'American Idol' Season 24 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night will kick off with an iconic duo as mentors
After last week's '90s Judges' Song Contest, 'American Idol' is set to return this Monday with another special treat for fans. Season 24 of the singing competition series will feature its annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night on April 13 on ABC. A beloved tradition, this theme night has been a regular fixture since Season 21, which premiered in 2023. The latest installment of the singing competition series began on January 26 and saw Ryan Seacrest return to his hosting duties alongside Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan as judges. The special themed episode will feature the Top 11 contestants performing songs exclusively by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees.
The Top 11 finalists of 'American Idol' Season 24 are Hannah Harper, Braden Rumfelt, Daniel Stallworth, Jordan McCullough, Chris Tungseth, Keyla Richardson, Lucas Leon, Philmon Lee, Kyndal Inskeep, Brooks, and Rae. They will be mentored by the iconic rock music duo, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, before they take the stage this week, as per ScreenRant. Pat is a powerhouse vocalist, and her husband, Neil, is a guitarist, arranger, and producer. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 to honor their long-standing creative partnership and enduring legacy in rock music.
The legendary musical duo will mark their second appearance on 'American Idol' after they participated in the Celebrity Duets round in Season 17 in 2019. The couple performed alongside contestants Kate Barnette and Madison VanDenburg, singing Pat's songs 'Heartbreaker' and 'We Belong' (produced by Neil). In addition to mentoring the contestants, Pat and Neil will also be performing during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night, as per ABC's press release. Two more contestants will be eliminated from the show during Monday's episode, leaving the Top 9 finalists to battle it out next week.
The inductees for this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will be announced live by Ryan Seacrest during the episode. The nominees include legendary musicians like Jeff Buckley, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Billy Idol, Melissa Etheridge, Phil Collins, P!nk, Shakira, Luther Vandross, Iron Maiden, New Edition, Black Crowes, Joy Division/New Order, INXS, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, and Sade. The official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website states that the inductees are selected by an international voting body consisting of over 1,200 inductees, historians, and members from the music industry. New episodes of Season 24 of 'American Idol' premiere on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC. Viewers can also stream the episodes on Disney+.