History of American Idol in Timeline
American Idol is a singing competition TV series created by Simon Fuller. It was initially produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment and aired on Fox for 15 seasons (2002-2016). After a hiatus, the show was revived and began airing on ABC in 2018. The show's format involves discovering new solo recording artists, with contestants performing live and viewers voting for their favorites. The winner receives a recording contract and becomes the "American Idol". The show has launched the careers of numerous successful musicians.
2001: Pop Idol Debuts in Britain
In 2001, Pop Idol, created by Simon Fuller, debuted in Britain and was successful with the viewing public.
June 11, 2002: American Idol series premiere on Fox
On June 11, 2002, American Idol, created by Simon Fuller, premiered on Fox. The singing competition was produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment and distributed by Fremantle North America.
June 2002: American Idol premiered
In June 2002, American Idol premiered and became a surprise summer hit show. The first show drew 9.9 million viewers.
June 2002: First Season Debut
In June 2002, the first season of American Idol debuted on the Fox network. It was co-hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman, and the judges were Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell.
September 4, 2002: Kelly Clarkson wins American Idol
On September 4, 2002, Kelly Clarkson won American Idol, defeating Justin Guarini in the final showdown.
2002: American Idol on Network Ten in Australia
From 2002 to 2008, American Idol aired on Network Ten in Australia.
2002: American Idol broadcast on Fox
From 2002 to 2016, American Idol was broadcast on Fox.
2002: Finals broadcast from CBS Television City
From 2002, the American Idol finals were broadcast in primetime from Los Angeles, in front of a live studio audience at CBS Television City.
2002: Critics shared mixed reviews
In 2002, early reviews of American Idol were mixed, with some considering it crazily entertaining but musically inconsequential, while others praised the genuine talent it revealed.
2002: Lowest rated 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 debuts in the US
In the summer of 2002, American Idol: The Search for a Superstar debuted in the United States after Rupert Murdoch was persuaded to buy the series.
January 2003: Second season airs
In January 2003, the second season of American Idol was moved up to air, with an increased number of episodes, budget, and commercial spot charges. Ryan Seacrest became the lone host after Brian Dunkleman left.
2003: American Idol on Network Ten in Australia
From 2002 to 2008, American Idol aired on Network Ten in Australia.
2003: American Idol lost its Top 10 position in the Nielsen ratings
In 2003, American Idol lost its Top 10 position in the Nielsen ratings by the end of the 2013–14 television season for the first time since its entry to the rankings.
2003: American Idol's impact on television
In 2003, American Idol was credited with expanding reality television programming in the United States and became the most-watched non-scripted primetime television series, breaking records on U.S. television. It also 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 made a musical film, From Justin to Kelly, which was widely panned.
2003: Ruben Studdard's Success
In 2003, Ruben Studdard's Soulful was the last debut album by an Idol winner to reach No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 before McCreery's album in 2011.
2003: Ryan Seacrest becomes sole host
In 2003, starting with the second season, Ryan Seacrest became the sole host of American Idol after Brian Dunkleman quit.
2003: Average viewership for the season fell below 20 million viewers
In 2003, the average viewership for the season fell below 20 million viewers for the first time since 2003, a drop of 23% in total viewers and 30% in the 18/49 demo.
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. William Hung's audition gained widespread attention.
2004: American Idol becomes the most-watched show on US television
By 2004, American Idol had become the most-watched show on American television.
2004: American Idol on ABC in the Philippines
From 2004 to 2007, American Idol aired on ABC in the Philippines.
2004: Fox achieve the longest period of demographic victory
From 2004 to 2012, American Idol helped Fox achieve the longest period of 18–49 demographic victory in the Nielsen ratings, standing at 8 straight years.
2004: American Idol generates $900 million
In 2004, American Idol was estimated to generate $900 million through TV ads, albums, merchandise, and concert tickets.
2004: Online communities influence voting
In 2004, online communities like DialIdol and Vote for the Worst started influencing the voting results of American Idol to a limited degree.
