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{{short description|American singing competition}}
].]]
{{About||the most recent season|American Idol season 22{{!}}''American Idol'' season 22}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox television
| image = American Idol ABC logo.png
| alt_name = ''American Idol: The Search for a Superstar''
| genre = ]
| creator = ]
| director = {{Plainlist |
* Andy Scheer (2002)
* ] (2002–2010)
* ] (2003–2013)
* ] (2003–2008, 2012)
* ] (2003)
* John Pritchett (2008)
* Bill DeRonde (2009, 2014–16)
* Gregg Gelfand (2008–2013)
* Russell Norman (2013, 2015–16, 2019)
* ] (2014)
* Glenn Weiss (2015)
* Phil Heyes (2015–2016, 2018–present)
* Ben Thursby-Palmer (2018, 2020–present, Auditions only)
* Ryan Goble (2019)
* Sam Wrench (2020)
* Julia Knowles (2022)
}}
| based_on = '']''
| presenter = {{Plainlist |
* ]<!--- Per ], do NOT include years for the hosts --->
* ]
}}
| judges = {{Plainlist |
* ]<!--- Per ], do NOT include years for all the judges --->
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]<!-- Do not add Carrie Underwood. -->
* ]<!-- Do not add Carrie Underwood. -->
* ]<!-- Do not add Carrie Underwood. -->
* ]<!-- NOTE: DO NOT ADD CARRIE UNDERWOOD TO THE INFOBOX UNTIL THE SEASON ACTUALLY BEGINS. Despite an announcement, it is customary to REFRAIN FROM ADDING A NEW JUDGE'S NAME until they are visibly on screen. To some, it is even a spoiler. ONLY unhide when season BEGINS AIRING ] which will be AFTER the Oscars. Thank you for your patience and understanding.-->
}}<!-- DO. NOT. ADD. CARRIE. UNDERWOODD. YET. Until the season begins. -->
| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist |
* Julian Gingell
* Barry Stone
* ]
}}
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 22
| num_episodes = 699<!-- as of May 19, 2024 -->
| list_episodes = List of American Idol episodes
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist |
* Simon Fuller (2002–16)
* Cecile Frot-Coutaz (2002–2016, 2018)
* Simon Jones (2002–03)
* Nigel Lythgoe (2002–08, 2011–13, 2016 finale)
* Ken Warwick (2002–13)
* ] (2002)
* Charles Boyd (2009–16)
* Trish Kinane (2013–2016, 2018–2022)
* Jesse Ignjatovic (2014)
* Evan Prager (2014)
* ] (2014–15)
* ] (2015–16)
* Megan Wolflick (2015–2016, 2018–present)
* Jessica Castro (2016)
* Jennifer Mullin (2018–present)
* Phil McIntyre (2018)
* Caroline Abaecheta (2018–20)
* Daniel Martin (2018–20)
* ] (2019)
* Robert McLoed (2019, 2023)
* Eli Holzman (2020–present)
* Aaron Saidman (2020–present)
* Brian Burke (2021–present)
* Brian Updyke (2021–22)
* Nikki Varhely Gillingham (2021)
* Theodore Dimitriou (2022–present)
* Matt Banks (2022–present)
* Mike Deffina (2023–present)
* Katie Fennelly Watkins (2024–present)
}}
| runtime = 22–104 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist |
* ]
* ]
}}
| network = ]
| network2 = ]
| first_aired = {{Start date|2002|6|11}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2016|4|7}}
| first_aired2 = {{Start date|2018|3|11}}
| last_aired2 = present
}}


'''''American Idol''''' is an American ] television series created by ], produced by ] and ], and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on ] from June 11, 2002, to April 7, 2016, for 15 seasons. It was on hiatus for two years until March 11, 2018, when a revival of the series began airing on ].
'''''American Idol''''' is a ] show on the ], based on the popular ] show '']''. The show is a competition in which viewers can call in and vote on contestants to determine the best young singer in the ], with the winner receiving a major record deal, although some runners-up have achieved enough fame to ink record deals of their own.


It started as an addition to the '']'' format that was based on '']'' from British television, in which the programme's ], which was won by ], ended over four months before the show began, as it later became one of the most successful shows in the history of ]. The concept of the series involves discovering recording stars from unsigned singing talents, with the winner determined by American viewers using phones, Internet platforms, and SMS text voting. The winners of the first twenty-two seasons, as chosen by viewers, are ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].
== Overview ==
===Early auditions===
In the show, hosted by ], hopeful contestants, after being screened by preliminary panels which select for singing talent or humorous potential and human interest, audition before three judges (], ] and ]) in cities across the ] (sometimes a celebrity fourth judge is added). These are generally held at large convention centers where thousands of people wait in line for auditions. In order to be eligible, the contestants are not permitted to have any current recording or talent management agreements (but may have had one at some point in the past). Based on turnout and availability, producers select a certain number from the crowd to audition before the three judges (this may take several rounds). Contestants are required to sing ''a cappella''. Those who impress a majority of the judges move on to the second round auditions which take place in ] (typically only several dozen out of the thousands in each city move on). The contestants selected despite lack of singing talent for appearance before the panel provide a major attraction to the viewing audience as they simultaneously proclaim their talent while turning out gut-wrenching performances which are ridiculed by the judges.


''American Idol'' employs a select panel of judges who critique the contestants' performances. The original judges, for seasons one through eight, were record producer and music manager ], singer and choreographer ], and music executive and manager ]. The judging panel for the last three seasons on Fox consisted of singers ], ], and ]<ref name="J-Lo&Connick"> ''Entertainment Weekly'', Retrieved November 23, 2019</ref> Season sixteen brought three new judges: singers ], ], and ]. Beginning in the twenty-third season, Underwood will replace Perry, alongside returning judges Bryan and Richie. The show has been ] by ] ] throughout its run, apart from the show's inaugural season when comedian ] joined Seacrest as co-host.
One of the most popular portions of each season are initial episodes showcasing ''American Idol'' hopefuls auditioning before the panel of judges. These early episodes focus mainly on the poorest performances from contestants who often appear oblivious to their lack of star talent. These "contestants" have been selected by the preliminary panels in a negative sense, a typical combination is lack of singing ability combined with vanity regarding their "talent." Others are selected for human interest potential, the 2005 auditions featured a "cannibal" who had sampled human flesh in an anthropology class and an aspiring female prize fighter. Poor singers often face intense and humbling criticism from the judges, and especially from Cowell, who can be harsh and blunt in his rejections. Typically the judges express disgust or dismay or suppressed laughter. Some poor performances have attained notoriety on their own; these have included season two's performance of ]'s "]" by ] and season three's rendition of ]'s "]" by ].


The success of ''American Idol'' has been described as "unparalleled in broadcasting history".<ref>{{cite book |last=Doris Baltruschat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tqt_nxRY7xIC&pg=PA106 |title=Global Media Ecologies: Networked Production in Film and Television |publisher=Routledge |year=2010 |isbn=978-0415874786 |page=106}}</ref> A rival TV executive said the series was "the most impactful show in the history of television".<ref name="carter">{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=February 20, 2007 |title=For Fox's Rivals, 'American Idol' Remains a 'Schoolyard Bully' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/20/arts/television/20idol.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416211241/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/20/arts/television/20idol.html |archive-date=April 16, 2009}}</ref> It became a recognized springboard for launching the career of many artists as bona fide stars. According to ], in its first ten years, "''Idol'' has spawned 345 ''Billboard'' chart-toppers and a platoon of pop idols, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, ], Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, ], ], ], and Jordin Sparks while remaining a TV ratings juggernaut."<ref name="Billboard2012">{{cite magazine |date=June 11, 2012 |title=Ten Years of 'American Idol' Chart Dominance: Clarkson, Underwood, Daughtry, Fantasia, More |magazine=] |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/ten-years-of-american-idol-chart-dominance-1007290752.story |url-status=dead |access-date=September 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127153206/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/ten-years-of-american-idol-chart-dominance-1007290752.story |archive-date=January 27, 2013}}</ref> For an unprecedented eight consecutive years, from the ] through the ], either its performance show or result show was ] in U.S. ].<ref name="ratings">{{cite magazine |date=June 1, 2011 |title=Full 2010–11 Ratings: CBS Tops Viewership, Fox Is No. 1 in Demo and Idol Remains Most-Watched |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/2010-11-Ratings-1033838.aspx |magazine=TV Guide |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref>
Contestants must be legal U.S. residents and, for the first three seasons, had to be 16 to 24 years of age. For the fourth season, the upper age limit was raised to 28 to attract more mature and diverse contestants. In early 2003, a 50-year-old college professor named Drew Cummings filed a complaint with the ], charging the show with age discrimination because producers denied him an audition due to his age. His case was not taken up by the EEOC.
{{TOC limit|3}}


==History==
===On to Hollywood===
]
''American Idol'' was based on the British show '']'' created by ], which was in turn inspired by the New Zealand television singing competition '']''. Television producer ] saw a version in Australia and helped bring it over to Britain.<ref name="guardin">{{cite news |last=Stephen Armstrong |date=January 11, 2010 |title=Nice work for Nasty Nigel Lythgoe |work=The Guardian |location=UK |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jan/11/nigel-lythgoe-television-dance |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> Fuller was inspired by the idea from ''Popstars'' of employing a panel of judges to select singers in audition. He then added other elements, including ] by the viewing public (which at the time was already in use in shows, such as the '']''), the drama of backstories, and real-life soap opera unfolding in real time.<ref name="variety">{{cite news |last=Fuller |first=Simon |date=May 20, 2011 |title=Simon Fuller on how 'Idol' began |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/simon-fuller-on-how-idol-began-2-1118037190/4 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> ''Pop Idol'' debuted in Britain in 2001 with Lythgoe as ]{{nsmdns}}the executive producer and production leader{{nsmdns}}and ] as one of the judges, and was successful with the viewing public.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 28, 2002 |title=Pop Idol audience reaches 10&nbsp;million |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1787135.stm |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref>


In 2001, Fuller, Cowell, and TV producer Simon Jones attempted to sell the ''Pop Idol'' format to the United States, but the idea was initially met with poor responses from all the television networks including ] and ].<ref name="NYT – American Idol" /> However, ], head of ]'s ], was later persuaded to buy the series by his daughter, ], who had seen the British show.<ref name="NYT – American Idol">{{cite news |last=Bill Carter |date=April 30, 2006 |title=How a Hit Almost Failed Its Own Audition |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/30/business/yourmoney/30idol.html}}</ref> Although Fox's executives wanted to change the format, Murdoch insisted that it should remain the same as the British one. One change was nevertheless made due to the presence of multiple time zones in the United States that made it impractical for the country to vote in the same time period, an additional half-hour results show was therefore added the day following the performance show.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 5, 2018 |title=The Masked Scheduler on 'American Idol,' part 1: The origin story |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-1-the-origin-story/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306002559/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-1-the-origin-story/ |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |website=TV by the Number}}</ref> The show was renamed '']'' and debuted in the summer of 2002. Cowell was initially offered the job of showrunner, but turned down the offer; Lythgoe then took over that position. Much to the surprise of Cowell and Fox, it became one of the biggest shows of the summer.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 29, 2002 |title=US starts Pop Idol search |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1957221.stm}}</ref><ref name="Watching TV: six decades of American television"> By Harry Castleman, Walter J. Podrazik</ref> With its successful launch in the summer, the show was then moved to January and expanded.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 6, 2018 |title=The Masked Scheduler on 'American Idol,' part 2: Managing a megahit |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-2-managing-a-megahit/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306231844/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-2-managing-a-megahit/ |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref> The show grew into a phenomenon largely due to its personal engagement with the contestants by prompting the viewers to vote, and the presence of the acid-tongued Cowell as a judge. By 2004, it had become the most-watched show on U.S. television, a position it then held for seven consecutive seasons until 2011.<ref name="USA Today2012">{{cite news |date=January 17, 2012 |title=5 reasons 'American Idol' may go on nearly forever—or not |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/story/2012-01-14/American-Idol-endurance/52625742/1 |access-date=June 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719211818/https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/story/2012-01-14/American-Idol-endurance/52625742/1 |archive-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 9, 2014 |title='American Idol' Ratings Woes: A Season-by-Season Timeline of the Decline |newspaper=Thewrap |url=https://www.thewrap.com/american-idol-ratings-woes-numbers/ |access-date=December 14, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>
Once in Hollywood, the three judges narrow the initial field of several hundred down to a group of 24 semifinalists, divided equally between men and women, who are invited to perform in the live portions of the show. On three consecutive weeks, the male semifinalists perform only against the other men, and the women only against the other women. Each contestant performs live (in the ] and ]), in primetime, a song of his or her choice, and receives critiques from the judges, who, from this point on, serve almost entirely in an advisory capacity, with little direct influence on the results.


However, after a few years of sharp declining ratings starting in 2012, with rating falls of over 20% each season,<ref>{{cite web |date=March 9, 2018 |title=The Masked Scheduler on 'American Idol,' part 4: The decline and end of the FOX run |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-4-the-decline-and-end-of-the-fox-run/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309233835/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-4-the-decline-and-end-of-the-fox-run/ |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref> the ] would be its last on Fox, ending its run in April 2016.<ref name="Idol Cancellation (May 2015)" /> In May 2017, ABC acquired the rights to the series and the program returned for the 2017–18 television season.<ref name="auto">{{cite magazine |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=May 9, 2017 |title=ABC officially revives American Idol, chides Fox for canceling |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/05/09/american-idol-abc-2/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=May 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Nellie Andreeva and Nancy Tartaglione |date=May 9, 2017 |title='American Idol' Return Set On ABC For 2017–18 Season |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/american-idol-revival-abc-1202087368/ |access-date=May 9, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> The first season of the revived series, or the ] overall, started airing in March 2018.<ref name="abc premier">{{cite web |last=Variety Staff |date=November 6, 2017 |title='American Idol' Premiere Date Revealed |url=https://variety.com/2017/music/news/american-idol-abc-premiere-date-1202607674 |access-date=November 6, 2017 |website=Variety}}</ref> Seven seasons have been aired on ABC as of May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title='American Idol' Has a New Champion! Abi Carter Wins Season 22 |url=https://people.com/american-idol-winner-abi-carter-crowned-champion-of-season-22-8650641 |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref>
Viewers have two hours following the broadcast of the show in their time zone to phone in votes for their favorite contestant by calling a toll-free number (viewers may also send ] to vote). Callers are allowed to vote as many times as they like for any number of contestants. On the following night's episode the results of the nationwide vote are announced, and the bottom two vote-getters are eliminated each week. At the end of the semifinal rounds, the six men and six women who remain advance to the finals.


==Judges and hosts==
During the middle seasons, the semifinal round consisted of 32 semifinalists who were divided into four groups of eight. In the first season, they were 30 contestants, divided into three groups of ten. Each week for four (three for season one) weeks, one group would perform with the top two (three for season one) vote-getters from each group advancing to the finals. When all the semifinal shows had been completed, there was a wildcard phase. Each judge chose one semifinalist to advance to the final round, and a studio audience vote determined the final wildcard spot, rounding out the field of twelve finalists. In season 1, 5 contestants were chosen, and judges chose one to advance to the finals.
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 600
| header = Judges and host of the upcoming season of ''American Idol''
| image1 = Lionel Richie 2022 (51930307118) (cropped).jpg
| caption1 = ]
| image2 = 191125 Carrie Underwood at the 2019 American Music Awards.png
| caption2 = ]
| image3 = 2022 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (51930843770) (cropped).jpg
| caption3 = ]
| image4 = Ryan_Seacrest_(2019).jpg
| caption4 = ] (host)
}}


===Judges===
Semifinalists (and in some cases, other contestants as well) must submit to background checks and may be summarily disqualified for past behavior deemed undesirable, such as an arrest record. Several finalists have been disqualified for revelations that surfaced late in the competition.
The show had originally planned on having four judges following the ''Pop Idol'' format; however, only three judges had been found by the time of the audition round in the first season, namely Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell.<ref name="NYT – American Idol" /> A fourth judge, radio DJ ], was originally chosen but he dropped out citing "image concerns."<ref>{{cite web |date=January 12, 2011 |title=Stryker Strikes Out: The Man Who Was Supposed To Be The Fourth 'Idol' Judge |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/416531/stryker-strikes-out-the-man-who-was-supposed-to-be-the-fourth-idol-judge/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120015153/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/416531/stryker-strikes-out-the-man-who-was-supposed-to-be-the-fourth-idol-judge |archive-date=January 20, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com}}</ref> In the ], New York radio personality ] had been hired as a fourth judge but withdrew after only a few days of auditions, due to being uncomfortable with giving out criticism.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Susman |first=Gary |date=October 31, 2002 |title=New judge Angie Martinez drops out of ''American Idol'' |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/10/31/new-judge-angie-martinez-drops-out-american-idol/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> The show decided to continue with the three judges format until the ]. All three original judges stayed on the judging panel for eight seasons.


