showrunner. The show became a surprise hit.
January 2003: Second Season Premiere
In January 2003, the second season of American Idol premiered, with an increased number of episodes and a higher budget. Ryan Seacrest became the sole host after Dunkleman's departure.
2003: American Idol airs on RCTI in Indonesia
From 2002 to 2003 season American Idol aired on RCTI in Indonesia.
2003: Entry to Nielsen Ratings
In 2003, American Idol entered the Top 10 position in the Nielsen ratings.
2003: American Idol overtakes the Academy Awards
In 2003, American Idol overtook the Academy Awards as the most-watched non-sports entertainment event on U.S. television.
2003: From Justin to Kelly Released
In 2003, Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini starred in the musical film From Justin to Kelly, which received negative reviews.
2003: Average Viewership Falls Below 20 Million
In 2003, during the eleventh season, the average viewership for the season fell below 20 million viewers for the first time since the second season.
2003: Seacrest Becomes Sole Host
Starting in 2003, with the second season of American Idol, Ryan Seacrest became the sole emcee after Brian Dunkleman quit.
January 19, 2004: Third Season Premiere
On January 19, 2004, the third season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest as host and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell as judges.
2004: Most-Watched Show
By 2004, American Idol had become the most-watched show on U.S. television.
2004: American Idol airs in the Philippines on ABC 5
From 2004 to 2007, American Idol aired in Philippines on ABC 5.
2004: Fox Achieves Longest Demographic Victory
From 2004 to 2012, American Idol helped Fox achieve the longest period of 18–49 demographic victory in the Nielsen ratings.
2004: American Idol revenue generation
In 2004, American Idol generated an estimated $900 million through TV ads, albums, merchandise, and concert tickets.
2004: Online Communities Impact
Since 2004, American Idol votes have been affected to a limited degree by online communities such as DialIdol and Vote for the Worst.
January 18, 2005: Fourth Season Premiere
On January 18, 2005, the fourth season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest as host and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell as judges. This was the first full season to be aired in high definition.
May 2005: Underwood Wins Season Four
In May 2005, Carrie Underwood was announced as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, with Bo Bice as the runner-up.
2005: Fox Leads in Key Demographic
From 2005 to 2012, American Idol helped Fox lead among adults aged 18–49, the key demographic coveted by advertisers.
2005: BMG partners with Sony Music Entertainment
From 2005-2007, BMG partnered with Sony Music Entertainment to form a joint venture known as Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
2005: People's Choice Award
In 2005, American Idol won the People's Choice Award for favorite competition/reality show.
January 17, 2006: Fifth Season Began
On January 17, 2006, the fifth season of American Idol began. It remains the highest-rated season in the show's run.
May 30, 2006: Taylor Hicks Wins Season Five
On May 30, 2006, Taylor Hicks was named American Idol, with Katharine McPhee as the runner-up. Hicks' first single was "Do I Make You Proud" and McPhee's was "My Destiny".
September 30, 2006: American Idol Rewind Syndication
Starting September 30, 2006, the first season of American Idol was repackaged as "American Idol Rewind" and syndicated directly to stations in the U.S.
2006: People's Choice Award
In 2006, American Idol won the People's Choice Award for favorite competition/reality show.
2006: Carrie Underwood wins Best Female Artist
In 2006, LeAnn Rimes commented on Carrie Underwood winning Best Female Artist in Country Music Awards over Faith Hill, saying that "Carrie has not paid her dues long enough to fully deserve that award".
January 16, 2007: Sixth Season Premiere
On Tuesday, January 16, 2007, the sixth season of American Idol premiered, drawing a large audience of 37.3 million viewers.
May 24, 2007: "This Is My Now" Released
On May 24, 2007, the winning song of the American Idol Songwriter contest, "This Is My Now", was released by Jordin Sparks after being performed by both finalists during the finale.
2007: American Idol airs in the Philippines on ABC 5
From 2004 to 2007, American Idol aired in Philippines on ABC 5.