January 18, 2005: Fourth season premiere
On January 18, 2005, the fourth season of American Idol premiered. It was the first full season aired in high definition, and the age limit was raised to 28.
May 2005: Carrie Underwood wins
In May 2005, Carrie Underwood was announced as the winner of American Idol. Both she and Bo Bice released the coronation song "Inside Your Heaven".
2005: BMG partners with Sony Music Entertainment
From 2005, Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) partnered with Sony Music Entertainment to form a joint venture known as Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
2005: Fox tops key demographic for eight years
In 2005, American Idol contributed to Fox becoming the top U.S. TV network among adults aged 18–49 for an unprecedented eight consecutive years.
2005: Show won People's Choice Award
In 2005, the show won the People's Choice Award for favorite competition/reality show.
January 17, 2006: Fifth season premiere
On January 17, 2006, the fifth season of American Idol began. It remains the highest-rated season in the show's run so far.
May 30, 2006: Taylor Hicks wins American Idol
On May 30, 2006, Taylor Hicks was named American Idol, with Katharine McPhee as the runner-up. "Do I Make You Proud" was released as Hicks' first single, and McPhee's was "My Destiny".
September 30, 2006: American Idol Rewind Syndication
On September 30, 2006, the first season was repackaged as "American Idol Rewind" and syndicated directly to stations in the U.S.
2006: LeAnn Rimes commented on Carrie Underwood winning Best Female Artist
In 2006, LeAnn Rimes commented on Carrie Underwood winning Best Female Artist in Country Music Awards over Faith Hill, stating that Carrie had not paid her dues long enough to fully deserve that award.
2006: Show won People's Choice Award
In 2006, the show won the People's Choice Award for favorite competition/reality show.
January 16, 2007: Sixth season premiere
On January 16, 2007, the sixth season of American Idol began, drawing a large audience of 37.3 million viewers, peaking at over 41 million in the last half hour.
May 24, 2007: "This Is My Now" Release
On May 24, 2007, "This Is My Now," the winning song from the American Idol Songwriter contest, was released by Sparks after being performed by both finalists during the season finale.
2007: American Idol on ABC in the Philippines
From 2004 to 2007, American Idol aired on ABC in the Philippines.
2007: American Idol alums impact on music sales and radio
In 2007, American Idol alums accounted for 2.1% of all music sales and the show became "a dominant force in radio."
2007: BMG partners with Sony Music Entertainment
In 2007, Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) was in a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment known as Sony BMG Music Entertainment to promote and distribute the recordings.
2007: Jordin Sparks Wins Season Six
In 2007, Jordin Sparks became the last female to win American Idol before Candice Glover won the show in 2013.
2007: Idol: The Musical played off-Broadway
In 2007, a musical based on the show, Idol: The Musical, played off-Broadway. The musical closed after its official opening night.
2007: Ratings rebound for the seventh-season finale
In 2007, ratings rebounded for the seventh-season finale with the excitement over the battle of the Davids and improved over the sixth season as the series' third most watched finale.
2007: Show won a Creative Arts Emmys
In 2007, the show won a Creative Arts Emmys each and also a Governor's Award for its Idol Gives Back edition.
January 15, 2008: Season Seven Premiere
On January 15, 2008, the seventh season of American Idol premiered with a two-day, four-hour premiere. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges.
March 11, 2008: New Set and Stage Debut
On March 11, 2008, American Idol debuted a new state-of-the-art set and stage for the finals, along with a new on-air look.
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 American Idol
On May 21, 2008, David Cook was announced as the winner of American Idol, marking the first rocker to win the show.
May 22, 2008: "The Time of My Life" Release
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: American Idol on QTV in the Philippines
From 2008 to 2011, American Idol aired on QTV, then GMA News TV in the Philippines.
2008: Sony Music handles distribution of American Idol's music
From 2008, following their acquisition of BMG, Sony Music handled the distribution of American Idol's music.
2008: Fox becomes number one U.S. TV network
In 2008, American Idol helped Fox become the number one U.S. TV network in overall viewers.
