Major changes are coming to American Idol.
On Wednesday (Jan. 12), ABC Network, home to the popular singing competition show, shared a clip revealing updates to the milestone 20th Season of Idol.
Contestants might be in for major surprises this season as Idol teased that some of their most popular alums may return to mentor Idol hopefuls. With Bobby Bones out as the in-house mentor, will artists like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert and Gabby Barrett return to share their experiences and offer advice.
“In terms of the contestants, I want to see every one of them come back, way back from the beginning,” longtime host Ryan Seacrest told Deadline. ”I remember a moment with Clay and Ruben, I want to see Carrie again, I love seeing Jennifer Hudson. I can remember standing next to them looking at their faces and reactions in moments of success and challenge.”
Idol showrunner and executive producer Megan Michaels Wolflick shared that the show will be welcoming back some familiar faces to fill Bones’ shoes.
“There’s not anyone to replace Bobby per se, but this year we will be leaning into our amazing American Idol universe alum to help our current Idols along the way in different stages of the competition,” Michaels Wolflick told the outlet. ”Lots of those familiar faces America has grown to love will be seen throughout the season, and we’re really excited to give back.”
The journey to discover America's next singing sensation begins Sunday, Feb 27 at 8/7c on ABC! #AmericanIdol 🎶✨ pic.twitter.com/kgji3WFUbO
— ABC (@ABCNetwork) January 13, 2022
Along with the possible return of famous Idol alumni, the show also revealed an addition to the audition process. On top of handing out golden tickets, the judges, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, will have one platinum ticket to award contestants per city.
“See that wall over there… There is one platinum ticket that gets given in each city we go to, you get to go to Hollywood week, but you get a little shortcut because it’s the 20th year of creating superstars, and you’re a superstar,” Perry told one contestant in the teaser clip.
American Idol will return for its 20th anniversary season on February 27. Michaels Wolflick said that she has hopes to bring in a live audience, however, she understands that plans may change due to the ongoing global health crisis.
“Last year, we were able to have a safe, minimal, masked audience, whereas before we were Idol at home. It is of course our goal to have the fans back in the studio because that’s what makes the atmosphere,” she explained. “Having had this be our third year in the pandemic, we are ready to pivot on a dime at a moment’s notice, ready to be innovative to make this show move forward in 2022. It is our aspiration at this moment to going back to as many fans as possible in that studio, being completely safe with LA County.”
Click above to watch the new American Idol teaser clip.
