‘American Idol’ Season 24 drops emotional sneak peek as hit show gets ready for major Hollywood Week takeover
'American Idol' is set to return with Season 24 with its signature format and iconic performances. Slated to premiere on Monday, the singing reality show will once again feature host Ryan Seacrest alongside judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. Adding to the excitement, the competition is shaking things up with significant changes for the Hollywood Week.
'American Idol' Season 24 moves to Nashville for a first-ever 'Music City Takeover,' featuring a single high-stakes performance and the most significant cut in the show's history, as per Gold Derby. In addition, the virtual auditions returned, with remote open calls held from Friday, August 26, to Monday, October 6, before producers selected contestants to advance to judge auditions.
In addition, 'American Idol' Season 24 is expected to conclude with its finale in mid-to-late May 2026, though the exact number of episodes hasn't been confirmed. Talking about 'American Idol', Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts said his life has changed dramatically since winning the show, "My life has changed drastically," and added, "I went home and thought I could do the same thing I was doing before I left, and I found that to be a lie." Roberts further shared that he initially planned to return to his job as a PE teacher but realised it wasn't possible when "people were coming up to the school [to see me]."
While he ultimately left his position, Roberts emphasised that education still matters to him, "As an employee, I had to leave, but I still show up and volunteer all the time because this is where my passion is, and my heart is, as well as music," as per Movie Guide. Roberts is now entirely focused on his music career and recently performed the National Anthem at the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
On the other hand, 'American Idol' Season 23 runner-up John Foster is set to perform in El Dorado. The Louisiana native will perform on Friday, February 13, at 8 p.m. at the First Financial Music Hall, as announced by the Murphy Arts District, as per myarklamiss.com. Foster is widely recognised for his impressive performances and frequently shares his singing with his 171K Instagram followers. Over the years, he has made multiple appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, toured nationally to sold-out crowds, and credits mentors like Miranda Lambert and Jelly Roll for shaping his artistry.
Foster's performance will also feature Clara Rae as the opening act. Rae auditioned in Nashville with Imagine Dragons' 'Radioactive,' earning a unanimous 'yes' from the judges, as per Fandom. While much of her Hollywood journey, including her Idol Arena and Showstopper performances, went untelevised, she advanced to the Head-to-Heads, where she performed 'Until I Found You' by Stephen Sanchez alongside Foster. Ultimately, Foster advanced to the next round, and Rae did not.