2008: American Idol surpasses Academy Awards viewership
In 2008, American Idol surpassed the Academy Awards in viewership, becoming the most-watched non-sports entertainment event on U.S. television.
2008: Overall ratings down 10% from the sixth season
In 2008, overall ratings for the season were down 10% from the sixth season, which is in line with the fall in viewership across all networks due in part to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.
2008: Show won a Creative Arts Emmys
In 2008, the show won a Creative Arts Emmys each.
January 13, 2009: Season Eight Premiere
On January 13, 2009, the eighth season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest returning as host and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returning as judges. Kara DioGuardi was introduced as a fourth judge.
February 14, 2009: The American Idol Experience opens at Disney World
On February 14, 2009, The Walt Disney Company debuted "The American Idol Experience" at its Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
2009: Changes in Season Eight
In 2009, Nigel Lythgoe left as executive producer, the Hollywood round was moved to the Kodak Theatre and extended to two weeks, and Idol Gives Back was canceled due to the global recession.
2009: Abdul leaves American Idol
In 2009, after the eighth season, Paula Abdul left American Idol after failing to agree to terms with the show's producers.
2009: Bruce Gower won a Primetime Emmy Award
In 2009, director Bruce Gower won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series, and the show won three Creative Arts Emmys.
2009: Popularity in the Southern United States
In 2009, households in the Southeastern United States were 10% more likely to watch American Idol and those in the East Central region, such as Kentucky, were 16 percent more likely to tune into the series.
January 12, 2010: Season Nine 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. Ellen DeGeneres replaced Paula Abdul as a judge.
January 2010: 85 percent of CDs sold were by contestants with ties to the American South
Data from Nielsen SoundScan in January 2010 showed that of the 47 million CDs sold by Idol contestants, 85 percent were by contestants 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's market share decline
By 2010, Pepsi lost market share falling to third place in the United States, which was contributed by PepsiCo declined to sponsor American Idol at the show's start.
2010: Radio spins by American Idol winners
By 2010, four American Idol winners each had more than a million radio spins.
2010: NBC's coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics beat Idol
In 2010, American Idol's six-year extended streak of perfection in the ratings was broken when NBC's coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics on February 17 beat Idol in the same time slot with 30.1 million viewers over Idol's 18.4 million.
2010: Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi leave American Idol, Simon Cowell announces departure
In 2010, Ellen DeGeneres left American Idol after one season. Kara DioGuardi was let go from the show, and Simon Cowell also left to introduce The X Factor in the US.
2010: Harry Connick Jr. as Mentor
In 2010, Harry Connick Jr. served as a mentor for Idol before returning as a judge in 2014.
2010: UMG replaces Sony as 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: Show won People's Choice Award
In 2010, the show won the People's Choice Award for favorite competition/reality show.
2010: Total viewer numbers fell
In 2010, 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 Ten 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 Randy Jackson as judges.
April 7, 2011: Pia Toscano's Elimination
On April 7, 2011, Pia Toscano was unexpectedly eliminated, finishing in ninth place. Her elimination drew criticisms from some former Idol contestants, as well as actor Tom Hanks.
2011: American Idol broadcast by B-Channel in Indonesia
From 2011 to 2013, American Idol was broadcast by B-Channel (now RTV) in Indonesia.
2011: American Idol dominance ends
In 2011, American Idol's seven-year run as the most-watched show on American television came to an end.
2011: Scotty McCreery Wins Season Ten
In 2011, Scotty McCreery won American Idol, and released his first single, "I Love You This Big", as his coronation song. Lauren Alaina released "Like My Mother Does". McCreery's debut album, Clear as Day, later reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200.
2011: Simon Cowell introduces 'The X Factor' in America
In 2011, Simon Cowell introduced the American version of his show 'The X Factor'.
2011: Show won a Creative Arts Emmys
In 2011, the show won two Creative Arts Emmys and also won the first Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Reality Competition.