In the eighth season, ]-nominated singer-songwriter and record producer ] was added as a fourth judge. Abdul left the show in 2009, after the eighth season, as a result of failing to agree to terms with the show producers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Weisman |first=Jon |date=August 4, 2009 |title=Abdul ends her 'Idol' era |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2009/tv/features/abdul-ends-her-idol-era-1118006911/ |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> ]-winning talk show host ] replaced Abdul for the ], but left in 2010 after just one season.<ref name="degeneresidol">{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Scott |date=July 30, 2010 |title=Ellen DeGeneres is out as 'American Idol' judge |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-ellen-degeneres-american-idol,0,28082.story |url-status=live |access-date=July 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801024529/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-ellen-degeneres-american-idol%2C0%2C28082.story |archive-date=August 1, 2010}}</ref> DioGuardi was let go from ''American Idol'' in 2010 after two seasons, as producers favored a return to the three-person judges panel previously used prior to DioGuardi's appearance on the show.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Slezak |first=Michael |date=September 3, 2010 |title=Kara DioGuardi not returning to 'American Idol': It's (finally) official |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/09/03/kara-dioguardi-not-returning-to-american-idol-its-finally-official/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> Cowell also left the show in 2010 to introduce the ] of his show '']'' in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 12, 2010 |title=Simon Cowell to leave American Idol |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8453267.stm |access-date=March 31, 2010}}</ref> Jackson was the only judge from the ninth season to return for the tenth.
===Final twelve===


] and ] joined the judging panel in the ],<ref name="newjudges" /> but both left in 2012 after two seasons.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=July 17, 2012 |title=Steven Tyler's 'Idol' Departure Influenced Jennifer Lopez's Own Exit |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steven-tylers-idol-departure-influenced-jennifer-lopezs-own-exit-20120717 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> Jackson was the only judge from the ] to return for the twelfth. They were replaced by three new judges, ], ], and ], who joined Jackson in the ].<ref name="season 12 judges">{{cite magazine |date=September 16, 2012 |title='American Idol' announces judges: Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj confirmed |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/09/16/american-idol-season-12-judges/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> However, both Carey and Minaj left after one season.<ref name="carey minaj" /> Jackson also departed the judges table after twelve seasons, but would return as the in-house mentor for the ] in 2014, after which he left the show permanently.<ref name="I'm Leaving">{{cite news |last=Malkin |first=Marc |date=May 9, 2013 |title=Randy Jackson: I'm Leaving ''American Idol'' |work=E Online |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/416905/randy-jackson-i-m-leaving-american-idol}}</ref><ref name="iovine"> Deadline, Retrieved August 23, 2013</ref>
In the finals, which last eleven weeks, each finalist performs a song live in primetime from a weekly theme (two songs in later rounds). Themes have included ], ], ] music, and '']'' #1 hits. Some themes are based on music recorded by a particular artist, and the finalists have a chance to work with that artist in preparing their performances. Artists around whom themes have been based include ], ], and ].


Urban was the only judge from the twelfth season to return as a judge for the thirteenth season. After a one-season hiatus, Lopez returned to ''American Idol'' for the thirteenth season, and was joined by former mentor ]<ref name="J-Lo&Connick" /> After this, Lopez, Urban, and Connick Jr. remained on the show until its cancellation after the fifteenth season in 2016.<ref name="judges_season_14" /><ref name="deadline-idolcancelled" />
When there are three finalists remaining, themes are no longer used. Instead, each contestant sings three songs: one of their own choice, one chosen by the judges, and one chosen by record executive ]. However in Season Two, in the final three, one song was chosen randomly from a bowl, with one chosen by the performer and one by the judges.


When the show was revived by ABC in 2018, ],<ref name="CNN 1">{{cite news |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=May 16, 2017 |title=Katy Perry is your next ''American Idol'' judge |publisher=] |location=United States |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/16/celebrities/katy-perry-american-idol/ |url-status=dead |access-date=May 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516224402/http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/16/celebrities/katy-perry-american-idol/ |archive-date=May 16, 2017}}</ref> ],<ref name="Bryan">{{cite magazine |date=September 26, 2017 |title=Luke Bryan to Become New 'American Idol' Judge |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/luke-bryan-to-become-new-american-idol-judge-w505442 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 12, 2017 |archive-date=February 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201075858/https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/luke-bryan-to-become-new-american-idol-judge-w505442 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ]<ref name="Richie">{{cite magazine |date=September 29, 2017 |title=Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan to join American Idol as judges |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/09/29/american-idol-luke-bryan-lionel-richie-judges/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> were selected as judges, marking the sixteenth season of ''Idol''. Bryan and Richie have remained on the show since, while Perry left the show in May 2024 after seven seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |date=2024-05-20 |title='American Idol' Pays Tribute to Katy Perry on Her Final Episode |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/american-idol-katy-perry-final-episode-1235903951/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> On July 31, 2024, published reports announced former ''Idol'' winner ] as Perry's replacement, joining Bryan and Richie for the ].<ref name="THR July 2024">{{cite magazine |last1=Porter |first1=Rick |title=Carrie Underwood Taking ''American Idol'' Judge's Seat After Katy Perry Departure |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/carrie-underwood-replacing-katy-perry-american-idol-1235963550/ |website=] |publisher=] |access-date=July 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240731213113/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/carrie-underwood-replacing-katy-perry-american-idol-1235963550/ |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |location=United States |issn=0018-3660 |oclc=44653726 |date=July 31, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In any case, each week on the following night's live "results" episode, the contestant with the fewest votes is sent home. The bottom three vote-getters are separated from the remaining contestants. Over the course of the episode, two are revealed as being "safe" for the week, and the loser is sent home after performing one final song to end the episode. This process is repeated each week until the one remaining contestant is declared the winner.


Guest judges may occasionally be introduced. In the second season, guest judges such as Richie and ] were used, and in the ], ], ], ], and some of the mentors also joined as judges to critique the performances in the final rounds. Guest judges were sporadically used during the audition rounds: ], ], ], ], and ] in the ]; ], ], and ] in the ]; ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and Perry in the ninth season (substituting in the vacant chair, before DeGeneres was hired); and ] filled in for Urban at one audition location during the ]. In the ABC version, two instances occurred during the live shows: Abdul filled in for Bryan on one episode of the ], while ] and ] filled in for Perry and Richie on an episode of the ].
== Spin-offs ==
A spin-off series called '']'' premiered on ], ]. In December ], winners of eleven different national ''Idol'' competitions were collected for a '']'' competition in London. ] came in second after Norway's ].


===Hosts===
== Season synopses ==
] co-hosted with Seacrest for the first season.]]
The number next to a contestant's name denotes the number of times he or she was in the "Bottom Three".
The ] was co-hosted by ] and ], following the format of ''Pop Idol'' of using two presenters. Dunkleman quit thereafter,<ref>{{cite web |last=Potts |first=Kim |title='American Idol: The Untold Story' Book Author Richard Rushfield Talks Past 'Idol' Scandals, Backstage Divas and Season 10 |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/01/18/american-idol-the-untold-story-book-author-richard-rushfield/?icid=maing%7Cmain5%7cdl2%7csec1_lnk5%7c37044 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122030831/http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/01/18/american-idol-the-untold-story-book-author-richard-rushfield/?icid=maing%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk5%7C37044 |archive-date=January 22, 2011 |access-date=January 18, 2010 |publisher=TV Squad}}</ref> resulting in Seacrest becoming the sole emcee starting with the second season in 2003.


Seacrest has remained as sole host of ''American Idol'' ever since, with the exception of the two-year hiatus between 2016 and 2018 as well as April 8, 2019, during the ], when ] subbed for Seacrest after the latter fell ill.<ref>{{cite web |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=April 8, 2019 |title=Ryan Seacrest makes 'American Idol' history by missing hosting duties |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/08/entertainment/ryan-seacrest-sick-american-idol/index.html |access-date=January 23, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Dunkleman did, however, return for the initial ] in 2016 as a guest.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nededog |first=Jethro |title=Original 'American Idol' cohost Brian Dunkleman returned for the finale and admits he never got along with Ryan Seacrest |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/brian-dunkleman-returned-on-american-idol-2016-4 |access-date=January 23, 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Season one ===
{| border="1" align ="right" cellpadding=3
|colspan="2" align=center|'''Season 1 Finalists'''<br><small>''(with dates of elimination)''</small>
|-
| colspan=2 align=center|'''Season 1''' (])
|- align=center
||]||''winner''
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|}

In the first season the show was co-hosted by Seacrest and ]. ] won, with ] coming in second. Numerous television specials starring the ten finalists followed, as well as the ] entitled '']''. Since winning, Clarkson has gone on to a successful musical career. Her first album ''Thankful'' debuted at #1, went double-platinum, and spawned the grammy-nominated hit "Miss Independent." Her sophomore album ''Breakaway'' debuted in November 2004 at #3 on the Billboard Charts. Since then it has sold nearly 2 million copies, and includes such hits as "Since U Been Gone" (#4 on Billboard) and "Breakaway" (#6 on Billboard). Guarini's self titled album was a flop, selling just 130,000 copies to date.


===Cast Timeline===
{| cellpadding=2 cellspacing=6
;Color key:
|-bgcolor=#808080
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
|'''Date'''
{{legend|#FF87C3|Host}}
|'''Theme'''
{{legend|#FFC6C6|Guest Host}}
|colspan="3" align="center"|'''Bottom Two''' (both eliminated)
{{legend|#90EE90|Judge}}
{{legend|#DAEBFF|Guest Judge}}
{{legend|#87CEEB|Contestant}}
{{legend|#CCCCFF|In-House Mentor}}
{{legend|#FFFF90|Guest Mentor}}
{{legend|#FFA500|Musical Director}}
{{legend|#48D1CC|Vocal Coach}}
}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders collapsible mw-collapsible nowrap" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
|- |-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Cast Member
|]
! colspan="23" style="text-align:center" scope="col" | Seasons
|]
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|EJay Day
|bgcolor="#D6D6D6"|Jim Verraros
|- |-
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
! width="15" |]
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Ryan|Seacrest}}}}
|
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
|
|bgcolor=#808080 colspan="3" align="center"|'''Bottom Three''' | bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●<sup>1</sup>
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Brian|Dunkleman}}}}
|]
| bgcolor=#FF87C3 | ●
|]
| colspan="22" {{n/a|}}
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|A.J. Gil
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Ryan Starr
|Christina Christian
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Paula|Abdul}}}}
|]
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|]
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Ryan Starr (2) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Justin Guarini | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|Nikki McKibbin
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| colspan="10" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#DAEBFF | ●
| colspan="4" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Simon|Cowell}}}}
|]
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|]
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Christina Christian (2) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|RJ Helton | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|Nikki McKibbin (2)
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| colspan="14" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Randy|Jackson}}}}
|]
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|Love songs
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|RJ Helton (2) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Nikki McKibbin (3) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#CCCCFF | ●
| colspan="14" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Kara|DioGuardi}}}}
|]
| colspan="7" {{n/a|}}
|] & ]
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Tamyra Gray | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Nikki McKibbin (4) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| colspan="14" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Ellen|DeGeneres}}}}
|]
| colspan="8" {{n/a|}}
|
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Nikki McKibbin (5) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| colspan="14" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Jennifer|Lopez}}}}
|]
| colspan="5" {{n/a|}}
|
|bgcolor="lime"|Kelly Clarkson | bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
| colspan="3" {{n/a|}}
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Justin Guarini
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|}
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●

| colspan="1" {{n/a|}}
=== Season two ===
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
{| border="1" align ="right" cellpadding=3
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|colspan="2" align=center|'''Season 2 Finalists'''<br><small>''(with dates of elimination)''</small>
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| colspan="8" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Steven|Tyler}}}}
|- align=center
| colspan="9" {{n/a|}}
||]||''winner''
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|- align=center
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
||]||]
| colspan="12" {{n/a|}}
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||disqualified,<br>]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|- align=center
||]||]
|}
In season two with Seacrest as the lone host, ] was the winner with ] as runner up. Out of 24 million votes cast, Studdard finished just 130,000 votes ahead of Aiken, although there remains controversy over the validity of the reported results. Despite Studdard's win, Aiken has enjoyed more widespread popularity.

{| cellpadding=2 cellspacing=6
|-bgcolor=#808080
|'''Date'''
|'''Theme'''
|'''Guest Judge(s)'''
|colspan="3" align="center"|'''Bottom Three'''
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Mariah|Carey}}}}
|]
| colspan="6" {{n/a|}}
|]
| bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
|]
| colspan="4" {{n/a|}}
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Vanessa Olivarez
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Kimberley Locke | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| colspan="11" {{n/a|}}
|Julia DeMato
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Nicki|Minaj}}}}
|]
| colspan="11" {{n/a|}}
|]
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|]
| colspan="11" {{n/a|}}
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Charles Grigsby
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Julia DeMato (2)
|Corey Clark
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Keith|Urban}}}}
|]
| colspan="11" {{n/a|}}
|]
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|]
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Julia DeMato (3) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Kimberly Caldwell | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|Rickey Smith
| colspan="5" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
| colspan="2" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Harry|Connick Jr.}}}}
|]
| colspan="8" {{n/a|}}
|]
| bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
|]
| colspan="2" {{n/a|}}
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Corey Clark (eliminated)
| bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| colspan="9" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Luke|Bryan}}}}
|]
| colspan="15" {{n/a|}}
|]
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|]
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Rickey Smith (2) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Kimberly Caldwell (2) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|Kimberley Locke (2)
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Katy|Perry}}}}
|]
| colspan="8" {{n/a|}}
|]
| bgcolor=#DAEBFF | ●
|]
| colspan="6" {{n/a|}}
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Kimberly Caldwell (3)
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Carmen Rasmusen | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|Trenyce
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| colspan="1" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Lionel|Richie}}}}
|]
| colspan="1" {{n/a|}}
|]
| bgcolor=#DAEBFF | ●
|]
| colspan="13" {{n/a|}}
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Carmen Rasmusen (2)
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Trenyce (2) | bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|Joshua Gracin
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Carrie|Underwood}}}}
|]
| colspan="3" {{n/a|}}
|]
| bgcolor=#87CEEB | ●
|]
| colspan="11" {{n/a|}}
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Trenyce (3)
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Ruben Studdard | bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
| colspan="3" {{n/a|}}
|
| bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
| colspan="2" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#90EE90 | ●
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Kelly|Clarkson}}}}
|]
| bgcolor=#87CEEB | ●
|]
| colspan="12" {{n/a|}}
|]
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Joshua Gracin (2) | bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Kimberley Locke (3) | bgcolor=#DAEBFF | ●
| colspan="8" {{n/a|}}
|
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Adam|Lambert}}}}
|]
| colspan="7" {{n/a|}}
|
| bgcolor=#87CEEB | ●
|
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Kimberley Locke (4) | bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
| colspan="4" {{n/a|}}
|
| bgcolor=#DAEBFF | ●<sup>2</sup>
|
| colspan="2" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
| colspan="3" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
| colspan="2" {{n/a|}}
|- |-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Jimmy|Iovine}}}}
|]
| colspan="9" {{n/a|}}
|
| bgcolor=#CCCCFF | ●
|]
|bgcolor="lime"|Ruben Studdard | bgcolor=#CCCCFF | ●
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Clay Aiken | bgcolor=#CCCCFF | ●
| colspan="11" {{n/a|}}
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Scott|Borchetta}}}}
| colspan="13" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#CCCCFF | ●
| bgcolor=#CCCCFF | ●
| colspan="9" {{n/a|}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Bobby|Bones}}}}
| colspan="15" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#FFFF90 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFC6C6 | ●
| bgcolor=#CCCCFF | ●
| bgcolor=#CCCCFF | ●
| colspan="4" {{n/a|}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Rickey|Minor}}}}
| colspan="3" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| colspan="3" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| colspan="8" {{n/a|}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Ray|Chew}}}}
| colspan="9" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| colspan="11" {{n/a|}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Kris|Pooley}}}}
| colspan="15" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
| bgcolor=#FFA500 | ●
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Debra|Byrd}}}}
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| colspan="13" {{n/a|}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | {{nowrap|{{sortname|Peggi|Blu}}}}
| colspan="9" {{n/a|}}
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| bgcolor=#48D1CC | ●
| colspan="12" {{n/a|}}
|} |}