2007: BMG partners with Sony Music Entertainment
From 2005-2007, BMG partnered with Sony Music Entertainment to form a joint venture known as Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
2007: American Idol alums account for 2.1% of all music sales
In 2007, American Idol alumni accounted for 2.1% of all music sales, and the show became a dominant force in radio.
2007: Creative Arts Emmys and Governor's Award
In 2007, American Idol won a Creative Arts Emmys and a Governor's Award for its Idol Gives Back edition.
2007: Idol: The Musical Closed
In 2007, Idol: The Musical, a musical based on the show, played off-Broadway, however, the musical closed after its official opening night.
2007: Ratings Rebound for Season Finale
In 2007, the seventh-season finale rebounded in ratings due to the excitement over the battle of the Davids.
January 15, 2008: Season 7 Premiere
On January 15, 2008, American Idol's seventh season premiered with a two-day, four-hour event. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. The media focused on the contestants' professional backgrounds.
March 11, 2008: New Set and Stage Debut
On March 11, 2008, American Idol debuted a new state-of-the-art set and stage, along with a new on-air look for the finals.
April 9, 2008: Idol Gives Back Returns
On April 9, 2008, Idol Gives Back returned and raised $64 million for charity.
May 21, 2008: David Cook Wins Season 7
On May 21, 2008, David Cook was announced as the winner of American Idol's seventh season, marking the first time a rocker won the show.
May 22, 2008: "The Time of My Life" Released
On May 22, 2008, "The Time of My Life", the winning song from the American Idol Songwriter contest, was recorded by David Cook and released.
2008: Sony Music handles distribution of American Idol's music
From 2008 to 2010, following their acquisition of BMG, Sony Music handled the distribution of American Idol's music.
2008: American Idol airs in the Philippines on QTV, then GMA News TV
From 2008 to 2011, American Idol aired in the Philippines on QTV, then GMA News TV.
2008: American Idol overtakes the Academy Awards
In 2008, American Idol overtook the Academy Awards as the most-watched non-sports entertainment event on U.S. television.
2008: Fox Becomes Number One TV Network
In 2008, American Idol pushed Fox to become the number one U.S. TV network in overall viewers.
2008: Creative Arts Emmys
In 2008, American Idol won a Creative Arts Emmys.
2008: Fox becomes the most watched TV network
In 2008, the strong finish of season seven helped Fox become the most watched TV network in the country for the first time since its inception.
January 13, 2009: Season 8 Premiere
On January 13, 2009, the eighth season of American Idol premiered. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. Kara DioGuardi was introduced as a fourth judge.
February 14, 2009: Debut of "The American Idol Experience" at Disney's Hollywood Studios
On February 14, 2009, The Walt Disney Company debuted "The American Idol Experience" at its Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.
2009: Bruce Gower wins Primetime Emmy Award
In 2009, Director Bruce Gower won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series.
2009: Abdul Leaves the Show
In 2009, after the eighth season, Paula Abdul left American Idol after failing to agree to terms with the show's producers.
2009: Household Viewership Analysis
In 2009, households in the Southeastern United States were 10% more likely to watch American Idol during the eighth season.
January 12, 2010: Season 9 Premiere
On January 12, 2010, the ninth season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest returning as host, and Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and Simon Cowell returning as judges. Paula Abdul left the show and Ellen DeGeneres replaced Abdul.
January 2010: CD Sales Analysis
As of January 2010, data showed that 85 percent of the 47 million CDs sold by Idol contestants were by those with ties to the American South.
April 21, 2010: Idol Gives Back Returns
On April 21, 2010, Idol Gives Back returned and raised $45 million.
2010: PepsiCo falling to third place
By 2010, PepsiCo had fallen to third place from second in the United States.
2010: Radio spins for American Idol winners
By 2010, four American Idol winners each had more than a million radio spins, with Kelly Clarkson leading with over four million spins.
2010: People's Choice Award
In 2010, American Idol won the People's Choice Award for favorite competition/reality show.
