American Idol

American_Idol_ABC_logo

American_Idol_logo

Katy_Perry_performing_Vegas_residency_(cropped)

Ryan_Seacrest_161020-Z-DZ751-062_(29850173024)_(cropped)

Brian_Dunkleman

Kelly_Clarkson_57th_Presidential_Inauguration-cropped

Ruben_Studdar_2_cropped

American Idol is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to April 7, 2016, for 15 seasons. The series was revived by ABC on March 11, 2018. It aims to discover unsigned singing talent from across the United States, with the winner determined by American viewers using telephone, Internet, and SMS text voting.

Format[edit | edit source]

The show employs a panel of judges who critique the contestants' performances. The original judges were Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell. The judging panel has since included various other celebrities, such as Kara DioGuardi, Ellen DeGeneres, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, Harry Connick Jr., Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie.

Auditions[edit | edit source]

Contestants go through a series of auditions in front of the producers, followed by auditions in front of the judges. Successful contestants then proceed to the "Hollywood Week" rounds, where they perform individually and in groups. The top contestants advance to the live shows, where they perform weekly in front of a live audience and television viewers.

Live Shows[edit | edit source]

During the live shows, contestants perform songs based on weekly themes. The performances are critiqued by the judges, and viewers vote for their favorite contestants. The contestant with the fewest votes is eliminated each week until a winner is crowned.

Impact[edit | edit source]

American Idol has launched the careers of many successful artists, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert, and Phillip Phillips. The show has also had a significant impact on popular culture and the music industry, influencing other talent shows and music competitions worldwide.