'''Annotations'''
=== Season three ===
* <sup>1</sup> Bones substituted for Seacrest on the second "Top 20 Duets" episode of ], in addition to being In-House Mentor the entire season.
{| border="1" align ="right" cellpadding=3
* <sup>2</sup> Lambert substituted for Urban at one ] audition location (]), due to the latter's family emergency.
|colspan="2" align=center|'''Season 3 Finalists'''<br><small>''(with dates of elimination)''</small>

|- align=center
==Selection process==
||]||''winner''
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2019}}
|- align=center
In a series of steps, the show selected the eventual winner out of many tens of thousands of contestants.
||]||]

|- align=center
===Contestant eligibility===
||]||]
The eligible age-range for contestants is fifteen to twenty-eight years old. The initial age limit was sixteen to twenty-four in the first three seasons, but the upper limit was raised to twenty-eight in the fourth season, and the lower limit was reduced to fifteen in the tenth season. The contestants have to be legal U.S. residents, can not have advanced to particular stages of the competition in previous seasons, and must not have held a current recording or talent representation contract by the semi-final stage<ref>{{cite web |title=American Idol 10 Audition Rules |url=http://media.americanidol.com/auditions/season_10/forms/ai10_auditions_rules.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707133435/http://media.americanidol.com/auditions/season_10/forms/ai10_auditions_rules.pdf |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> (in previous years by the audition stage).<ref name="season 4 rules" />
|- align=center
{{wide image|American Idol Denver auditions panorama.jpg|700px|Season nine's Denver audition, at ].}}
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|- align=center
===Initial auditions===
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For the first eighteen seasons, contestants went through at least three sets of cuts. The first was a brief audition with a few other contestants in front of selectors which may include one of the show's producers. Although auditions can exceed 10,000 in each city, only a few hundred of these made it past the preliminary round of auditions. Successful contestants then sing in front of producers, where more may be cut. Only then can they proceed to audition in front of the judges, which is the only audition stage shown on television.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 19, 2010 |title=Secret Rituals of ''American Idol'' Auditions Exposed |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-19/secret-rituals-of-american-idol-auditions-exposed/ |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Thedailybeast.com}}</ref> Those selected by the judges are sent to Hollywood. Between 10 and 60 people in each city may make it to Hollywood (the average total is between 150 and 200){{citation needed|date=March 2015}}.
|- align=center

||]||]
From the nineteenth season onwards, contestants request a ] interview and audition remotely for the show's producers. If the audition goes well, they will then invite the contestants to audition in front of the judges, in one of the audition cities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=February 12, 2021 |title='American Idol' Was the First Show to React to COVID. Can They Be the First to 'Pivot Back' to Normal? |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/american-idol-covid-new-season-interview-9524390/ |access-date=November 14, 2022 |publisher=]}}</ref>
|- align=center

||]||]
===Hollywood week===
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Once in Hollywood, the contestants perform individually or in groups in a series of rounds. Until the tenth season, there were usually three rounds of eliminations in Hollywood.<ref>{{cite web |last=Barber |first=Greg |date=February 16, 2010 |title=American Idol: Kodak Moments |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2010/02/17/american-idol-hollywood-eliminations/ |website=The Washington Times}}</ref> In the first round the contestants emerged in groups but performed individually. For the next round, the contestants put themselves in small groups and performed a song together.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Slezak |first=Michael |date=February 5, 2010 |title='American Idol': 15 Greatest 'Hollywood Week' Moments |url=https://ew.com/gallery/american-idol-15-greatest-hollywood-week-moments/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> In the final round, the contestants performed solo with a song of their choice ] or accompanied by a band{{nsmdns}}depending on the season. In the second and third seasons, contestants were also asked to write original lyrics or melody in an additional round after the first round. In the ], the group round was eliminated and contestants may, after a first solo performance and on judges approval, skip a second solo round and move directly to the final Hollywood round.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kickler Kelber |first=Sarah |date=February 12, 2008 |title='American Idol': Hooray for Hollywood |work=Baltimore Sun |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2008-02-american_idol_hooray_for_hollywood-story.html |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108123756/https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2008-02-american_idol_hooray_for_hollywood-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the twelfth season, the executive producers split up the females and males and chose the members to form the groups in the group round.
||]||]

|- align=center
In the tenth and eleventh seasons, a further round was added in Las Vegas, where the contestants performed in groups based on a theme, followed by one final solo round to determine the semi-finalists.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=February 17, 2011 |title='American Idol' Hollywood Week Ends With A Ticket To Vegas |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1658276/american-idol-hollywood-week/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211021557/http://www.mtv.com/news/1658276/american-idol-hollywood-week/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 11, 2014 |website=MTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Slezak |first=Michael |date=February 17, 2012 |title=American Idol Recap: What Happened in Vegas |work=TVLine |url=https://tvline.com/2012/02/17/american-idol-recap-season-11-episode-11-vegas-group-rounds-top-42/}}</ref> At the end of this stage of the competition, 24 to 36 contestants were selected to move on to the semi-final stage. In the twelfth season the Las Vegas round became a Sudden Death round, where the judges had to choose five guys and five girls each night (four nights) to make the top twenty.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Barrett |first=Annie |date=February 21, 2013 |title='American Idol' sudden death: Five guys get cut |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/02/21/american-idol-sudden-death-five-guys-cut/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> In the thirteenth season, the Las Vegas round was eliminated and a new round called "Hollywood or Home" was added, where if the judges were uncertain about some contestants, those contestants were required to perform soon after landing in Los Angeles, and those who failed to impress were sent back home before they reached Hollywood.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mansfield |first=Brian |date=February 5, 2014 |title=American Idol: Hollywood or Home |work=USA Today |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/idolchatter/2014/02/05/american-idol-hollywood-or-home-recap/5240565/}}</ref> In the fourteenth season, the "Hollywood or Home" round was dropped, and a Showcase round was added, where the contestants performed at the ] or auditorium for the judges and a live audience, and these performances determine who makes into the Top 24.<ref>{{cite web |last=Carr |first=Tom |date=February 19, 2015 |title="American Idol" Recap: Showcase Round Performances Include a Sing-Off |url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2015/2/19/american-idol-recap-showcase-round-performances-include-a-si.html |website=ABC News Radio |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108134639/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2015/2/19/american-idol-recap-showcase-round-performances-include-a-si.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the seventeenth and eighteenth seasons, the showcase round took place in Hawaii. From the nineteenth season onward, a showstopper round was used.
||]||]

|- align=center
===Audience voting===
||]||]
From the semi-finals onward, the fate of the contestants is decided by public vote. During the contestant's performance as well as the recap at the end, a ] for each contestant was displayed on the screen. For a two-hour period after the episode ends (up to four hours for the finale) in each US time zone, viewers may call or send a text message to their preferred contestant's telephone number, and each call or text message was registered as a vote for that contestant. Viewers were allowed to vote as many times as they can within the two-hour voting window. However, the show reserves the right to discard votes by power dialers.<ref>{{cite web |title=American Idol FAQS |url=http://www.americanidol.com/faq/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222034734/http://www.americanidol.com/faq/ |archive-date=February 22, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Americanidol.com}}</ref> One or more of the least popular contestants may be eliminated in successive weeks until a winner emerges. Over 110&nbsp;million votes were cast in the first season, and by the tenth season the seasonal total had increased to nearly 750 million. Voting via ] was made available in the second season when ] joined as a sponsor of the show, and 7.5&nbsp;million text messages were sent to ''American Idol'' that season.<ref name="ATT 2003">{{cite web |date=June 4, 2003 |title=AT&T Wireless and American Idol Set Global Records in Text Messaging; AT&T Wireless |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030604005186/en/ATT-Wireless-American-Idol-Set-Global-Records |publisher=Business Wire}}</ref> The number of text messages rapidly increased, reaching 178&nbsp;million texts by the eighth season.<ref name="ATT 2009">{{cite web |date=May 22, 2009 |title=AT&T Announces the Eighth Season of 'American Idol' Smashes All-Time Record for Fan Engagement through Text Messaging |url=http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=26832 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Att.com}}</ref> Online voting was offered for the first time in the tenth season. The votes are counted and verified by Telescope Inc.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 15, 2010 |title=Harvesting cash from American Idol TV votes |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23856430-harvesting-cash-from-american-idol-tv-votes.do |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303234743/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23856430-harvesting-cash-from-american-idol-tv-votes.do |archive-date=March 3, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |website=Evening Standard |location=London}}</ref>
|- align=center

||]||]
===Semi-finals===
|- align=center
In the first three seasons, the semi-finalists were split into different groups to perform individually in their respective night. In the first season, there were three groups of ten, with the top three contestants from each group making the finals. In the second and third seasons, there were four groups of eight, and the top two of each selected. These seasons also featured a wildcard round, where contestants who failed to qualify were given another chance. In the first season, only one wildcard contestant was chosen by the judges, giving a total of ten finalists. In the second and third seasons, each of the three judges championed one contestant with the public advancing a fourth into the finals, making 12 finalists in all.
||]||]

|}
From the fourth through seventh and ninth seasons, the twenty-four semi-finalists were divided by gender in order to ensure an equal gender division in the top twelve. The men and women sang separately on consecutive nights, and the bottom two in each groups were eliminated each week until only six of each remained to form the top twelve.
The third season of ''American Idol'' premiered on ], ]. After a nationwide vote of more than 65 million votes in total, ] won the "American Idol" title and ] was runner up. During the season, controversy over the legitimacy of the contest increased as geeky rocker ] and young crooner ] stayed afloat while others were unexpectedly eliminated. The third season was also shown in ] on the ] about half a week after episodes were shown in the US.

The wildcard round returned in the eighth season, wherein there were three groups of twelve, with three contestants moving forward – the highest male, the highest female, and the next highest-placed singer – for each night, and four wildcards were chosen by the judges to produce a final 13. Starting in tenth season, the girls and boys perform on separate nights. In the tenth and eleventh seasons, five of each gender were chosen, and three wildcards were chosen by the judges to form a final 13. In the twelfth season, the top twenty semifinalists were split into gender groups, with five of each gender advancing to form the final 10. In the thirteenth season, there were thirty semifinalists, but only twenty semifinalists (ten for each gender) were chosen by the judges to perform on the live shows, with five in each gender based on the vote and three wildcards chosen by the judges composing the final 13. In the fourteenth season, the top 24 performed at ], starting with the 12 males on one night and then the 12 females on the next night. The following week, the same order went for the top 16, with four males eliminated, followed by four females based on the vote. Then, on the first night of finals, a similar sequence from the thirteenth season was used to determine the final 12, with five of each gender based on the vote and two wildcards chosen by the judges. In the fifteenth season, the top 24 performed at ] in Los Angeles and were split into two groups of twelve and performed twice, one being a solo performance and one being a duet with a former Idol contestant. In each group, the judges chose 7 contestants to advance to the top 14 where the judges chose 4 to advance to the top 10 and remaining 6 contestants were chosen based on the vote. In the sixteenth season, the top 24 performed at the Academy in the Heart of LA, and the show repeated the process from the previous season. However, instead of Idol alumnus as duet partners, superstar celebrity singers were used as the duet partners. In the seventeenth season, the same process was repeated again. However, instead of a top 24, it's a top 20, the contestants performed at the ] in Los Angeles, and performed solos in one episode, and performed the duets in two episodes. In the eighteenth season, due to the ], the top 20 performed at their homes, and based on the vote, half of the top 20 would advance to the top 10, and the other half would be eliminated. However, a wild card was given to one of the bottom 10 to save them from elimination.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=April 20, 2020 |title=How Is 'American Idol' Going to Go Live During the Pandemic? The Producers Say They Have a Plan For That |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/idol-worship/9360756/american-idol-producers-explain-live-shows |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref name="coronavirus">{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Tyler |date=April 21, 2020 |title='American Idol' makes TV history with first remote results show ever due to the coronavirus |work=Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/american-idol-tv-history-first-remote-results-show}}</ref> In the nineteenth season, the show used a combination of the process from the sixteenth and fourteenth seasons. In the twentieth season, the show repeated the process from the previous season, but they used a top 20 instead of a top 16, and there were no all star duets. In the twenty-first season, the same process was repeated, but they started with a top 26 instead of a top 24. In the twenty-second season, the show repeated the process from the twentieth season.

===Finals===
The finals are broadcast in primetime from Los Angeles, in front of a live studio audience (except the ], due to the ]). From 2002 to 2019 and from 2021 to 2022, the venue was ]. Starting in 2023, it changed to Red Studios. The finals lasted eight weeks in the first season. From the second to ninth and fourteenth seasons, the finals lasted eleven weeks. The tenth and eleventh seasons lasted for twelve weeks, while the twelfth season lasted for ten weeks. In the thirteenth season, the finals lasted thirteen weeks. The finals lasted seven weeks in the fifteenth season, and six weeks in the sixteenth season. Each finalist performs songs based on a weekly theme which may be a musical genre such as ], ], or ], songs by artists such as ], ] or ], or more general themes such as '']'' number-one hits or songs from the contestant's year of birth. Contestants usually worked with a celebrity mentor related to the theme. From the tenth to twelfth seasons, ] was brought in as a mentor for the season. Initially the contestants sang one song each week, but this was increased to two songs from top four or five onwards, then three songs for the top two or three.

The most popular contestants are usually not revealed in the results show. Instead, typically the three contestants (two in later rounds) who received the lowest number of votes was called to the center of the stage. One of these three was usually sent to safety; however the two remaining were not necessarily the bottom two.<ref>{{cite news |last=Maxine Shen |date=May 1, 2009 |title=Adam Really Was in the Bottom 3 |work=New York Post |url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/05012009/tv/adam_really_was_in_the_bottom_3_167038.htm}}</ref> The contestant with the fewest votes was then revealed and eliminated from the competition. A montage of the eliminated contestant's time on the show was played and they gave their final performance (from the fourteenth season onward, the montage and the final performance were dropped). However, in the ], during the series' first ever ] episode, no contestant was eliminated, but on the following week, two were sent home. Moreover, from the ] to the ] seasons, and the ] onward, the judges may overturn viewers' decision with a "Judges' Save" if they unanimously agreed to. "The save" could only be used once, and only up through the Top 5. In the eighth to tenth and fourteenth seasons, a double elimination then took place in the week following the activation of the save, but in the eleventh and thirteenth seasons, a regular single elimination took place. The save was not activated in the twelfth season and consequently, a non-elimination took place in the week after its expiration with the votes then carrying over into the following week.

The "Fan Save" was introduced in the ]. During the finals, viewers were given a five-minute window to vote for the contestants in danger of elimination by using their Twitter account to decide which contestant will move on to the next show, starting with the Top 8.

===Season finale===
During the original run of ''American Idol'' on Fox, the finale week consisted of a one-hour long final performance night and a two-hour last episode of the season that culminates in revealing the winner, both of which are broadcast live in the U.S. ] and ] time zones. For the first, third through sixth and fourteenth through fifteenth seasons it was broadcast from the ], which has an audience capacity of approximately 3,400. The second-season finale took place at the ], which had an audience capacity of over 6,000. In the seventh through thirteenth seasons, the venue was at the ], which holds an audience of over 7,000. Since the show's reboot on ABC, the venue remains the same throughout the entire show (excluding auditions), but was still two episodes in the sixteenth season, and then stretched to a single three-hour season finale that is annually ], starting with the seventeenth season. The eighteenth-season finale was conducted virtually due to the ].