2010: Ratings Streak Broken by Winter Olympics
In 2010, American Idol's six-year streak of perfection in the ratings was broken when NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics beat Idol in the same time slot.
2010: DeGeneres Replaced Abdul
In 2010, Emmy Award-winning talk show host Ellen DeGeneres replaced Abdul for the ninth season of American Idol, but left after just one season. Kara DioGuardi was also let go.
2010: Cowell Leaves the Show
In 2010, Simon Cowell left American Idol to introduce the American version of his show, The X Factor, in 2011.
2010: Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records becomes the music label for American Idol
In 2010, UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records replaced Sony as the music label for American Idol.
2010: Viewer Numbers Fall
In 2010, during the tenth season, the total viewer numbers for the first week of shows fell 12–13%, and by up to 23% in the 18–49 demo compared to the ninth season.
January 19, 2011: Season 10 Premiere
On January 19, 2011, the tenth season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest returning as host and Randy Jackson returning as a judge. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joined as judges.
April 7, 2011: Pia Toscano Eliminated
On April 7, 2011, Pia Toscano, a favorite to advance, was unexpectedly eliminated, finishing in ninth place.
2011: American Idol airs in the Philippines on QTV, then GMA News TV
From 2008 to 2011, American Idol aired in the Philippines on QTV, then GMA News TV.
2011: American Idol airs on B-Channel in Indonesia
From 2011 to 2013 season American Idol was broadcast by B-Channel (now RTV).
2011: Creative Arts Emmys and Critics' Choice Television Award
In 2011, American Idol won two Creative Arts Emmys and the first Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Reality Competition.
2011: End of Reign
In 2011, American Idol's seven-year run as the most-watched show on U.S. television came to an end.
2011: The X-Factor Introduced
Simon Cowell introduced The X-Factor in 2011, after leaving American Idol in 2010.
January 18, 2012: Season 11 Premiere
On January 18, 2012, the eleventh season of American Idol premiered. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson returned as judges.
2012: Most Watched Non-Scripted Primetime Television Series
From 2003 to 2012, American Idol became the most watched non-scripted primetime television series.
2012: Fox Leads in Key Demographic
From 2005 to 2012, American Idol helped Fox lead among adults aged 18–49, the key demographic coveted by advertisers.
2012: American Idol airs in the Philippines on ETC
From 2012 to 2016, 2018-19 on ETC, American Idol aired in the Philippines.
2012: People's Choice Award
In 2012, American Idol won the People's Choice Award for favorite competition/reality show.
2012: Lopez and Tyler Depart
In 2012, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler both left the judging panel of American Idol after two seasons.
2012: Southern United States Contestants Analysis
In 2012, an analysis of the 131 American Idol contestants found that 48% had some connection to the Southern United States.
2012: Decline in Ratings Begins
Starting in 2012, American Idol experienced a sharp decline in ratings, with falls of over 20% each season.
January 16, 2013: Season 12 Premiere
On January 16, 2013, the twelfth season of American Idol premiered. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Randy Jackson returned as a judge. This season's judging panel consisted of Randy Jackson, along with Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj.
2013: American Idol airs on B-Channel in Indonesia
From 2011 to 2013 season American Idol was broadcast by B-Channel (now RTV).
2013: Ranked No. 48 on TV Guide's List
In 2013, TV Guide ranked the series No. 48 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time.
2013: Huge decline in the 18–49 demographic
In 2013, The thirteenth season suffered a huge decline in the 18–49 demographic, a drop of 28% from the twelfth season.
January 15, 2014: Season 13 Premiere
On January 15, 2014, the thirteenth season of American Idol premiered. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Keith Urban returned as a judge. Former judge Jennifer Lopez and former mentor Harry Connick, Jr. joined Urban on the panel.
August 2014: CTV drops Idol after its thirteenth season
In August 2014, CTV dropped American Idol after its thirteenth season and Yes TV picked up Canadian rights.
August 30, 2014: Closure of "The American Idol Experience"
On August 30, 2014, the "The American Idol Experience" attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios closed.
