Ryan Seacrest will continue to host “American Idol” in the 24th season, scheduled for sometime in 2026.
He will be joined by Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, and will return to the judges’ panel for his second year as a trio. “American Idol” season 24 is the ninth season of the series on ABC and Hulu, following in the long run at Fox.
SeaCrest has been with “American Idol” since its first season in 2002. He co-hosted that season with Brian Dunkleman, who never returned to Season 2. Since then, Seacrest has piloted the ship as a solo host. Outside of “Idol”, he hosts “Wheel of Fortune” following Pat Sajak’s retirement and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”
This year’s season 23 marked the first stint on Underwood’s “Idol,” but Brian and Richie were judges since 2018’s season 16.
The audition will begin on August 26th with “Idols All America.” This is a live, virtual national search for the next winner. Future “Idol” contestants will effectively audition in front of the producers in the hopes of moving on to the next round of auditions. Auditions for “Idol Adise America” begin on Tuesday with the “first 900” VIP event and travel to Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and the South. The auditions will hit Washington, DC in addition to all 50 states, and will close on September 22nd in Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming, with a nationwide open call on September 24th.
The top-rate, non-scripted series “American Idol” produced music superstars such as season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson, season 5 contestant Chris Daughtry, season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino, season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert, season 3 contestant Jennifer Hudson. With over 16 million albums on sale, Season 4 winner Underwood is an alumnus of the bestselling “Idol.”
“American Idol” is produced by Fremantle and 19 entertainment, part of Sony Pictures television. Megan Wolflick is a showrunner and her executives have produced alongside 19 entertainment Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman. Fremantle distributes series from around the world.