===Rewards for winner and finalists===
The winner usually receives a record deal with a major label, which may be for up to six albums,<ref>{{cite web |date=May 13, 2010 |title='Idol' Contestants – No Shtupping the Judges |url=https://www.tmz.com/2010/05/12/american-idol-contract-sex-judges-simon-cowell/ |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tmz.com}}</ref><ref name="NYT 02-24-2010">{{cite news |last=Wyatt |first=Edward |date=February 23, 2010 |title=Idol' Winners: Not Just Fame but Big Bucks |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/arts/television/24idol.html}}</ref> and secures a management contract with ''American Idol''-affiliated ] (which has the ] to sign all contestants), as well as various lucrative contracts. All winners prior to the ninth season reportedly earned at least $1&nbsp;million in their first year as winner.<ref name="NYT 02-24-2010" /> At first the contract came with a $250,000-plus advance, but dropped to about $62,500 over the Fox years.<ref name="vty">{{cite news |last=Halperin |first=Shirley |date=May 17, 2018 |title='American Idol': How Disney's Approach to the Winner's Music Breaks From the Past |language=en |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/american-idol-disney-1202811694/ |access-date=May 8, 2019}}</ref> All the runners-up of the first ten seasons, as well as some of other finalists, had also received record deals with major labels. However, starting in the eleventh season, the runner-up may only be guaranteed a single-only deal.<ref>{{cite news |last=Anthony McCartney |date=May 25, 2012 |title=New 'American Idol' contract allows for lower payouts, no album guarantees for runners-up |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/new-american-idol-contract-allows-for-lower-payouts-no-album-guarantees-for-runners-up/2012/05/25/gJQAwiPzpU_story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=May 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208143442/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/new-american-idol-contract-allows-for-lower-payouts-no-album-guarantees-for-runners-up/2012/05/25/gJQAwiPzpU_story.html |archive-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref> ]/] (first through ninth seasons), ] (tenth through fifteenth seasons), and ]'s ] (sixteenth through eighteenth seasons) had the right of first refusal to sign contestants for three months after the season's finale. In the fourteenth and fifteenth seasons, the winner was signed with ]. Prominent music mogul ] also produced some of the selected contestants' albums, such as Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo. All top 10 (11 in the tenth and twelfth seasons, 5 in the fourteenth season, and 7 in the sixteenth season) finalists earn the privilege of going on a tour, where the participants may each earn a six-figure sum.<ref>{{cite web |title=The cost of being on 'American Idol' |url=http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/the-cost-of-being-on-american-idol-6.aspx |access-date=August 6, 2011 |publisher=Bankrate.com}}</ref>

==Series overview==
{{Main|List of American Idol episodes{{!}}List of ''American Idol'' episodes}}
{{Series overview
| infoA = Winner
| infoB = Runner-up
| link1 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 1 (2002)
| episodes1 = 25
| start1 = {{Start date|2002|6|11}}
| end1 = {{End date|2002|9|4}}
| network1 = ]
| infoA1 = ]
| infoB1 = ]
| link2 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 2 (2003)
| episodes2 = 40
| start2 = {{Start date|2003|1|21}}
| end2 = {{End date|2003|5|21}}
| infoA2 = ]
| infoB2 = ]
| link3 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 3 (2004)
| episodes3 = 44
| start3 = {{Start date|2004|1|19}}
| end3 = {{End date|2004|5|26}}
| infoA3 = ]
| infoB3 = ]
| link4 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 4 (2005)
| episodes4 = 43
| start4 = {{Start date|2005|1|18}}
| end4 = {{End date|2005|5|25}}
| infoA4 = ]
| infoB4 = ]
| link5 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 5 (2006)
| episodes5 = 41
| start5 = {{Start date|2006|1|17}}
| end5 = {{End date|2006|5|24}}
| infoA5 = ]
| infoB5 = ]
| link6 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 6 (2007)
| episodes6 = 41
| start6 = {{Start date|2007|1|16}}
| end6 = {{End date|2007|5|23}}
| infoA6 = ]
| infoB6 = ]
| link7 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 7 (2008)
| episodes7 = 42
| start7 = {{Start date|2008|1|15}}
| end7 = {{End date|2008|5|21}}
| infoA7 = ]
| infoB7 = ]
| link8 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 8 (2009)
| episodes8 = 40
| start8 = {{Start date|2009|1|13}}
| end8 = {{End date|2009|5|20}}
| infoA8 = ]
| infoB8 = ]
| link9 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 9 (2010)
| episodes9 = 43
| start9 = {{Start date|2010|1|12}}
| end9 = {{End date|2010|5|26}}
| infoA9 = ]
| infoB9 = ]
| link10 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 10 (2011)
| episodes10 = 39
| start10 = {{Start date|2011|1|19}}
| end10 = {{End date|2011|5|25}}
| infoA10 = ]
| infoB10 = ]
| link11 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 11 (2012)
| episodes11 = 40
| start11 = {{Start date|2012|1|18}}
| end11 = {{End date|2012|5|23}}
| infoA11 = ]
| infoB11 = ]
| link12 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 12 (2013)
| episodes12 = 37
| start12 = {{Start date|2013|1|16}}
| end12 = {{End date|2013|5|16}}
| infoA12 = ]
| infoB12 = ]
| link13 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 13 (2014)
| episodes13 = 39
| start13 = {{Start date|2014|1|15}}
| end13 = {{End date|2014|5|21}}
| infoA13 = ]
| infoB13 = ]
| link14 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 14 (2015)
| episodes14 = 30
| start14 = {{Start date|2015|1|7}}
| end14 = {{End date|2015|5|13}}
| infoA14 = ]
| infoB14 = ]
| link15 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 15 (2016)
| episodes15 = 24
| start15 = {{Start date|2016|1|6}}
| end15 = {{End date|2016|4|7}}
| infoA15 = ]
| infoB15 = ]
| link16 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 16 (2018)
| episodes16 = 19
| start16 = {{Start date|2018|3|11}}
| end16 = {{End date|2018|5|21}}
| network16 = ]
| infoA16 = ]
| infoB16 = ]
| link17 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 17 (2019)
| episodes17 = 19
| start17 = {{Start date|2019|3|3}}
| end17 = {{End date|2019|5|19}}
| infoA17 = ]
| infoB17 = ]
| link18 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 18 (2020)
| episodes18 = 16
| start18 = {{Start date|2020|2|16}}
| end18 = {{End date|2020|5|17}}
| infoA18 = ]
| infoB18 = ]
| link19 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 19 (2021)
| episodes19 = 19
| start19 = {{Start date|2021|2|14}}
| end19 = {{End date|2021|5|23}}
| infoA19 = ]
| infoB19 = ]
| link20 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 20 (2022)
| episodes20 = 20
| start20 = {{Start date|2022|2|27}}
| end20 = {{End date|2022|5|22}}
| infoA20 = ]
| infoB20 = ]
| link21 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 21 (2023)
| episodes21 = 20
| start21 = {{Start date|2023|2|19}}
| end21 = {{End date|2023|5|21}}
| infoA21 = ]
| infoB21 = Megan Danielle
| link22 = List of American Idol episodes#Season 22 (2024)
| episodes22 = 18
| infoA22 = ]
| infoB22 = Will Moseley
| start22 = {{Start date|2024|2|18}}
| end22 = {{Start date|2024|5|19}}
}}

==Season synopses==
Each season premieres with the audition round, taking place in different cities. The audition episodes typically feature a mix of potential finalists, interesting characters and woefully inadequate contestants. Each successful contestant receives a golden or platinum ticket to proceed on to the next round in Hollywood. Based on their performances during the Hollywood round (Las Vegas round from the tenth through twelfth seasons), 24 to 36 contestants are selected by the judges to participate in the semifinals. From the semifinals onward the contestants perform their songs live, with the judges making their critiques after each performance. The contestants are voted for by the viewing public, and the outcome of the public votes is then revealed during a results segment. The results segment feature group performances by the contestants as well as guest performers. The Top-three results also features homecoming events for the Top 3 finalists. The season reaches its climax in a two-hour results finale show, where the winner of the season is revealed.

With the exception of the first two seasons, the contestants in the semifinals onward perform in front of a studio audience. They perform with a full band in the finals. The current musical director is ], who has been with the show since the sixteenth season. In previous seasons, the ''American Idol'' band was led by ] (fourth through ninth and thirteenth through fifteenth seasons) and ] (tenth through twelfth seasons). Assistance has also been given by vocal coaches and song arrangers, such as Michael Orland and ] to contestants behind the scene. Starting with the seventh season, contestants may perform with a musical instrument from the Hollywood rounds onward. In later seasons, the contestants were allowed to perform with a musical instrument in the auditions. During the first nine seasons, performances were usually aired live on Tuesday nights, followed by the results shows on Wednesdays, but moved to Wednesdays and Thursdays from the tenth through thirteenth seasons, with the tenth, eleventh and thirteenth-season finales aired on Tuesday and Wednesday. From the fourteenth season onward, there were no separate results shows. On the fourteenth season, the show aired on Wednesday nights, and on the fifteenth season, Thursday nights. Since the sixteenth season, the show has been airing on Sundays and Mondays.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

===2002–2016: Fox===
====Season 1 (2002)====
{{Main|American Idol season 1{{!}}''American Idol'' season 1}}
], the ] winner]]
The first season of ''American Idol'' debuted as a summer replacement show in June 2002 on the Fox network. It was co-hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell served as judges.

In the audition rounds, 121 contestants were selected from around 10,000 who attended the auditions. These were cut to 30 for the semifinal, with ten going on to the finals. One semifinalist, Delano Cagnolatti, was disqualified for lying to evade the show's age limit. One of the early favorites, ], was eliminated at the top four, the first of several such shock eliminations that were to be repeated in later seasons. ] was hospitalized before the top six result show due to chest pains and palpitations, and she was eliminated while she was in the hospital.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 8, 2002 |title=Christina Christian Voted Off 'American Idol' While Hospitalized |url=http://popdirt.com/christina-christian-voted-off-american-idol-while-hospitalized/6496/ |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Popdirt.com |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404020633/http://popdirt.com/christina-christian-voted-off-american-idol-while-hospitalized/6496/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> ] was the first openly gay contestant on the show; his sexual orientation was revealed on his blog, however it was removed during the competition after a request from the show producers over concerns that it might be unfairly influencing votes.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SWUEAAAAMBAJ&q=teen%20idol's%20 |title=Teen Idol's Dream |date=January 21, 2003 |publisher=The Advocate |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref>

The final showdown was between ], one of the early favorites, and ]. Clarkson was not initially thought of as a contender,<ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Lyndsey |date=January 18, 2011 |title=Fun With Facts: Things You Didn't Know About 'American Idol' But Were Too Glued To Your TV Set To Ask |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/417463/fun-with-facts-things-you-didnt-know-about-american-idol-but-were-too-glued-to-your-tv-set-to-ask/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122113040/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/417463/fun-with-facts-things-you-didnt-know-about-american-idol-but-were-too-glued-to-your-tv-set-to-ask |archive-date=January 22, 2011 |access-date=October 26, 2011 |publisher=Yahoo Music Blogs: Reality Rocks}}</ref> but impressed the judges with some good performances in the final rounds, such as her performance of ]'s "]", and ]'s "]", and eventually won the crown on September 4, 2002.

In what was to become a tradition, Clarkson performed the coronation song during the finale, and released the song immediately after the season ended. The single, "]", went on to break a 38-year-old record held by ] for the biggest leap to number one on the ]. Guarini did not release any song immediately after the show and remains the only runner-up not to do so. Both Clarkson and Guarini made a musical film, '']'', which was released in 2003 but was widely panned. Clarkson has since become one of the most successful ''Idol'' contestants internationally,<ref name="bronson 100" /> with worldwide album sales of more than 25&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carrie Underwood Moves Past Kelly Clarkson In Top US Album Sales By An ''American Idol'' Artist |url=http://top40.about.com/b/2009/12/04/carrie-underwood-moves-past-kelly-clarkson-in-top-us-album-sales-by-an-american-idol-artist.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105214326/http://top40.about.com/b/2009/12/04/carrie-underwood-moves-past-kelly-clarkson-in-top-us-album-sales-by-an-american-idol-artist.htm |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Top40.about.com}}</ref>

Starting September 30, 2006, this season was repackaged as "'']''" and syndicated directly to stations in the U.S.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

====Season 2 (2003)====
{{Main|American Idol season 2{{!}}''American Idol'' season 2}}
], the ] winner]]
Following the success of the first season, the second season was moved up to air in January 2003. The number of episodes increased, as did the show's budget and the charge for commercial spots. Dunkleman left the show, leaving Ryan Seacrest as the lone host. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. ] was a correspondent for this season.<ref>{{cite web |last=EXTRA |date=November 20, 2002 |title=American Idol |url=http://telepixtvcgi.warnerbros.com/dailynews/extra/11_02/11_20b.html}}</ref>

] was disqualified during the finals for having an undisclosed police record; however, he later alleged that he and Paula Abdul had an affair while on the show and that this contributed to his expulsion. Clark also claimed that Abdul gave him preferential treatment on the show due to their affair. The allegations were dismissed by Fox after an independent investigation.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 24, 2005 |title=After probe, Paula Abdul to remain on 'Idol' |work=] |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/after-probe-paula-abdul-remain-idol-wbna8931265}}</ref> Two semi-finalists were also disqualified that year – Jaered Andrews for an arrest on an assault charge, and ] for having previously modeled for an adult website.<ref name="mtv – screening">{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |date=February 4, 2004 |title='American Idol' Steps Up Screening Process For Contestants |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484799/20040203/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821191117/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484799/20040203/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Mtv}}</ref>

The season finale drew more than 38 million viewers, marking ''Idol'''s biggest audience ever for a single episode. ] emerged as the winner, beating ] by a small margin. Out of a total of 24 million votes, Studdard finished just 134,000 votes ahead of Aiken. This slim margin of victory was controversial due to the large number of calls that failed to get through.<ref name="Your Vote Doesn't Count">{{cite web |last=Deborah Starr Seibel |date=May 17, 2004 |title=''American Idol'' Outrage: Your Vote Doesn't Count |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/153439-American_Idol_Outrage_Your_Vote_Doesn_t_Count.php}}</ref> In an interview prior to the fifth season, executive producer ] indicated that Aiken had led the fan voting from the wildcard week onward until the finale.<ref>{{cite web |last=Logan Martin |date=January 17, 2006 |title="It's Going to be a Very Strong Season, I Think": An Interview with American Idol Producer Nigel Lythgoe |url=http://www.realitynewsonline.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article9455.art&page=6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713220342/http://www.realitynewsonline.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article9455.art&page=6 |archive-date=July 13, 2009}}</ref>

Both finalists found success after the show, but Aiken out-performed Studdard's coronation song "]" with his single release from the show "]", as well as in their subsequent album releases. The fourth-place finisher ] also enjoyed some success as a country singer.<ref name="billboard 2012">{{cite magazine |last1=Gary Trust |last2=Jillian Mapes |last3=Kevin Rutherford |date=February 28, 2012 |title=Top 24 'American Idols' Of All-Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/reality-check/513688/top-24-american-idols-of-all-time |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

====Season 3 (2004)====
{{Main|American Idol season 3{{!}}''American Idol'' season 3}}
], the ] winner]]
The third season premiered on January 19, 2004. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. One of the most talked-about contestants during the audition process was ] whose off-key rendition of ]'s "]" received widespread attention. His exposure on ''Idol'' landed him a record deal and surprisingly he became the ] singer from that season.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top 24 American Idols of All Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/reality-check/513688/top-24-american-idols-of-all-time |url-status=dead |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112110915/http://www.billboard.com/features/top-24-american-idols-of-all-time-1004088662.story |archive-date=November 12, 2010 |access-date=May 16, 2013}}</ref>

Much media attention on the season had been focused on the three black singers, ], ], and ], dubbed the Three Divas. All three unexpectedly landed on the bottom three on the top seven result show, with Hudson controversially eliminated.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 26, 2004 |title=Buzz over Jennifer Hudson's ouster from 'American Idol 3' continues |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/buzz-over-jennifer-hudson-ouster-from-american-idol-3-continues-2518.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Realitytvworld.com}}</ref> Elton John, who was one of the mentors that season, called the results of the votes "incredibly racist".<ref>{{cite web |title=Elton John Says 'American Idol' Vote Is 'Racist' |url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/040427/11/oqwi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040429072819/http://au.news.yahoo.com/040427/11/oqwi.html |archive-date=April 29, 2004 |access-date=April 29, 2004}}, ''] via Yahoo.com'', 2004-04-28, Retrieved on March 2, 2007.</ref> The prolonged stays of ] and ] in the finals, despite negative comments from the judges, had aroused resentment, so much so that John Stevens reportedly received a death threat, which he dismissed as a joke 'blown out of proportion'.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 30, 2004 |title="Simon Kept Me in My Place": An Interview with John Stevens |url=http://www.foxesonidol.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article1536.art&page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227013627/http://www.foxesonidol.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article1536.art&page=1 |archive-date=December 27, 2010 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Foxesonidol.com}}</ref>

The performance of "]" by Barrino, later known simply as "Fantasia", at Top 8 was widely praised, and Simon Cowell considered it as his favorite ''Idol'' moment in the nine seasons he was on the show.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 25, 2010 |title=Simon Cowell's Favorite 'Idol' Moment |url=http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2010/05/simon_cowells_favorite_idol_moment.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Extratv.warnerbros.com}}</ref> Fantasia and ] were the last two finalists, and Fantasia was crowned as the winner. Fantasia released as her coronation single "]", a song co-written by the first season finalist Tamyra Gray, and DeGarmo released "]".