2014: Ad revenue decline
By 2014, advertising revenue from American Idol had fallen to $427 million, with a 30-second spot costing less than $300,000.
2014: American Idol airs on digital channel, Eleven in Australia
From the thirteenth and fourteenth seasons (2014–15) American Idol aired on digital channel, Eleven, a sister channel to Network Ten.
2014: Jackson Returns as Mentor
In 2014, after departing the judges' table after twelve seasons, Randy Jackson returned to American Idol as the in-house mentor for the thirteenth season before leaving the show permanently.
January 7, 2015: Season 14 Premiere
On January 7, 2015, the fourteenth season of American Idol premiered. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. returned as judges.
May 11, 2015: Final Season Announcement
On May 11, 2015, Fox announced that the fifteenth season would be the final season of American Idol.
2015: Underwood's Album Sales
As of 2015, Carrie Underwood had sold 16 million albums in the U.S. and 65 million records worldwide, making her the most successful Idol contestant in the U.S.
2015: Yes TV picks up Canadian rights to American Idol
In 2015, Yes TV picked up Canadian rights to American Idol beginning in its 2015 season.
January 6, 2016: Season 15 Premiere
On January 6, 2016, the fifteenth and final season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest as host and Harry Connick Jr., Keith Urban, and Jennifer Lopez as judges.
April 7, 2016: Final Episode on Fox
On April 7, 2016, American Idol aired its final episode on Fox after 15 seasons. The show then went on hiatus before being revived by ABC.
April 2016: Last Season on Fox
In April 2016, the fifteenth season of American Idol concluded on Fox due to declining ratings.
2016: American Idol sales
By 2016, Idol's contestants have sold more than 60 million albums in the U.S. and more than 100 million records globally.
2016: American Idol alumni success on Billboard charts
By 2016, the last year of broadcast, American Idol alumni had achieved 458 number ones on the Billboard charts.
2016: Number of Imitative Singing Shows Reached 17
By 2016, the number of imitative singing shows on American television had reached 17 as American Idol spawned a number of imitating singing-competition shows.
2016: American Idol broadcast on Fox and CTV
From 2002 to 2016, American Idol was broadcast on Fox, and in Canada, the first thirteen seasons of American Idol were aired live countrywide by CTV and/or CTV Two, in simulcast with Fox.
2016: End of Top 10 Nielsen Rating Position
In 2016, American Idol never regained its Top 10 position in the Nielsen ratings by the series' end.
2016: Cancellation After Fifteenth Season
In 2016, American Idol was cancelled after its fifteenth season, with Lopez, Urban, and Connick Jr. as judges.
2016: Dunkleman Returns
In 2016, Brian Dunkleman returned for the initial series finale on Fox as a guest.
2016: End of original American Idol run
In 2016, at the end of its original run, American Idol had produced alumni with 13 Grammy Award wins out of 54 nominations.
2016: American Idol airs on Fox8 in Australia
In 2016, the final season of American Idol aired on Fox8 hours after the original U.S. broadcast.
May 2017: ABC Acquires Rights
In May 2017, ABC acquired the rights to American Idol, paving the way for the show's revival.
May 2017: ABC Bids to Revive American Idol
In May 2017, ABC made a bid to revive the American Idol program.
July 2017: Ryan Seacrest Returns as Host
In July 2017, it was announced that Ryan Seacrest would return as host of American Idol.
September 2017: Judges Announced
By September 2017, it was revealed that Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie would serve as judges on American Idol.
2017: American Idol returns to CTV Two for its sixteenth season
In 2017, it was announced the show would return to CTV Two for its sixteenth season.
March 11, 2018: Revival on ABC
On March 11, 2018, American Idol returned to television after a two-year hiatus, with a revival of the series that began airing on ABC.
March 2018: Revival on ABC
In March 2018, American Idol returned with its sixteenth season, airing on ABC.
May 21, 2018: Maddie Poppe Wins Season 16
On May 21, 2018, Maddie Poppe was crowned the winner of season 16 of American Idol.
