'American Idol' Season 24 raises stakes with Judges Song Contest— everything you need to know about new theme
The 'Judges' Song Contest' has been a hit special episode with fans ever since 'American Idol' introduced it in Season 20 in 2022. Now, with the highly successful ABC reality show airing its 24th season, the excitement for the special chapter remains just as feverish ahead of its Monday drop. Judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie have a major role in this week's special episode, where it's friendly competition among themselves while also allowing the panel to provide input on what the contestants need to perform to earn viewers' votes. The special has been one of the episodes that have pulled contestants out of their comfort zones, making for a much-awaited watch.
In the 'Judges' Song Contest', each of the judges picks a song for the contestants to perform. It is then left to the contestants to decide which track they choose. Whichever judge has the most songs chosen is declared the winner. The upcoming special has a '90s theme, meaning Underwood, Bryan, and Richie have to pick the songs from that era for the Top 12 contestants. The winner of the song contest can also save one artist from elimination, making it a high-stakes chapter. In the event of a tie, the judges involved can decide the winner together. The previous season's 'Judges Song Contest' was a tie between Bryan and Richie.
The 90s theme presents the opportunity to see some timeless classics making a comeback. From the likes of Celine Dion and Whitney Houston to iconic names like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, the contestants will have their work cut out for them as they must successfully present the songs in a way that earns them more time on the show. With eliminations inching closer and the finale looming, each performance comes with intense competition. Safe to say, Monday's episode will be the perfect blend of nostalgia and neck-to-neck competition as the remaining contestants look to book a berth in the next round.
Per TheThings, stars from ABC's 'TGIF' lineup will also appear in the episode, including Andrea Barber, Mark Curry, Danielle Fishel, Danica McKellar, Holly Robinson Peete, Caroline Rhea, and Reginald VelJohnson. Also appearing is Jesse Frederick, who wrote and sang the theme songs to 'Family Matters,' 'Full House,' and 'Step by Step.' Expect a great episode in the offing as 'American Idol' Season 24 returns Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The long-running reality show can also be live-streamed on Fubo.