====Season 4 (2005)====
{{Main|American Idol season 4{{!}}''American Idol'' season 4}}
], the ] winner]]
The fourth season premiered on January 18, 2005. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. This was the first full season of the series to be aired in high definition; the finale of the third season was also aired in high definition. The number of those attending the auditions by now had increased to over 100,000 from the 10,000 of the first season. The age limit was raised to 28 in this season,<ref name="season 4 rules">{{cite web |date=April 22, 2006 |title=Season 4 rules |url=http://www.americanidol.com/archive/season3/showinfo/rules.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422104846/http://www.americanidol.com/archive/season3/showinfo/rules.htm |archive-date=April 22, 2006 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> and among those who benefited from this new rule were ] and ], the two rockers of the show.

The top 12 finalists originally included ], but he dropped out citing 'personal reasons'<ref>{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |date=March 14, 2005 |title=Mario Vazquez Quits 'Idol' – 'It Wasn't Right For Me' Favored finalist drops out 'to focus on personal things.' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1498063/20050314/mario_vazquez.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520121548/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1498063/20050314/mario_vazquez.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 20, 2007 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Mtv}}</ref> and was replaced by ]. Later, an employee of Fremantle Media, which produces the show, sued the company for wrongful termination, claiming that he was dismissed after complaining about lewd behavior by Vazquez toward him during the show.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 3, 2007 |title="A.I." Contestant Accused of "Masturbating" in Suit |url=https://www.tmz.com/2007/03/12/fallen-idol-accused-of-masturbating-in-front-of-male-employe/ |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tmz.com}}</ref>

During the top 11 week, due to a mix-up with the contestants' telephone number, voting was repeated on what was normally the result night, with the result reveal postponed until the following night.

In May 2005, Underwood was announced the winner, with Bice the runner-up. Both Underwood and Bice released the coronation song "]", with Underwood's version of the song making her the first country artist ever to debut at number-one on the ] chart.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 23, 2005 |title=Carrie Underwood's 'Inside Your Heaven' Debuts as Best Selling Song in the Nation and Breaks Chart History |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carrie-underwoods-inside-your-heaven-debuts-as-best-selling-song-in-the-nation-and-breaks-chart-history-54811132.html |publisher=]}}</ref> As of 2015, Underwood has become the most successful ''Idol'' contestant in the U.S.,<ref name="bronson 100">{{cite magazine |last=Bronson |first=Fred |date=May 12, 2015 |title=Top 100 'American Idol' Hits of All Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/list/1550614/american-idol-top-100-hits-of-all-time |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> selling 16 million albums in the country,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jim Asker |date=January 21, 2015 |title=Rewinding the Country Charts: 10 Years Ago, Carrie Underwood Motored to Her First No. 1 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6844256/rewinding-the-country-charts-10-years-ago-carrie-underwood |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref> while selling a total of 65 million records worldwide.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rolling Stone |date=March 10, 2015 |title=Readers' Poll: 10 Best Carrie Underwood Songs |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/readers-poll-10-best-carrie-underwood-songs-20150310 |magazine=]}}</ref>

====Season 5 (2006)====
{{Main|American Idol season 5{{!}}''American Idol'' season 5}}
], the ] winner]]
The fifth season began on January 17, 2006. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. It remains the highest-rated season in the show's run so far. Two of the more prominent contestants during the Hollywood round were the Brittenum twins who were later disqualified for ].<ref>{{cite web |date=August 17, 2007 |title=Disqualified Brittenum twins return for 'American Idol 7' auditions |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/disqualified-brittenum-twins-return-for-american-idol-7-auditions-5681.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Realitytvworld.com}}</ref>

]'s performance of ]'s "]" on the show was widely praised and led to an invitation to join the band as Fuel's new lead singer, an invitation he declined.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 12, 2006 |title=Chris Daughtry gets job offer from Fuel |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2006-05-12-daughtry-fuel_x.htm |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> His performance of ]'s version of "]" was well received by the judges but later criticized in some quarters for not crediting the arrangement to Live.<ref>{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |date=March 24, 2006 |title=Did 'Idol' Contender Daughtry Go Over The Line With 'Walk The Line' Cover? |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1526988/20060324/cash_johnny.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304013212/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1526988/20060324/cash_johnny.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2007 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Mtv}}</ref> He was eliminated at the top four in a shocking result.

On May 30, 2006, ] was named ''American Idol'', with ] the runner-up. "]" was released as Hicks' first single and McPhee's was "]".

Despite being eliminated earlier in the season, Chris Daughtry (as lead of the band ]) became the most successful recording artist from this season.<ref name="usatoday 2014">{{cite news |last=Bill Keveney |date=January 14, 2014 |title=TV Singing Shows Fail To Create Stars |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/01/14/tv-singing-shows-stars-story/4478095/}}</ref> Other contestants, such as Hicks, McPhee, ], ], ], and ] have had varying levels of success.

====Season 6 (2007)====
{{Main|American Idol season 6{{!}}''American Idol'' season 6}}
], the ] winner]]
The sixth season began on Tuesday, January 16, 2007. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. The premiere drew a massive audience of 37.3&nbsp;million viewers, peaking in the last half hour with more than 41&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name="death star">{{cite web |date=January 17, 2007 |title='Idol' Death Star Returns – Premiere ratings build on last year's ginormous numbers |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings011607,0,811654.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103081014/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings011607,0,811654.story |archive-date=January 3, 2008 |access-date=January 17, 2007 |publisher=tv.zap2it.com}}</ref>

Teenager ] was the season's most talked-about contestant for his unusual hairdo,<ref>{{cite web |date=March 28, 2007 |title=Sanjaya on 'Idol' rocks a faux-hawk |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17822498 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905025644/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17822498 |archive-date=September 5, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=]}}</ref> and for managing to survive elimination for many weeks due in part to the weblog ] and satellite radio personality ], who both encouraged fans to vote for him. However, on the Top 7 results, Sanjaya was voted off.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 19, 2007 |title=Buh-Bye-Ya, Sanjaya! |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/sanjaya_out |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525221943/http://www.usmagazine.com/sanjaya_out |archive-date=May 25, 2007 |access-date=May 16, 2013 |website=Us Weekly}}</ref>

This season saw the first ''Idol Gives Back'' telethon-inspired event, which raised more than $76&nbsp;million in corporate and viewer donations.<ref name="idol gives back" /> No contestant was eliminated that week, but two (] and ]) were eliminated the next.

In the May 23 season finale, ] was declared the winner with the runner-up being ]. Sparks has had some success as a recording artist post-''Idol''.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

This season also saw the launch of the ''American Idol'' Songwriter contest which allows fans to vote for the "coronation song". Thousands of recordings of original songs were submitted by songwriters, and 20 entries selected for the public vote. The winning song, "]", was performed by both finalists during the finale and released by Sparks on May 24, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |last=Natalie Finn |date=May 23, 2007 |title=Jordin Sparks Idol Finale |url=http://eonline.com/news/55228/jordin-sparks-idol-finale |website=E Online}}</ref>

====Season 7 (2008)====
{{Main|American Idol season 7{{!}}''American Idol'' season 7}}
], the ] winner]]
The seventh season premiered on January 15, 2008, for a two-day, four-hour premiere. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. The media focused on the professional status of the seventh season contestants, the so-called 'ringers',<ref name="ringers">{{cite web |date=January 30, 2008 |title=American Idol Controversy: The Ringers of Season 7 |url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/american-idol/another-american-idol-controve-3975.aspx |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Buddytv.com}}</ref> many of whom, including ], ], ], and in particular ], had prior recording contracts.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 14, 2008 |title=Irish Idol: Smithson's Secret Past |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/13980/irish-idol-smithsons-secret-past |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001172053/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/13980/irish-idol-smithsons-secret-past |archive-date=October 1, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com}}</ref> Contestant ] also attracted some attention due to his past employment as a stripper.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=March 5, 2008 |title='American Idol' Producer OKs David Hernandez's Stripper Past; Show Keeps Mum On Danny Noriega Video |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1582800/20080305/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110074139/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1582800/20080305/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 10, 2008 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Mtv}}</ref>

For the finals, ''American Idol'' debuted a new state-of-the-art set and stage on March 11, 2008, along with a new on-air look. ]'s performance of "]" on top-ten night was lauded by the judges, but provoked controversy when they apparently mistook the ] arrangement to be David Cook's own even though the performance was introduced as Cornell's version. Cornell himself said he was 'flattered' and praised David Cook's performance.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Halperin |first=Shirley |date=March 28, 2008 |title=Chris Cornell defends 'Idol' contender David Cook |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/03/28/chris-cornell-s/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012013201/http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/03/28/chris-cornell-s/ |archive-date=October 12, 2010 |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> David Cook was taken to the hospital after the top-nine performance show due to heart palpitations and high blood pressure.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=April 2, 2008 |title='American Idol' Contestant David Cook Reportedly Rushed To Hospital After Show |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584613/20080402/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013112922/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584613/20080402/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2008 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Mtv}}</ref>

]'s performance of John Lennon's "]" was considered by many as one of the best of the season. Jennifer Lopez, who was brought in as a judge in the tenth season, called it a beautiful song-moment that she will never forget.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mansfield |first=Brian |date=January 7, 2011 |title=Jennifer Lopez says new 'Idol' judges are 'more collaborative' |work=USA Today |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2011/01/jennifer-lopez-says-new-idol-judges-are-more-collaborative/1 |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> ]'s semi-final performance of "]" also received considerable attention, and it propelled ]'s version of the song to the top of the '']'' ] chart.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 13, 2008 |title=Jeff Buckley's 'Hallelujah' Becomes America's Number One Digital Song |publisher=PRNewswire |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jeff-buckleys-hallelujah-becomes-americas-number-one-digital-song-56916532.html |access-date=November 6, 2012}}</ref> This was the first season in which contestants' recordings were released onto ] after their performances, and although sales information was not released so as not to prejudice the contest, leaked information indicated that contestants' songs frequently reached the top of iTunes sales charts.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 27, 2008 |title=David Cook – "Billie Jean" – # 1 Song on iTunes |url=http://www.rickey.org/?p=7483 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Rickey.org}}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=Musdan77 |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

''Idol Gives Back'' returned on April 9, 2008, and raised $64&nbsp;million for charity.<ref name="idol gives back" />

The finalists were Cook and Archuleta. David Cook was announced the winner on May 21, 2008, the first rocker to win the show. Both Cook and Archuleta had some success as recording artists with both selling over a million albums in the U.S.<ref name="usatoday 2014" />

The ''American Idol'' Songwriter contest was also held this season. From ten of the most popular submissions, each of the final two contestants chose a song to perform, although neither of their selections was used as the "coronation song". The winning song, "]", was recorded by David Cook and released on May 22, 2008.

====Season 8 (2009)====
{{Main|American Idol season 8{{!}}''American Idol'' season 8}}
], the ] winner]]
The eighth season premiered on January 13, 2009. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. This season featured the first major change to the judging panel; a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, was introduced. ], the president of alternative programming for Fox, stated that the season would focus more on the contestants' personal life.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hazlett |first=Courtney |date=August 18, 2010 |title='Idol's' emotional focus will highlight Abdul |work=Today.com |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/idols-emotional-focus-will-highlight-abdul-wbna28002633 |access-date=August 25, 2010}}</ref>

This was also the first season without executive producer ] who left to focus on the international versions of his show '']''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Nigel Lythgoe leaving 'American Idol' |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/08/06/nigel-lythgoe-leaving-american-idol/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> The Hollywood round was moved to the Kodak Theatre for 2009 and was also extended to two weeks. ''Idol Gives Back'' was canceled for this season due to the ] at the time.

There were 13 finalists this season, but two were eliminated in the first result show of the finals. A new feature introduced was the "Judges' Save", and ] was saved from elimination at the top seven by the judges when he received the fewest votes. The next week, ] and ] were eliminated.

The two finalists were ] and ], both of whom had previously landed in the bottom three at the top five. Allen won the contest in the most controversial voting result since the second season. It was claimed,<ref>{{cite web |date=May 21, 2009 |title=Report: Kris Allen's home state cast 38&nbsp;million 'American Idol' votes |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/report-kris-allen-home-state-cast-38-million-american-idol-votes-9015.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Realitytvworld.com}}</ref> and then later retracted,<ref>{{cite web |title=Conway reacts to Kris' win |url=http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Conway-reacts-to-Kris-win/sv8BNSsGY0G8GRZWSr0fRw.cspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711022202/http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Conway-reacts-to-Kris-win/sv8BNSsGY0G8GRZWSr0fRw.cspx |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Fox16.com}}</ref> that 38&nbsp;million of the 100&nbsp;million votes cast on the night came from Allen's home state of Arkansas alone, and that AT&T employees unfairly influenced the votes by giving lessons on power-texting at viewing parties in Arkansas.<ref name="textgate">{{cite news |last=Wyatt |first=Edward |date=May 27, 2009 |title="Idol" producers stand by outcome |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/business/media/28idol.html}}</ref>

Both Allen and Lambert released the coronation song, "]" which was co-written by DioGuardi. This is the first season in which the winner failed to achieve gold album status.<ref>{{cite book |last=Barrie Gunter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jdkxBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA35 |title=I Want to Change My Life: Can Reality TV Competition Shows Trigger Lasting Career Success? |date=July 24, 2014 |isbn=9781443864749 |pages=34–35| publisher=Cambridge Scholars }}</ref>

====Season 9 (2010)====
{{Main|American Idol season 9{{!}}''American Idol'' season 9}}
], the ] winner]]

The ninth season premiered on January 12, 2010. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. Paula Abdul left the show and Ellen DeGeneres replaced Abdul at the start of Hollywood Week. One of the most prominent auditioners this season was General ] whose performance of "]" became a viral hit song.<ref>{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Anita |date=January 15, 2010 |title=Pants On The Ground video: American Idol's General Larry Platt is overnight star |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6998810/Pants-On-The-Ground-video-American-Idols-General-Larry-Platt-is-overnight-star.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6998810/Pants-On-The-Ground-video-American-Idols-General-Larry-Platt-is-overnight-star.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

], who has ], fell ill due to ] on the morning of the girls performance night for the top 20 week and was hospitalized.<ref name="crystal" /> The schedule was rearranged so the boys performed first and she could perform the following night instead; she later revealed that Ken Warwick, the show producer, wanted to disqualify her but she begged to be allowed to stay on the show.<ref name="crystal">{{cite web |title=Crystal Bowersox: Her First Interview on Diabetes |url=http://www.diabetesmine.com/2010/09/crystal-bowersox-her-first-interview-on-diabetes.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228142020/http://www.diabetesmine.com/2010/09/crystal-bowersox-her-first-interview-on-diabetes.html |archive-date=December 28, 2010 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Diabetesmine.com}}</ref>

] was the lowest vote getter at top nine and was given the Judges' Save. The next week ] and ] were eliminated. That week, Adam Lambert was invited back to be a mentor, the first ''Idol'' alum to do so. ''Idol Gives Back'' returned this season on April 21, 2010, and raised $45 million.<ref name="idol gives back" />

A special tribute to Simon Cowell was presented in the finale for his final season with the show. Many figures from the show's past, including Paula Abdul, made an appearance.

The final two contestants were ] and Bowersox. DeWyze was declared the winner during the May 26 finale. No new song was used as coronation song this year; instead, the two finalists each released a cover song – DeWyze chose ]'s "]", and Bowersox chose ]'s "]". This is the first season where neither finalist achieved significant album sales.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Grady |date=October 21, 2011 |title=Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze both dropped by their record label: For 'Idol', what a difference a year makes |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/10/21/crystal-bowersox-lee-dewyze-dropped-rca-scotty-mccreery-lauren-alaina/ |website=EW}}</ref>

====Season 10 (2011)====
{{Main|American Idol season 10{{!}}''American Idol'' season 10}}
], the ] winner]]
The tenth season premiered on January 19, 2011. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Randy Jackson returned as a judge. Many changes were introduced this season, from the format to the personnel of the show. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joined Randy Jackson as judges following the departures of Simon Cowell (who left to launch the American version of '']''), Kara DioGuardi (whose contract was not renewed) and Ellen DeGeneres, who left the show on her own accord.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/arts/television/30ellen.html|title=Ellen DeGeneres Leaving 'American Idol'|first=Brian|last=Stelter|work=The New York Times |date=July 30, 2010|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref name="newjudges">{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=September 22, 2010 |title='American Idol' Adds Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler As Judges |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1648433/american-idol-adds-jennifer-lopez-steven-tyler-as-judges/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717215915/http://www.mtv.com/news/1648433/american-idol-adds-jennifer-lopez-steven-tyler-as-judges/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2014 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=MTV}}</ref>

Randy Jackson was the only judge from the ninth season to return for the tenth. ] returned as executive producer. ], chairman of the ] label group, the new partner of ''American Idol'', acted as the in-house mentor in place of weekly guest mentors,<ref name="newjudges" /> although in later episodes special guest mentors such as ], ] and ] were brought in.