2018: American Idol airs in the Philippines on ETC
From 2012 to 2016, 2018-19 on ETC, American Idol aired in the Philippines.
2018: Revival on ABC
In 2018, American Idol was revived by ABC with Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie selected as judges for the sixteenth season.
2018: Seacrest's Hosting Hiatus Ends
In 2018, Ryan Seacrest returned as host of American Idol, ending his two-year hiatus.
2018: American Idol broadcast on ABC
Since 2018, American Idol has been broadcast on ABC.
March 3, 2019: Season 17 Premiere
On March 3, 2019, the seventeenth season of American Idol premiered. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.
April 8, 2019: Bones Subs for Seacrest
On April 8, 2019, during the seventeenth season, Bobby Bones subbed for Ryan Seacrest after he fell ill.
May 13, 2019: Season 18 Renewal
On May 13, 2019, the series was renewed for an eighteenth season.
May 19, 2019: Laine Hardy Wins Season 17
On May 19, 2019, Laine Hardy was crowned the winner of season 17 and Alejandro Aranda runner-up. For the first time, there were no separate performance and grand finale shows this season.
June 28, 2019: Alejandro Aranda Releases "Tonight"
On June 28, 2019, Alejandro Aranda, released "Tonight" under the name Scarypoolparty.
2019: Venue: CBS Television City
From 2002 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022, the finals of American Idol were broadcast from CBS Television City in Los Angeles.
February 16, 2020: Season 18 Premiere
On February 16, 2020, American Idol's eighteenth season premiered. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.
May 15, 2020: Season 19 Renewal
On May 15, 2020, ABC renewed the series for a nineteenth season.
February 14, 2021: Season 19 Premiere
On February 14, 2021, the nineteenth season of American Idol premiered. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.
May 13, 2021: Season 20 Renewal
On May 13, 2021, ABC renewed the series for a twentieth season.
2021: Venue: CBS Television City
From 2002 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022, the finals of American Idol were broadcast from CBS Television City in Los Angeles.
February 27, 2022: Season 20 Premiere
On February 27, 2022, the twentieth season of American Idol premiered. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.
May 13, 2022: Season 21 Renewal
On May 13, 2022, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-first season.
2022: Venue: CBS Television City
From 2002 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022, the finals of American Idol were broadcast from CBS Television City in Los Angeles.
February 19, 2023: Season 21 Premiere
On February 19, 2023, the twenty-first season of American Idol premiered. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.
May 16, 2023: Season 22 Renewal
On May 16, 2023, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-second season.
2023: Venue Change
Starting in 2023, the American Idol finals were broadcast from Red Studios.
February 2024: Katy Perry Announces Departure
In February 2024, Katy Perry announced that the twenty-second season would be her last as a judge.
February 18, 2024: Season 22 Premiere
On February 18, 2024, the twenty-second season of American Idol premiered. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.
May 10, 2024: American Idol renewed for twenty-third season
On May 10, 2024, ABC renewed American Idol for a twenty-third season and began searching for a new judge to replace Katy Perry.
May 2024: Seven Seasons on ABC
As of May 2024, American Idol has aired for seven seasons on ABC.
May 2024: Perry Leaves the Show
In May 2024, Katy Perry left American Idol after being a judge for seven seasons.
July 31, 2024: Underwood Joins as Judge
On July 31, 2024, Carrie Underwood was announced as Katy Perry's replacement on American Idol, joining Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie for the twenty-third season.
March 9, 2025: Season premiere
The twenty-third season of American Idol is set to premiere on March 9, 2025, with Ryan Seacrest as host and judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood.
2025: Awards won by American Idol finalists
As of 2025, American Idol finalists had collectively won 5 Grammy Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, and an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Tony Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics' Choice Award.
2025: Most Recent Regular Non-Sports Primetime Series
As of 2025, American Idol marked the most recent time that a live regular non-sports primetime series has garnered such viewership in the country.