January 18, 2012: Season Eleven Premiere
On January 18, 2012, the eleventh season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest returning as host and Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson returning as judges.
2012: Fox achieve the longest period of demographic victory
From 2004 to 2012, American Idol helped Fox achieve the longest period of 18–49 demographic victory in the Nielsen ratings, standing at 8 straight years.
2012: American Idol on ETC in the Philippines
From 2012 to 2016 and 2018 to 2019, American Idol aired on ETC in the Philippines.
2012: American Idol's reign as most-watched series ends
In 2012, American Idol ended its almost decade-long run as the most-watched non-scripted primetime television series.
2012: Fox's eight-year demographic winning streak ends
In 2012, American Idol helped Fox's eight-year streak as the top U.S. TV network among adults aged 18-49 come to an end.
2012: Declining Ratings Start
In 2012, American Idol started experiencing sharp declines in ratings, with drops of over 20% each season.
2012: Harry Connick Jr. as Mentor
In 2012, Harry Connick Jr. served as a mentor for Idol before returning as a judge in 2014.
2012: Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler leave American Idol
In 2012, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler left the judging panel of American Idol after two seasons.
2012: Analysis of the 131 contestants who have appeared in the finals
In 2012, an analysis of the 131 contestants who have appeared in the finals of all seasons of the show up to that point found that 48% have some connection to the Southern United States.
2012: Show won People's Choice Award
In 2012, the show won the People's Choice Award for favorite competition/reality show.
January 16, 2013: Season Twelve Premiere
On January 16, 2013, the twelfth season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest returning as host and Randy Jackson returning as a judge. Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj joined as judges.
2013: American Idol on Network Ten in Australia
In 2013, American Idol aired on Network Ten in Australia.
2013: TV Guide ranked American Idol No. 48
In 2013, TV Guide ranked American Idol No. 48 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time.
2013: The thirteenth season suffered a huge decline
In 2013, the thirteenth season of American Idol suffered a huge decline in the 18–49 demographic, a drop of 28% from the twelfth season.
January 15, 2014: Season Thirteen Premiere
On January 15, 2014, the thirteenth season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest returning as host and Keith Urban returning as a judge. Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick, Jr. joined Urban on the panel.
August 2014: CTV drops American Idol in Canada
In August 2014, CTV dropped American Idol after its thirteenth season in Canada. Yes TV picked up Canadian rights beginning in the 2015 season.
August 30, 2014: Closure of The American Idol Experience
On August 30, 2014, The American Idol Experience attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios closed.
2014: Advertising revenue falls to $427 million
By 2014, advertising revenue from American Idol had fallen to $427 million, with a 30-second spot going for less than $300,000.
2014: American Idol on digital channel, Eleven in Australia
During the thirteenth and fourteenth seasons (2014–15), American Idol aired on digital channel, Eleven, a sister channel to Network Ten.
2014: Randy Jackson returns as in-house mentor
In 2014, Randy Jackson returned to American Idol as the in-house mentor for the thirteenth season, after which he permanently left the show.
January 7, 2015: Season Fourteen Premiere
On January 7, 2015, the fourteenth season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest returning as host, and Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. returning as judges. Adam Lambert filled in for Urban during the New York City auditions.
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 becomes most successful Idol contestant
As of 2015, Carrie Underwood had become the most successful American Idol contestant in the U.S., selling 16 million albums in the country and 65 million records worldwide.
2015: Yes TV picks up Canadian rights
In August 2014, CTV dropped American Idol after its thirteenth season in Canada. Yes TV picked up Canadian rights beginning in the 2015 season.
January 6, 2016: Season Fifteen Premiere
On January 6, 2016, the fifteenth and final season of American Idol premiered with Ryan Seacrest returning as host, with Harry Connick Jr., Keith Urban, and Jennifer Lopez all returning as judges.
April 7, 2016: Last American Idol season on Fox
On April 7, 2016, American Idol aired its final season on Fox after 15 seasons.
April 2016: Last season on Fox
In April 2016, after years of declining ratings, the fifteenth season of American Idol was the last to air on Fox.