The tenth season is the first to include online auditions where contestants could submit a 40-second video audition via Myspace.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 15, 2010 |title=American Idol Accepting Online Auditions This Season |url=http://www.popeater.com/2010/09/15/american-idol-online-auditions/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117004613/http://www.popeater.com/2010/09/15/american-idol-online-auditions/ |archive-date=November 17, 2010 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Popeater.com}}</ref> ] was one such auditioner and reached the final rounds.

One of the more prominent contestants this year was ], whose story of caring for his brain-damaged fiancée received widespread coverage.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gil Kaufman |date=January 27, 2011 |title=Chris Medina's 'American Idol' Story Recalls Danny Gokey's |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1656795/chris-medina-american-idol/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725202410/http://www.mtv.com/news/1656795/chris-medina-american-idol/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |website=MTV}}</ref> Medina was cut in the Top 40 round. ], who suffers from ], was hospitalized twice and missed the Top 13 result show. The judges used their one save on Abrams on the Top 11, and as a result this was the first season that 11 finalists went on tour instead of 10. In the following week, ] and ] were both eliminated.

], one of the presumed favorites to advance far in the season, was unexpectedly eliminated on April 7, 2011, finishing in ninth place. Her elimination drew criticisms from some former ''Idol'' contestants, as well as actor ].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Us Weekly |date=April 8, 2011 |title=Jennifer Hudson, Tom Hanks Outraged Over Pia Toscano's 'Idol' Elimination |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/jennifer-hudson-tom-hanks-outraged-over-pia-toscanos-idol-elimination-20110408 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> After ''Idol'', ] helped guide her career.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Toscano |first=Pia |date=August 18, 2022 |title=Confessions of An Almost Pop Star, by Pia Toscano |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/pia-toscano-essay-american-idol-1235127895/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 18, 2022}}</ref>

The two finalists in 2011 were ] and ], both teenage country singers. McCreery won the competition on May 25, being the youngest male winner and the fourth male in a row to win ''American Idol''. McCreery released his first single, "]", as his coronation song, and Alaina released "]". McCreery's debut album, '']'', became the first debut album by an ''Idol'' winner to reach No. 1 on the US ] since ]'s '']'' in 2003, and he became the youngest male artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=May 13, 2013 |title='Idol's' Scotty McCreery Makes History at No. 1 on Billboard 200 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/466103/idols-scotty-mccreery-makes-history-at-no-1-on-billboard-200 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref>

====Season 11 (2012)====
{{Main|American Idol season 11{{!}}''American Idol'' season 11}}
], the ] winner]]
The eleventh season premiered on January 18, 2012. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson returned as judges. One more finalist would join the Top 24 making it the Top 25, which was later revealed to be ]. However, on March 14, Jones was disqualified in 12th place for concealing arrests and outstanding warrants. Jones denied the accusation that he concealed his arrests.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Donnell |first=Kevin |date=March 16, 2012 |title=Jermaine Jones: I Didn't Know I Broke American Idol's Rules |work=] |url=https://people.com/tv/jermaine-jones-i-didnt-know-i-broke-american-idols-rules/ |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref>

Finalist ] suffered from kidney pain and was taken to the hospital before the Top 13 results show, and later received medical procedure to alleviate a blockage caused by kidney stones.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 16, 2012 |title=Bad Kidneys Won't Keep Me Off Show |work=TMZ |url=https://www.tmz.com/2012/03/16/american-idol-phillip-phillips-kidney-stones/}}</ref> He was reported to have eight surgeries during his Idol run, and had considered quitting the show due to the pain.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brian Mansfield |date=May 24, 2012 |title=Surgery won't affect Idols tour, Phillips says |work=USA Today |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2012/05/surgery-wont-affect-idols-tour-phillips-says/1 |access-date=May 25, 2012 |series=Idol Chatter}}</ref> He underwent surgery to remove the stones and reconstruct his kidney soon after the season had finished.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Marisa Laudadio |date=July 1, 2012 |title=Phillip Phillips Reveals Details of Year-Long Kidney Crisis |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20607359,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703102022/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20607359,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 3, 2012 |magazine=] |access-date=July 3, 2012}}</ref>

] received the fewest votes during the Top 7 week, and the judges decided to use their "save" option on her, making her the first female recipient of the save. The following week, unlike previous seasons, ] was the only contestant sent home. Sanchez later made the final two, the first season where a recipient of the save reached the finale.

Phillips became the winner, beating Sanchez. During the finale, fifth season finalist ] proposed marriage to third season runner-up ] on stage – which she accepted.<ref>{{cite web |last=Angermiller |first=Michele Amabile |date=May 23, 2012 |title='American Idol': Season 5's Ace Young Proposes to Season 3's Diana DeGarmo On Finale Stage |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/american-idol-ace-young-proposes-diana-degarmo-328832 |access-date=February 1, 2021 |website=]}}</ref>

Phillips released "]" as his coronation song, while Sanchez released "]". Phillips' "Home" has since become the best selling of all coronation songs, with over 5 million copies sold.<ref>{{cite news |last=Paul Grein |date=October 24, 2012 |title=Chart Watch Extra: Phillip Phillips' Idol Record |work=Chart Watch |publisher=Yahoo Music |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-american-idol-top-dozen-171239977.html |access-date=October 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Michele Amabile Angermiller and Shirley Halperin |date=December 10, 2015 |title=American Idol' Final Season To Be Four Weeks Shorter Than Last |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6805220/american-idol-final-season-cut-four-weeks-short}} Sales figure given {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211095945/http://www.billboard.com/files/media/BB38-idol-01.jpg |date=December 11, 2015 }}</ref>

====Season 12 (2013)====
{{Main|American Idol season 12{{!}}''American Idol'' season 12}}
], the ] winner]]
The twelfth season premiered on January 16, 2013. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Randy Jackson returned as a judge. Judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler left the show after two seasons. Randy Jackson was the only judge from the eleventh season to return for the twelfth. This season's judging panel consisted of Randy Jackson, along with Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj.

This was the first season since the ninth season to have four judges on the panel. The pre-season buzz and the early episodes of the show were dominated by the feud between the judges Minaj and Carey after a video of their dispute was leaked to ].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Barrett |first=Annie |date=January 23, 2013 |title='American Idol': Nicki Minaj-Mariah Carey brawl sparked by disagreement over 'country thing' |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/01/23/american-idol-nicki-minaj-mariah-carey-fight-country/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref>

The top 10 contestants started with five males and five females, however, the males were eliminated consecutively in the first five weeks, with Lazaro Arbos the last male to be eliminated. For the first time in the show's history, the top 5 contestants were all female. It was also the first time that the judges' "save" was not used, the top four contestants were therefore given an extra week to perform again with their votes carried over with no elimination in the first week.

23-year-old ] won the season with ] taking the runner-up spot. Glover became the first female to win ''American Idol'' since ], who won the show in 2007. Glover released "]" as a single while Harrison released "]" immediately after the show. Glover sold poorly with her debut album, and this is also the first season that the runner-up was not signed by a music label.<ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Lyndsey |date=January 13, 2014 |title=10 Ways 'American Idol' is Trying to Win You Back |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/aa-ways-american-idol-is-trying-to-win-you-back-20140113 |website=RollingStone}}</ref>

Towards the end of the season, Randy Jackson, the last remaining of the original judges, announced he would no longer serve as a judge to pursue other business ventures.<ref name="I'm Leaving" /> Both judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj also decided to leave after one season to focus on their music careers.<ref name="carey minaj">{{cite news |last=Douglas Hyde and Greg Botelhon |date=May 31, 2013 |title='American Idol' to get makeover with exits of Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/30/showbiz/american-idol-mariah-carey}}</ref>

====Season 13 (2014)====
{{Main|American Idol season 13{{!}}''American Idol'' season 13}}
], the ] winner]]
The thirteenth season premiered on January 15, 2014. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and ] returned as a judge. Urban was the only judge from the twelfth season to return as a judge for the thirteenth season. ] returned, though Jackson moved from the judging panel to the role of in-mentor. ] and ] left the panel after one season. Former judge ] and former mentor ]. joined Urban on the panel. Connick Jr. served as a mentor for ''Idol'' in 2010 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=American Idol {{!}} Harry Connick Jr. - Official Site |url=https://www.harryconnickjr.com/television/american-idol#:~:text=Harry%20Connick,%20Jr.,a%20second%20time%20in%202012. |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=www.harryconnickjr.com}}</ref> Also, ] and ] were replaced as executive producers by Per Blankens, Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Pragger. Bill DeRonde replaced Warwick as a director of the audition episodes, while Louis J. Horvitz replaced Gregg Gelfand as a director of the show.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 19, 2013 |title=Louis J. Horvitz To Direct 'American Idol' This Season |url=https://deadline.com/2013/12/louis-j-horvitz-to-direct-american-idol-this-season-654964/ |website=Deadline}}</ref>

This was the first season where the contestants were permitted to perform in the final rounds songs they wrote themselves. In the Top 8, ] received the fewest votes, but he was saved from elimination by the judges. The 500th episode of the series was the Top 3 performance night.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bronson |first=Fred |date=May 14, 2014 |title=American Idol' Celebrates 500th Episode: The Highs and Lows of 13 Seasons |work=Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-celebrates-500th-episode-704201}}</ref>

] was named the winner of the season, with ] as the runner-up.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Perlman |first=Jake |title=American Idol season finale recap: And the Winner is... |url=https://ew.com/recap/american-idol-2014-finale-part-two/ |magazine=] |access-date=May 21, 2014}}</ref> Johnson released "]" as his coronation single while Irene released "We Are One".<ref>{{cite web |last=Paul Grein |date=August 20, 2014 |title=Chart Watch: A New Low For 'American Idol' |url=https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-a-new-low-for-american-idol-192029756.html |website=Yahoo! Music}}</ref>

====Season 14 (2015)====
{{Main|American Idol season 14{{!}}''American Idol'' season 14}}
], the ] winner]]
The fourteenth season premiered on January 7, 2015. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. returned for their respective fourth, third and second seasons as judges. Eighth season runner-up ] filled in for Urban during the New York City auditions. Randy Jackson did not return as the in-house mentor and left the show permanently.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hibbert |first=James |date=November 11, 2014 |title=Randy Jackson exiting 'American Idol' |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/11/11/randy-jackson-american-idol/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> ] replaced Jackson as the mentor.

Changes this season include only airing one episode a week during the final ten.<ref>{{cite web |last=Matt Webb Mitovich |date=December 13, 2014 |title='American Idol' Season 14 — One Night a Week Starting Top 10 – TVLine |url=http://tvline.com/2014/12/13/american-idol-season-14-one-night-per-week |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVLine}}</ref> Coca-Cola ended their longtime sponsorship of the show<ref>{{cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=December 16, 2014 |title=Coca-Cola Ends Sponsorship Of 'American Idol' (EXCLUSIVE) |newspaper=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/coca-cola-cuts-ties-with-american-idol-1201380360/}}</ref> and Ford Motor Company maintained a reduced role. The winner of the season also received a recording contract with ].

] won the season, defeating ]. Fradiani became the first winner from the Northeast region. Fradiani released "]" as his coronation single while Beckham released "Champion". ], the third place finalist, also released a single called "Forcefield".

====Season 15 (2016)====
{{Main|American Idol season 15{{!}}''American Idol'' season 15}}
], the ] winner]]
Fox announced on May 11, 2015, that the fifteenth season would be the final season of ''American Idol''; as such, the season was expected to have an additional focus on the program's alumni. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, with Harry Connick Jr., Keith Urban, and Jennifer Lopez all returning as judges.<ref name="Idol Cancellation (May 2015)">{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 11, 2015 |title=''American Idol'' Renewed For Final Season |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/american-idol-renewed-final-season-15-1201424278/ |access-date=May 11, 2015 |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=] |location=United States}}</ref> The fifteenth season premiered on January 6, 2016. The season was shortened by four weeks compared to previous years.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Michele Amabile Angermiller |last2=Shirley Halperin |date=December 10, 2015 |title='American Idol' Final Season To Be Four Weeks Shorter Than Last |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6805220/american-idol-final-season-cut-four-weeks-short |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> During the finale episode, President ] praised the millions of young people that voted for contestants and pitched that they vote in the upcoming ]. The farewell season concluded on April 7, 2016. Seacrest signed off by saying: "And one more time—this is so tough—we say to you from Hollywood, goodnight America", and then he added, "for now."<ref>{{cite news |last=McKenzie |first=Joi-Marie |date=April 9, 2016 |title=Ryan Seacrest Explains Mysterious 'American Idol' Sign-Off on Series Finale |work=ABC |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/ryan-seacrest-explains-mysterious-american-idol-sign-off/story?id=38272305}}</ref>

] won the season against runner-up ]. Harmon released "]" co-written by Keith Urban as his coronation song.<ref>{{cite web |last=Esposito |first=Jennifer |date=April 7, 2016 |title=Trent Harmon's 'Falling' Written By Keith Urban Will Heat Up Country Radio If He Wins American Idol |url=http://www.inquisitr.com/2971143/trent-harmons-falling-written-by-keith-urban-will-heat-up-country-radio-if-he-wins-american-idol/ |website=The Inquistr}}</ref> Renae's "]", third-place finisher ]'s "]" and fourth-place finisher ]'s "]" were also released as singles.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 7, 2016 |title=Dalton Rapattoni's "Strike A Match" Now Leading Trent, La'Porsha Singles on iTunes Sales Chart |url=http://headlineplanet.com/home/2016/04/06/trent-harmons-falling-leading-dalton-laporsha-singles-on-itunes-sales-chart/ |website=Headline Planet}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 7, 2016 |title=MacKenzie Bourg's "Roses" Reached Top 5 on iTunes Sales Chart; Trent's "Falling" Now #4 |work=Headline Planet |url=http://headlineplanet.com/home/2016/04/07/mackenzie-bourgs-roses-soaring-up-itunes-sales-chart/}}</ref>

===2018–present: ABC revival===
In early 2017, '']'' reported that Fremantle Media was in talks to revive the show for ] or for its original network, Fox.<ref>{{cite web |last=Holloway |first=Daniel |date=February 9, 2017 |title=NBC in Talk to Revive ''American Idol'' |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/american-idol-nbc-1201982967 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |website=Variety}}</ref> A dispute between Fremantle and Core Media Group derailed these plans.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pena |first=Jessica |date=April 4, 2017 |title=''American Idol:'' Revival Reportedly Not Moving Forward |url=http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/american-idol-revival-reportedly-not-moving-forward/ |access-date=April 4, 2017 |website=TV Series Finale}}</ref> In May 2017, ABC was making a bid to revive the program.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nemetz |first=Dave |date=May 2, 2017 |title=American Idol Reboot Eyed at ABC |url=http://tvline.com/2017/05/02/american-idol-reboot-abc-fremantle-revival/ |website=TVLine}}</ref> ABC acquired the rights to the series, and ''American Idol'' returned for the 2017–18 television season.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=O'Connell |first=Michael |date=May 9, 2017 |title='American Idol' Officially Returning at ABC |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/television/7791771/american-idol-returning-abc |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>Holloway, Daniel, , Variety, May 9, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref>

====Season 16 (2018)====
{{Main|American Idol season 16{{!}}''American Idol'' season 16}}
], the ] winner]]
In July 2017, it was announced that Ryan Seacrest would return as host,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |date=July 20, 2017 |title=Ryan Seacrest Returns To Host ABC's 'American Idol'; Keeps 'Kelly & Ryan' Gig |url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/ryan-seacrest-returns-american-idol-1202131956/ |access-date=January 23, 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> and by September 2017 it was revealed that ],<ref name="CNN 1" /> ]<ref name="Bryan" /> and ] would serve as judges.<ref name="Richie" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Keveney |first=Bill |title=Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie to join Katy Perry as 'American Idol' judges |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/09/29/luke-bryan-lionel-richie-join-katy-perry-american-idol-judges/717706001/ |access-date=January 23, 2023 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> The sixteenth season premiered on March 11, 2018.<ref name="abc premier" /> This was the first season of ''American Idol'' to air on ABC. The season was again shortened compared to the previous season to twelve weeks, with multiple elimination in the final rounds. Unlike previous seasons where only two finalists remained in the final episode, three finalists performed in the finale. On May 21, 2018, the season concluded with ] crowned the winner, beating ] as runner-up and ] in third place. Her winning song was "]". Caleb Lee Hutchinson released "Johnny Cash Heart" as a single, while Gabby Barrett's song was "Rivers Deep".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Daw |first=Robbie |date=May 21, 2018 |title='American Idol' Recap: Gabby Barrett, Caleb Lee Hutchinson & Maddie Poppe Give Their Final Performances (Critic's Take) |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/television/8457016/american-idol-final-performances-recap |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

