JUDGES LUKE BRYAN, LIONEL RICHIE, CARRIE UNDERWOOD RETURN TO ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ FOR SEASON NINE ON ABC AND HULU

Following their celebrated debut as a judge trio last season in television’s most widely recognized music competition series “American Idol,” music superstars Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood will help discover America’s next singing sensation in its ninth season on ABC and Hulu, 24th overall, when it returns in 2026. “American Idol” has ranked as a top unscripted series during its eight seasons on ABC, ending on a high note with last season’s finale ranking No. 1 on the night, No. 1 for the week in primetime, and earning the best Total Viewer audience in two years. The series continues to dominate on social media as the No. 1 Most Social Reality Series across TV so far in 2025, collecting 1.65-plus billion social video views this year. Season eight winner Jamal Roberts’ first single “Heal” also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Gospel chart in May 2025.

Season nine auditions kick off Tuesday, Aug. 26, 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 be given 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):

• • “First 900” VIP Event (Aug. 26)
  • Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi (Aug. 27)
  • Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas (Aug. 28)
  • Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina (Sept. 2)
  • Nationwide open call (Sept. 3)
  • Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (Sept. 4)
  • Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Tennessee (Sept. 8)
  • Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington (Sept. 9)
  • Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia (Sept. 11)
  • East Coast open call (Sept. 12)
  • The South open call (Sept. 15)
  • Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin (Sept. 16)
  • West and Midwest open call (Sept. 18)
  • Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C. (Sept. 19)
  • Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming (Sept. 22)
  • Nationwide open call (Sept. 24)

For information on how to sign up for “Idol Across America” and to register to virtually audition in front of an “American Idol” producer, please visit americanidol.com/auditions. Contenders may audition on any “Idol Across America” date, regardless of location. For full eligibility requirements, details on specific dates, submission forms, and terms and conditions, please visit the website.

 

“American Idol” is produced by Fremantle and 19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television. Executive producers include Megan Wolflick, also serving as showrunner with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman serving as executive producers for 19 Entertainment. Fremantle distributes the series worldwide.

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About Fremantle
Fremantle is a leading global creator, producer and distributor of some of the world’s most successful content across Entertainment, Drama & Film, and Documentaries. Amplifying local stories on a global scale, Fremantle produces and delivers premium, multi-genre IP across the 27 territories it operates in. Fremantle is a proudly independent group of content creators, and home to some of the biggest entertainment formats, compelling international dramas, award-winning films and high-quality documentaries. From Got Talent to Sullivan’s Crossing, Family Feud to Queer, Fellow Travelers to Queens, The Floor to Big Mood, Deadliest Catch to Idols, and Match Game to The Zelensky Story, our focus is simple – Fremantle creates and delivers irresistible entertainment.  Fremantle also represents world-leading digital and branded entertainment, with more than 550 million fans and 360 billion views for its standout content across all platforms. Fremantle’s Global Channels unit consists of more than 20 FAST channels worldwide, including Buzzr, Rig TV, and Baywatch. Fremantle is part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, streaming, content and digital, itself a division of the international media, services, and education company Bertelsmann.

For more information, please visit www.fremantle.com, follow Fremantle on Twitter @FremantleHQ and Instagram @fremantle or visit Fremantle’s LinkedIn page.

About 19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television, is led by executive producers Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman. In addition to its global hit “American Idol” for ABC, 19 Recordings has launched the music careers of platinum artists, including Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, Fantasia, Phillip Phillips, Lauren Alaina, and more recently, Gabby Barrett, Chayce Beckham, Iam Tongi, and Jamal Roberts

*COPYRIGHT ©2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All photography is copyrighted material and is for editorial use only. Images are not to be archived, altered, duplicated, resold, retransmitted or used for any other purposes without written permission of ABC. Images are distributed to the press in order to publicize current programming. Any other usage must be licensed. 

Media Contacts:
ABC Media Relations
Sarah Castellvi
sarah.castellvi@disney.com

Brett Levine
brett.levine@disney.com

Philip Galicia
philip.galicia@disney.com

Fremantle Publicity
Emma Harvey
emma.harvey@fremantle.com

19 Entertainment
Hans-Dieter Kopal
hans@pcommgroup.com