2016: American Idol Alumni Billboard Chart Success
By 2016, American Idol alumni had achieved 458 number ones on the Billboard charts.
2016: American Idol contestant album sales by 2016
By 2016, at the end of the show's original run on Fox, American Idol's contestants had sold more than 60 million albums in the U.S. and more than 100 million records globally.
2016: Number of singing-competition shows on American television reached 17
By 2016, the number of imitative singing shows on American television had reached 17, spurred by the success of American Idol.
2016: American Idol alumni success
By the end of American Idol's original run in 2016, the show's alumni had scored 13 Grammy Award wins out of 54 Grammy nominations.
2016: End of American Idol on Fox
From 2002 to 2016, American Idol was broadcast on Fox.
2016: American Idol aired on Fox8 in Australia
In 2016, American Idol aired on Fox8 in Australia.
2016: American Idol never regained its Top 10 position
In 2016, American Idol never regained its Top 10 position by the series' end.
2016: Cancellation of American Idol
In 2016, American Idol was cancelled after its fifteenth season.
2016: Dunkleman returns as a guest
In 2016, Brian Dunkleman returned as a guest for the initial series finale on Fox.
2016: The show's ratings rebounded
In 2016, the show's ratings rebounded in its final season and ended its run as Fox's first-ever program to conclude its run without dropping from the Nielsen Top 30 most-watched television shows in each of its seasons.
May 2017: ABC acquires American Idol
In May 2017, ABC acquired the rights to American Idol, paving the way for its return to television.
July 2017: Ryan Seacrest Returns as Host
In July 2017, it was announced that Ryan Seacrest would return as host for the revival of American Idol.
September 2017: New Judges Announced
In September 2017, it was revealed that Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie would serve as judges for the revival of American Idol.
2017: American Idol returns to CTV Two in Canada
In 2017, it was announced that American Idol would return to CTV Two for its sixteenth season.
March 11, 2018: American Idol revival on ABC
On March 11, 2018, American Idol returned to television on ABC after being on hiatus.
March 2018: American Idol Returns to TV on ABC
In March 2018, American Idol returned for its sixteenth season overall, airing on ABC.
May 21, 2018: Maddie Poppe Wins Season Sixteen
On May 21, 2018, Maddie Poppe was crowned the winner of season sixteen, beating Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Gabby Barrett. Her winning song was "Going, Going, Gone".
2018: American Idol on ETC in the Philippines
From 2012 to 2016 and 2018 to 2019, American Idol aired on ETC in the Philippines.
2018: Ryan Seacrest remained as sole host
In 2018, Ryan Seacrest remained as sole host of American Idol.
2018: Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie Join American Idol as Judges
In 2018, when American Idol was revived by ABC, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie were selected as judges.
2018: American Idol broadcast on ABC
Since 2018, American Idol has been broadcast on ABC.
March 3, 2019: Season Seventeen Premiere
On March 3, 2019, the seventeenth season of American Idol premiered with Seacrest, Bryan, Perry and Richie returning. For the finale, the show no longer features separate performance and result shows.
April 8, 2019: Bobby Bones subbed for Ryan Seacrest
On April 8, 2019, during the seventeenth season, Bobby Bones filled in for Ryan Seacrest as host of American Idol after Seacrest fell ill.
May 13, 2019: Series Renewal
On May 13, 2019, American Idol was renewed for an eighteenth season.
May 19, 2019: Laine Hardy Wins Season Seventeen
On May 19, 2019, Laine Hardy was crowned the winner of season seventeen, with Alejandro Aranda as runner-up. Hardy released a single, "Flame", after the win.
June 28, 2019: Alejandro Aranda releases "Tonight"
On June 28, 2019, Alejandro Aranda, under the name Scarypoolparty, released the song "Tonight" that he performed in the finale.
2019: Finals broadcast from CBS Television City
Until 2019, the American Idol finals were broadcast in primetime from Los Angeles, in front of a live studio audience at CBS Television City.
February 16, 2020: Season Eighteen Premiere
On February 16, 2020, the eighteenth season premiered with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the contestants performed in their own homes, while Ryan Seacrest hosted the show remotely in his own home in Los Angeles with the judges also in their respective homes.
May 15, 2020: Series Renewal
On May 15, 2020, American Idol was renewed for a nineteenth season.
February 14, 2021: Season Nineteen Premiere
On February 14, 2021, the nineteenth season of American Idol premiered with Seacrest, Bryan, Perry and Richie returning as judges. Bobby Bones returned as mentor.
May 13, 2021: ABC renewed American Idol for a twentieth season
On May 13, 2021, ABC renewed American Idol for its twentieth season with Ryan Seacrest returning as host, and Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie returning as judges.
2021: Finals broadcast from CBS Television City
From 2021, the American Idol finals were broadcast in primetime from Los Angeles, in front of a live studio audience at CBS Television City.
February 27, 2022: Premier of American Idol's twentieth season
On February 27, 2022, American Idol's twentieth season premiered with Ryan Seacrest as host and Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie as judges.
May 13, 2022: ABC renewed American Idol for a twenty-first season
On May 13, 2022, ABC renewed American Idol for its twenty-first season with Ryan Seacrest returning as host, and Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie returning as judges.
2022: Finals broadcast from CBS Television City
Until 2022, the American Idol finals were broadcast in primetime from Los Angeles, in front of a live studio audience at CBS Television City.
February 19, 2023: Premier of American Idol's twenty-first season
On February 19, 2023, American Idol's twenty-first season premiered with Ryan Seacrest as host and Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie as judges.
May 16, 2023: ABC renewed American Idol for a twenty-second season
On May 16, 2023, ABC renewed American Idol for its twenty-second season with Ryan Seacrest returning as host, and Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie returning as judges.
2023: Finals moved to Red Studios
Starting in 2023, the American Idol finals were moved to Red Studios.
February 2024: Katy Perry announced departure
In February 2024, Katy Perry announced that the twenty-second season would be her last as a judge on American Idol.
February 18, 2024: Premier of American Idol's twenty-second season
On February 18, 2024, American Idol's twenty-second season premiered with Ryan Seacrest as host and Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie 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. The network also announced they were in talks with "high-profile stars" to replace Katy Perry.
May 2024: Katy Perry Leaves American Idol
In May 2024, Katy Perry left American Idol after seven seasons.
July 31, 2024: Carrie Underwood to replace Perry
On July 31, 2024, former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood was announced as Katy Perry's replacement on the judging panel, joining Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie for the twenty-third season.
2024: American Idol on TV5 in the Philippines
Since 2024, American Idol has aired on TV5 in the Philippines.
March 9, 2025: Premier of American Idol's twenty-third season
On March 9, 2025, American Idol's twenty-third season premiered.
May 9, 2025: American Idol renewed for a twenty-fourth season
On May 9, 2025, it was announced that American Idol had been renewed for a twenty-fourth season.
May 2025: Eight seasons on ABC
As of May 2025, American Idol had aired eight seasons on ABC.
August 2025: Bryan, Richie and Underwood returning as judges
In August 2025, it was announced that Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood would return as judges for American Idol's twenty-fourth season.
October 28, 2025: Premiere date for twenty-fourth season announced
On October 28, 2025, it was announced that the twenty-fourth season of American Idol would premiere on January 26, 2026.
2025: American Idol's Viewership Record
As of 2025, 2008 marked the most recent time that a live regular non-sports primetime series (American Idol) garnered such viewership in the country.
2025: American Idol finalists award wins
As of 2025, American Idol finalists had accumulated five Grammy Award wins, two Emmy Award wins, and an Academy Award.
January 2026: American Idol's twenty-fourth season premiere announcement
In January 2026, it was announced that the season would premiere with Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood returning as judges and Ryan Seacrest returning as host.
January 26, 2026: Premier of American Idol's twenty-fourth season
On January 26, 2026, the twenty-fourth season of American Idol premiered.
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