====Season 17 (2019)====
{{Main|American Idol season 17{{!}}''American Idol'' season 17}}
], the ] winner]]
ABC renewed the revival series for another season. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.<ref>{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 4, 2018 |title='American Idol' gets a second season of its second life on ABC |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/american-idol-gets-a-second-season-of-its-second-life-on-abc/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504211406/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/american-idol-gets-a-second-season-of-its-second-life-on-abc/ |archive-date=May 4, 2018 |access-date=May 4, 2018 |website=]}}</ref> The seventeenth season premiered on March 3, 2019. For the finale, the show no longer features separate performance and result shows. On May 19, 2019, the season concluded with three finalists, with Madison VanDenburg eliminated in third place after performing two songs, and the final two performing their last song. For the first time, there were no separate performance and grand finale shows this season. ] was crowned the winner and ] runner-up. Hardy released a single, "]", immediately after the win, but Aranda did not.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hudak |first=Joseph |date=May 20, 2019 |title=See 'American Idol' Winner Laine Hardy Duet With Jon Pardi on Season Finale |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/american-idol-winner-laine-hardy-jon-pardi-837407/ |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Liptak |first=Carena |date=May 20, 2019 |title='American Idol' Champ Laine Hardy Takes Victory Lap With 'Flame' |work=The Boot |url=https://theboot.com/american-idol-laine-hardy-flame/}}</ref> However, Aranda later released a song he performed in the finale, "Tonight", under the name Scarypoolparty on June 28, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wloszczyna |first=Susan |date=June 28, 2019 |title=Idol' runner-up Alejandro Aranda (a.k.a. Scarypoolparty) has dropped a new single, 'Tonight' |work=Gold Derby |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2019/american-idol-alejandro-aranda-scarypoolparty-new-single-tonight-video-news/}}</ref>

==== Season 18 (2020) ====
{{Main|American Idol season 18{{!}}''American Idol'' season 18}}
On May 13, 2019, the series was renewed for an eighteenth season and it premiered on February 16, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Swift |first=Andy |date=May 13, 2019 |title=American Idol Renewed for Season '3' at ABC as Costly Judging Panel Braces for a Possible Shakeup |url=https://tvline.com/2019/05/13/american-idol-renewed-season-18-abc-new-judges/ |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Amanda |date=November 21, 2019 |title=ABC Sets Midseason Premiere Dates for ''Grey's Anatomy'', ''The Bachelor'', and More |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/abc-midseason-premiere-dates-2020/ |access-date=November 21, 2019 |website=]}}</ref> Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Ryan Seacrest Returns as Host of Iconic Singing Competition Series ''American Idol'' |date=September 20, 2019 |publisher=] |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/09/20/ryan-seacrest-returns-as-host-of-iconic-singing-competition-series-american-idol-804113/20190920abc02/ |via=]}}</ref> For the first time, due to the ongoing ], from the top 20 to the finale, the contestants performed in their own homes, while Ryan Seacrest hosted the show remotely in his own home in Los Angeles with the judges also in their respective homes.<ref name="coronavirus" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Hermanson |first=Wendy |date=April 26, 2020 |title='American Idol' Makes History by Proceeding With At-Home Performances |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/american-idol-history-home-performances/ |website=]}}</ref> The season was also further truncated, with the top 5 performing in the finale. Each finalist also performed only two songs for the finale.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yahr |first=Emily |date=May 18, 2020 |title=The remote 'American Idol' finale ended in mild chaos and shocked everyone — including the winner |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/05/18/american-idol-finale-winner-just-sam-arthur-gunn/}}</ref> On May 17, the season concluded, with ] crowned as the winner, with ] finishing as the runner-up.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dugan |first=Christina |date=May 17, 2020 |title=''American Idol'': Just Sam Wins Season 3 |url=https://people.com/music/american-idol-just-sam-wins-season-3/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |website=]}}</ref> "]", the song Just Sam performed for their audition and reprised on the finale, was released as their debut song.<ref>{{cite web |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=May 18, 2020 |title=Just Sam: American Idol crowns first ever 'at home' winner |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52704579 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=May 18, 2020 |title=Just Sam 'Definitely Didn't Expect to Win' Socially Distanced 'American Idol' Season 18 Crown |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/idol-worship/9379585/just-sam-american-idol-season-18-winner-interview |magazine=]}}</ref>

====Season 19 (2021)====
{{Main|American Idol season 19{{!}}''American Idol'' season 19}}
On May 15, 2020, ABC renewed the series for a nineteenth season and it premiered on February 14, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=May 15, 2020 |title='American Idol': ABC Renews Singing Competition For Season 4 |url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/american-idol-abc-renews-for-season-4-1202935864/ |access-date=May 16, 2020 |website=Deadline |publisher=Penske Business Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=November 10, 2020 |title=ABC Sets Premiere Dates For 'The Bachelor', 'American Idol', 'To Tell The Truth' & New Game Shows |url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/the-bachelor-american-idol-premiere-dates-celebrity-wheel-of-fortune-the-chase-the-hustler-abc-1234611967/ |access-date=November 11, 2020 |website=]}}</ref> Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.<ref>{{cite web |last=Darwish |first=Meaghan |date=August 19, 2020 |title=Ryan Seacrest, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie All Returning for Season 19 of 'American Idol' |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/945784/american-idol-season-19-host-judges-returning/ |website=]}}</ref> Later in October, it was announced that ] will return as mentor. On May 23, the season concluded, with ] crowned the winner, with ] finishing as the runner-up. "23", the song Chayce Beckham wrote and performed for Top 4, was released as his debut song.<ref name="abc season 4">{{cite web |last=Dugan |first=Christina |date=May 23, 2021 |title=Chayce Beckham Wins American Idol Season 4 |url=https://people.com/music/american-idol-season-4-winner/ |website=People}}</ref>

====Season 20 (2022)====
{{Main|American Idol season 20{{!}}''American Idol'' season 20}}
], the ] winner]]
On May 13, 2021, ABC renewed the series for a twentieth season and it premiered on February 27, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=May 13, 2021 |title='American Idol' Renewed For Season 5 At ABC |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/american-idol-renewed-season-5-abc-1234755685/ |access-date=May 13, 2021 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="Season 20 Premiere Date">{{cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=December 2, 2021 |title=ABC Sets Premiere Dates For 'American Idol' Season 5 & Mayim Bialik-Hosted 'Jeopardy!' College Tourney |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/abc-premiere-dates-american-idol-season-5-jeopardy-college-tournament-mayim-bialik-1234883341/ |access-date=December 2, 2021 |website=]}}</ref> Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Meredith |date=August 3, 2021 |title='American Idol': Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry & Lionel Richie Officially Returning for Season 20 |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1008032/american-idol-season-20-ryan-seacrest-luke-bryan-katy-perry-lionel-richie/ |website=]}}</ref> On December 31, it was announced that Bones would not be returning as a mentor.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |date=January 1, 2022 |title=Bobby Bones Says He's Not Returning to 'American Idol' for Season 20 |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/bobby-bones-american-idol-season-20-1235145838/ |website=Variety}}</ref> On May 22, the season concluded, with ] crowned as the winner, with HunterGirl finishing as the runner-up. "One Day Tonight", the song Noah Thompson performed for the Grand Finale, was released as his debut song.

====Season 21 (2023)====
{{Main|American Idol season 21{{!}}''American Idol'' season 21}}
], the ] winner]]
On May 13, 2022, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-first season and it premiered on February 19, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=May 13, 2022 |title='American Idol' Renewed For Season Six At ABC |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/american-idol-renewed-season-six-abc-1235022184/ |access-date=May 13, 2022 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=November 7, 2022 |title=BREAKING: 'American Idol' Reveals Season 21 Premiere Date, Confirms Judges & Host |url=https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/breaking-american-idol-reveals-season-21-premiere-date-confirms-judges-host/ |website=Music Mayhem Magazine}}</ref> Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges. On May 21, the season concluded, with ] crowned as the winner, with Megan Danielle finishing as the runner-up.

====Season 22 (2024)====
{{Main|American Idol season 22{{!}}''American Idol'' season 22}}
], the ] winner]]
On May 16, 2023, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-second season and it premiered on February 18, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=2023-05-16 |title='American Idol' Scores Season 7 Renewal At ABC |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/american-idol-renewed-season-7-abc-1235367754/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title=ABC Midseason Premiere Dates: 'The Bachelor', '9-1-1', 'Abbott Elementary', 'Grey's Anatomy', More|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/abc-midseason-premiere-dates-the-bachelor-9-1-1-abbott-elementary-1235614105/|website=]|date=November 16, 2023|access-date=November 16, 2023}}</ref> Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=July 25, 2023 |title='American Idol' Announces Return of Judges, Kick-Off Date for 'Idol Across America' Auditions |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/american-idol-judges-return-dates-idol-across-america-auditions-1235377816/ |access-date=July 25, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2024, Perry announced that the season would be her last.<ref name="USA Today 1">{{cite news |last1=Morrow |first1=Brendan |title=Katy Perry says she's leaving ''American Idol'' amid 'very exciting year' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/02/13/is-katy-perry-leaving-american-idol/72580521007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213150503/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/02/13/is-katy-perry-leaving-american-idol/72580521007/ |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |work=] |publisher=] |location=United States |quote=] is leaving ''American Idol'' after seven seasons. She surprised fans on Monday's '']'' by casually revealing her exit.}}</ref> On May 20, the season concluded, with ] crowned as the winner, with Will Moseley finishing as the runner-up.

====Season 23 (2025)====
On May 10, 2024, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-third season; it was also announced the network was in-talks with "high-profile stars" to replace the outgoing Perry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=May 10, 2024 |title='American Idol' Renewed For Season 8 At ABC As Talent Show Searches For High-Profile Katy Perry Replacement |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/american-idol-renewed-season-8-abc-katy-perry-replacement-1235911453/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=Deadline}}</ref> On July 31, 2024, it was announced Seacrest would return as host, with Bryan and Richie returning as judges; Underwood was named as Perry's successor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title=Carrie Underwood Replacing Katy Perry on ''American Idol'' |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/carrie-underwood-replacing-katy-perry-american-idol-1236028161/ |website=] |publisher=] |access-date=July 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240731213748/https://deadline.com/2024/07/carrie-underwood-replacing-katy-perry-american-idol-1236028161/ |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |location=United States |date=July 31, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Andy |date=2024-08-01 |title=American Idol: Carrie Underwood Replacing Katy Perry in Season 23 — Which Judges Are Returning? |url=https://tvline.com/news/american-idol-carrie-underwood-judge-season-23-abc-1235239331/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=TVLine |language=en-US}}</ref> The season will premiere on March 9, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-11 |title=ABC announces much-anticipated 2025 midseason series premiere dates |url=https://abc7chicago.com/post/abc-announces-anticipated-2025-midseason-series-premiere-dates/15538225/#:~:text=The%20search%20for%20a%20superstar,after%20she%20claimed%20the%20title. |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=ABC7 Chicago |language=en}}</ref>

==Reception==
===U.S. television ratings===
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of ''American Idol''. It holds the distinction of having the longest winning streak in the ]; it became the highest-rated of all television programs in the United States overall for an unprecedented seven consecutive years,<ref>{{cite news |date=January 17, 2013 |title=The Return Of 'American Idol': Money Never Dies |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/benkaplan/2013/01/17/the-return-of-american-idol-money-never-dies/ |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref> or eight consecutive (and total) years when either its performance or result show was ranked number one overall.<ref name="ratings" />
:''Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May ].''


{| class="wikitable"
{| cellpadding=2 cellspacing=6
|-bgcolor=#808080
|'''Date'''
|'''Theme'''
|'''Guest Judge(s)'''
|colspan="3" align="center"|'''Bottom Three'''
|- |-
! style="width:7%;" rowspan="2"| Network
|]
! rowspan=2| Season
|]
! colspan=2| Premiered
|
! colspan=2| Ended
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Leah Labelle
! style="width:7%;" rowspan="2"| TV season
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Jennifer Hudson
! rowspan=2| Timeslot (])
|Amy Adams
! style="width:5%; background:#9cf;" rowspan="2"| Season<br>viewers
! style="width:5%; background:#9cf;" rowspan="2"| Season<br>ranking
|- |-
!| Date
|]
! span style="width:6%; font-size:smaller; font-weight:bold; line-height:100%;"| Viewers<br>(in millions)
|]
!| Date
|
! span style="width:6%; font-size:smaller; font-weight:bold; line-height:100%;"| Viewers<br>(in millions)
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Matthew Rogers
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Camile Velasco
|Diana DeGarmo
|- |-
| rowspan=30 style="text-align:center"| ]
|]
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="ratings rat race">{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=January 20, 2011 |title=Ratings rat race |url=https://deadline.com/2011/01/ratings-rat-race-idol-down-but-still-dominates-live-to-dance-chase-crushed-98418/ |access-date=February 24, 2011 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010">{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |title=TV Ratings Wednesday: Simon's Final American Idol Down 18%; Lowest-Rated Idol Finale |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/27/tv-ratings-wednesday-american-idol-down-18/52523 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531052347/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/27/tv-ratings-wednesday-american-idol-down-18/52523 |archive-date=May 31, 2010 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref>
|]
| rowspan=2| June 11, 2002
|],<br>]
| rowspan=2| 9.85
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Amy Adams (2)
| Final Performances: September 3, 2002
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Jennifer Hudson (2)
| 18.69
|LaToya London
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 9:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 12.22
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| N/A
|- |-
| Season Finale: September 4, 2002
|]
| 23.02
|]
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 9:30 pm<br>''(results)''
|
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.62
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Camile Velasco (2)
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| N/A
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Jasmine Trias
|Diana DeGarmo (2)
|- |-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |date=January 12, 2010 |title=Top 20 Most-Watched TV Programs in 2002–03 |url=http://blog.newsok.com/television/2010/01/12/top-20-most-watched-tv-programs-in-2002-03/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629135522/http://blog.newsok.com/television/2010/01/12/top-20-most-watched-tv-programs-in-2002-03/ |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Blog.newsok.com}}</ref>
|]
| rowspan=2| January 21, 2003
|]
| rowspan=2| 26.50
|]
| Final Performances: May 20, 2003
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Jon Peter Lewis
| 25.67
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|John Stevens
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | ]
|Diana DeGarmo (3)
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 21.03<ref name="s2average">{{cite web |title=Google Groups |url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.arts.tv/7oLAZAvK6wY |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 4
|- |-
| Season Finale: May 21, 2003
|]
| 38.06
|]
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:30&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
|Barry Manilow
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 19.63<ref name=s2average/>
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Jennifer Hudson (3)
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 7
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Fantasia Barrino
|LaToya London (2)
|- |-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Viewership numbers of primetime programs during the 2004 television season |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060204_11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208132303/http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060204_11 |archive-date=February 8, 2007}}</ref>
|]
| rowspan=2| January 19, 2004
|]
| rowspan=2| 28.96
|Gloria Estefan
| Final Performances: May 25, 2004
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|John Stevens (2)
| 25.13
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|George Huff
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|Jasmine Trias (2)
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 25.73<ref name="s3average">{{cite web |title=ABC Medianet |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060204_11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208132303/http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060204_11 |archive-date=February 8, 2007 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1
|- |-
| Season Finale: May 26, 2004
|]
| 28.84
|]
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:30&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
|
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 24.31<ref name=s3average/>
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|George Huff (2)
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 3
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Jasmine Trias (3)
|
|- |-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |date=June 1, 2005 |title=Viewership numbers of primetime programs during the 2005 television season |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060105_05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310210208/http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060105_05 |archive-date=March 10, 2007}}</ref>
|]
| rowspan=2| January 18, 2005
|]
| rowspan=2| 33.58
|]
| Final Performances: May 24, 2005
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|LaToya London (3)
| 28.05
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Fantasia Barrino (2)
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 27.32<ref name="s4average">{{cite web |title=Disney – ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421023509/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_05 |archive-date=April 21, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1
|- |-
| Season Finale: May 25, 2005
|]
| 30.27
|
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
|]
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 26.07<ref name=s4average/>
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Jasmine Trias (4)
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 3
|
|
|- |-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |date=May 31, 2006 |title=Viewership numbers of primetime programs during the 2006 television season |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=053106_05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310210300/http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=053106_05 |archive-date=March 10, 2007}}</ref>
|]
| rowspan=2| January 17, 2006
|
| rowspan=2| 35.53
|]
| Final Performances: May 23, 2006
|bgcolor="lime"|Fantasia Barrino
| 31.78
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Diana DeGarmo
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
|}
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 31.17<ref name="s5average">{{cite web |title=Disney – ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011060406/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05 |archive-date=October 11, 2014 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref>

| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1
=== Season four ===
|-
{| border="1" align ="right" cellpadding=3
| Season Finale: May 24, 2006
|colspan="2" align=center|'''Season 4 Finalists'''<br><small>''(with dates of elimination)''</small>
| 36.38
|- align=center
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
|]
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 30.16<ref name=s5average/>
|- align=center
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2
|]
|-
|- align=center
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /><ref>{{cite web |date=May 25, 2007 |title=Ratings Wrapup: CBS and Fox Win, Again |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-2006-07finalratings,0,6207523.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522060119/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-2006-07finalratings,0,6207523.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=Zap2it.com}}</ref>
|]
| rowspan=2| January 16, 2007
|- align=center
| rowspan=2| 37.44
|]
| Final Performances: May 22, 2007
|- align=center
| 25.33
|]
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|- align=center
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
|]
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 30.11<ref name="s6average">{{cite web |title=Disney – ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323004317/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_08 |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref>
|- align=center
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2
|]||]
|-
|- align=center
| Season Finale: May 23, 2007
|]||]
| 30.76
|- align=center
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
|]||]
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 30.58<ref name=s6average/>
|- align=center
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1
|]||]
|-
|- align=center
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |title=Nielsen Ratings: Weekly Top 20, David vs. David Finale Scores Big for FOX |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/05/28/nielsen-ratings-weekly-top-20-david-vs-david-finale-scores-big-for-fox/3939 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211151253/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/05/28/nielsen-ratings-weekly-top-20-david-vs-david-finale-scores-big-for-fox/3939 |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=May 28, 2008 |title=Nine of the top 20 shows in 2007–2008 were reality; Idol's performance show takes #1 |url=http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/industry_news/2008_May_28_season_end_ratings |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401070254/http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/industry_news/2008_May_28_season_end_ratings |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=Realityblurred.com}}</ref>
|]||]
| rowspan=2| January 15, 2008
|- align=center
| rowspan=2| 33.48
|]||]
| Final Performances: May 20, 2008
|}
| 27.06
The fourth season of ''American Idol'' premiered on ] ]. Auditions were held in ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Auditions were held from ] to ] ]. While in the past seasons celebrity guest judges have been invited to participate during the competition, this was the first season where guest judges were invited to participate in the auditions. The music celebrities featured were:
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
* ], ] of ]
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
* ], ] of ]
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 28.80<ref name="s7average">{{cite web |title=Disney – ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413172935/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06 |archive-date=April 13, 2010 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref>
* ], ]
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1
* ], ]
|-
* ], ]
| Season Finale: May 21, 2008

| 31.66
Among the music featured in the program: on ] ], "Look At Me" written by ] and performed by her 8-year-old daughter Lily (from the album ]).
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''

| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 27.81<ref name=s7average/>
The most notable contestant in the early episodes was ] who auditioned in Washington D.C. and brought considerable negative attention (including false rumors of mental illness) and comparisons to ].
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2

|-
This season also new rules for the final portion of the contest. Instead of competing in semifinal heats in which the top vote-getters are promoted to the final round, 24 semifinalists were named -- 12 men and 12 women, who competed separately, with 2 of each gender being voted off each week until 12 finalists were left.
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=May 27, 2009 |title=Another American Idol Finale Shocker: Not the Lowest Rated! |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/27/american-idol-two-and-a-half-men-and-dancing-lead-final-week-of-season/19462 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530143528/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/27/american-idol-two-and-a-half-men-and-dancing-lead-final-week-of-season/19462 |archive-date=May 30, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=May 28, 2009 |title=American Idol, Dancing With The Stars Top Average Viewership For 2008-9 Season |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/27/american-idol-dancing-with-the-stars-top-average-viewership-for-2008-9-season/19519 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601021439/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/27/american-idol-dancing-with-the-stars-top-average-viewership-for-2008-9-season/19519 |archive-date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref>

| rowspan=2| January 13, 2009
Semi-finalists eliminated were ], ], ], and ], on ]; ], ], ], and ], on ]; and ], ], Nikko Smith, and ], on ]. ] dropped out of the competition on ], just days before the top 12's first performance, citing "personal issues," opening a spot in the final 12 for Nikko Smith.
| rowspan=2| 30.45
| Final Performances: May 19, 2009
| 23.82
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 26.25<ref name="s8average">{{cite web |title=Disney – ABC Press |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060209_05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619101214/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060209_05 |archive-date=June 19, 2009 |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2
|-
| Season Finale: May 20, 2009
| 28.84
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 26.77<ref name=s8average/>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="ratings rat race" /><ref>{{cite web |title=TV Ratings Top 25: American Idol, Big Bang Theory, Two And A Half Men Top 18–49 Ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/02/tv-ratings-top-25-american-idol-big-bang-theory-two-and-a-half-men-top-18-49-ratings/52800 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605034457/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/02/tv-ratings-top-25-american-idol-big-bang-theory-two-and-a-half-men-top-18-49-ratings/52800 |archive-date=June 5, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 16, 2010 |title=Final 2009–10 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619131409/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.com}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| January 12, 2010
| rowspan=2| 29.95
| Final Performances: May 25, 2010
| 20.07
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Tuesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 22.97<ref name="s9average">{{cite web |title=Final 2009–10 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121165731/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 |archive-date=November 21, 2010 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1
|-
| Season Finale: May 26, 2010
| 24.22
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 21.95<ref name=s9average/>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="TVbythenumber 01-25-2011">{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=January 25, 2011 |title=tvbythenumbers Jan&nbsp;25, 2011 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/01/25/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-jets-steelers-american-idol-hawaii-five-0-ncis-modern-family-top-week-18-viewing/80030 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128181723/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/01/25/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-jets-steelers-american-idol-hawaii-five-0-ncis-modern-family-top-week-18-viewing/80030 |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=June 1, 2011 |title=TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: 'American Idol', 'Dancing With The Stars', 'Glee', 'Modern Family' Top Season's Final Week |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-american-idol-dancing-with-the-stars-glee-modern-family-top-seasons-final-week/94311/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160130/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-american-idol-dancing-with-the-stars-glee-modern-family-top-seasons-final-week/94311/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=June 2, 2011 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref><ref name="deadline 2011">{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 27, 2011 |title=Full 2010–11 Season Series Rankers |url=https://deadline.com/2011/05/full-2010-11-season-series-rankers-135917/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604181311/http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/full-2010-11-season-series-rankers/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=May 27, 2011 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| January 19, 2011
| rowspan=2|26.23
| Final Performances: May 24, 2011 (Tues)
| 20.57
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 25.97<ref name="s10average">{{cite web |title=2010–11 Season Broadcast Primetime Show Viewership Averages |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/2010-11-season-broadcast-primetime-show-viewership-averages/94407/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160109/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/2010-11-season-broadcast-primetime-show-viewership-averages/94407/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 1
|-
| Season Finale: May 25, 2011 (Wed)
| 29.29
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 23.87<ref name=s10average/>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref name="week1" /><ref name="may2012">{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=May 30, 2012 |title=TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: 'American Idol' Tops Week 36 Viewing; 'Modern Family' is Number One Scripted Program |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/30/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-american-idol-tops-week-36-viewing-modern-family-is-number-one-scripted-program/136002/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605052932/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/30/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-american-idol-tops-week-36-viewing-modern-family-is-number-one-scripted-program/136002/ |archive-date=June 5, 2012 |access-date=May 31, 2012 |publisher=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref name="deadline2012">{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 24, 2012 |title=Full 2011–2012 TV Season Series Rankings |url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/full-2011-2012-tv-season-series-rankings-277941/ |access-date=May 25, 2012}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| January 18, 2012
| rowspan=2| 21.93
| Final Performances: May 22, 2012 (Tues)
| 14.85
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 19.81<ref name="s11average">{{cite web |title=Complete List Of 2011-12 Season TV Show Viewership: 'Sunday Night Football' Tops, Followed By 'American Idol,' 'NCIS' & 'Dancing With The Stars' - Ratings - TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/complete-list-of-2011-12-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-american-idol-ncis-dancing-with-the-stars/135785/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527223446/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/complete-list-of-2011-12-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-american-idol-ncis-dancing-with-the-stars/135785/ |archive-date=May 27, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 2
|-
| Season Finale: May 23, 2012 (Wed)
| 21.49
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 18.33<ref name=s11average/>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 4
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=January 27, 2013 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Criminal Minds' Adjusted Up; 'Suburgatory' & 'The Neighbors' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01/17/wednesday-final-ratings-criminal-minds-adjusted-up-suburgatory-the-neighbors-adjusted-down/165633/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120005414/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01/17/wednesday-final-ratings-criminal-minds-adjusted-up-suburgatory-the-neighbors-adjusted-down/165633/ |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |access-date=January 17, 2013 |publisher=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=May 21, 2013 |title=TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: 'The Big Bang Theory' Tops Week 34 Viewing Among Adults 18–49, 'NCIS' on Top With Total Viewers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/21/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-the-big-bang-theory-tops-week-34-viewing-among-adults-18-49-ncis-on-top-with-total-viewers/183347/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607112735/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/21/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-the-big-bang-theory-tops-week-34-viewing-among-adults-18-49-ncis-on-top-with-total-viewers/183347/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2013 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=May 29, 2013 |title=Complete 2012–2013 TV Season Series Rankings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/comment-page-3/#comments |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609094726/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/comment-page-3/#comments |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |website=Zap2it}}</ref>


| rowspan=2| January 16, 2013
{| cellpadding=2 cellspacing=6
| rowspan=2| 17.93
|-bgcolor=#808080
| Final Performances: May 15, 2013
|'''Date'''
| 12.11
|'''Theme'''
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|'''Guest Judge(s)'''
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
|colspan="3" align="center"|'''Bottom Three'''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 15.04<ref name="s12average">{{cite web |title=Complete List Of 2012-13 Season TV Show Viewership: 'Sunday Night Football' Tops, Followed By 'NCIS,' 'The Big Bang Theory' & 'NCIS: Los Angeles' - Ratings - TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607112820/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/29/complete-list-of-2012-13-season-tv-show-viewership-sunday-night-football-tops-followed-by-ncis-the-big-bang-theory-ncis-los-angeles/184781/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 7
|- |-
| Season Finale: May 16, 2013
|]
| 14.31
|] music
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
|
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 14.65<ref name=s12average/>
|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|Lindsey Cardinale
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 9
|bgcolor="#F0F0F0"|Mikalah Gordon
|Jessica Sierra
|- |-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=January 16, 2014 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'Law and Order: SVU', 'The Tomorrow People' & 'Super Fun Night' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/16/wednesday-final-ratings-american-idol-adjusted-up-law-and-order-svu-the-tomorrow-people-super-fun-night-adjusted-down/229786/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116224654/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/16/wednesday-final-ratings-american-idol-adjusted-up-law-and-order-svu-the-tomorrow-people-super-fun-night-adjusted-down/229786/ |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=January 16, 2014 |publisher=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=May 22, 2014 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Survivor', 'The Middle' & 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up; 'Survivor' Reunion Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/22/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-the-middle-survivor-reunion-adjusted-down/266571/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523013058/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/05/22/wednesday-final-ratings-survivor-the-middle-survivor-reunion-adjusted-down/266571/ |archive-date=May 23, 2014 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=May 22, 2014 |title=Full 2013–2014 TV Season Series Rankings |url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/tv-season-series-rankings-2013-full-list-2-733762/ |access-date=May 23, 2014 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
|]
| rowspan=2| January 15, 2014
|]
| rowspan=2| 15.19
|
| Final Performances: May 20, 2014 (Tues)
|bgcolor="C0C0C0"|Mikalah Gordon (2)
| 6.76
|bgcolor="F0F0F0"|Nadia Turner
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|Anthony Fedorov
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(performance)''
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.94<ref name="s13average">{{cite web |title=Primetime Ratings Total Audience 2013–2014 |url=http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Primetime-ratings-total-audience-2013-2014-table-updated__140523003932.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222418/http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Primetime-ratings-total-audience-2013-2014-table-updated__140523003932.jpg |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 17
|- |-
| Season Finale: May 21, 2014 (Wed)
|]
| 10.53
|] music
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(results)''
|
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.43<ref name=s13average/>
|bgcolor="C0C0C0"|Jessica Sierra (2)
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 22
|bgcolor="F0F0F0"|Anwar Robinson
|Nadia Turner (2)
|- |-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: No Adjustments Beyond Previously Released Increases for 'Empire' & 'American Idol' |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/01/09/wednesday-final-ratings-no-adjustments-beyond-previously-released-increases-for-empire-american-idol/347642/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109233854/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/01/09/wednesday-final-ratings-no-adjustments-beyond-previously-released-increases-for-empire-american-idol/347642/ |archive-date=January 9, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Flash', 'NCIS', & 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'iZombie' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/13/tuesday-final-ratings-the-flash-ncis-izombie-adjusted-down/403429/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516000415/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/13/tuesday-final-ratings-the-flash-ncis-izombie-adjusted-down/403429/ |archive-date=May 16, 2015 |access-date=May 14, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Law & Order: SVU', 'Survivor, 'The Middle' & 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'Supernatural', 'black-ish' & 'Nashville' Adjusted Down |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/14/wednesday-final-ratings-law-supernatural-black-ish-nashville-adjusted-down/403989/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516011420/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/05/14/wednesday-final-ratings-law-supernatural-black-ish-nashville-adjusted-down/403989/ |archive-date=May 16, 2015 |access-date=May 15, 2015 |website=TVbytheNumbers}}</ref>
|]
| rowspan=2| January 7, 2015
|]
| rowspan=2| 11.20
|
| Final Performances: May 12, 2015 (Tues)
|bgcolor="C0C0C0"|Nikko Smith
| 5.55
|bgcolor="F0F0F0"|Scott Savol
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|Vonzell Solomon
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br />
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 10.31<ref name="s14average">{{cite web |last=Lisa de Moraes |title=2014–15 Full TV Season Ratings: Rankings For All Shows – Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/2014-15-full-tv-season-ratings-shows-rankings-1201431167/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522054915/http://deadline.com/2015/05/2014-15-full-tv-season-ratings-shows-rankings-1201431167/ |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |website=Deadline}}</ref>
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 41
|- |-
| Season Finale: May 13, 2015 (Wed)
|]
| 8.03
|Music from year of birth
| style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(until March 12)''
|
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.55<ref name=s14average/>
|bgcolor="C0C0C0"|Nadia Turner (3)
| style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 28
|bgcolor="F0F0F0"|Bo Bice
|Scott Savol (2)
|- |-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=January 7, 2016 |title=Wednesday final ratings: 'American Idol' and 'Modern Family' adjust up |work=TV By The Numbers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/01/07/wednesday-final-ratings-jan-6-2016/ |url-status=dead |access-date=January 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107231810/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/01/07/wednesday-final-ratings-jan-6-2016/ |archive-date=January 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=April 7, 2016 |title=Wednesday final ratings: 'Empire' and 'Modern Family' adjust up, 'Nashville' adjusts down |work=TV By The Numbers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/04/07/wednesday-final-ratings-april-6-2016/ |url-status=dead |access-date=April 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408082046/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/04/07/wednesday-final-ratings-april-6-2016/ |archive-date=April 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=April 8, 2016 |title=Thursday final ratings: 'Big Bang Theory' adjusts up, 'Odd Couple' and 'The 100' adjust down |work=TV By The Numbers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/04/08/thursday-final-ratings-april-7-2016-american-idol-finale/ |url-status=dead |access-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411021250/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/04/08/thursday-final-ratings-april-7-2016-american-idol-finale/ |archive-date=April 11, 2016}}</ref>
|]
| rowspan=2| January 6, 2016
|] dance music
| rowspan=2| 10.96
|
| Final Performances: April 6, 2016
|bgcolor="C0C0C0"|Anwar Robinson (2)
| 9.70
|bgcolor="F0F0F0"|Anthony Fedorov (2)
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|Scott Savol (3)
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(until February 24)''
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.52<ref name="s15average">{{cite web |last=Lisa de Moraes |date=May 26, 2016 |title=Full 2015–16 TV Season Series Rankings: 'Blindspot', 'Life In Pieces' & 'Quantico' Lead Newcomers |url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/tv-season-2015-2016-series-rankings-shows-full-list-1201763189/ |website=Deadline}}</ref>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 19
|-
| Season Finale: April 7, 2016
| 13.30
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Thursday 8:00&nbsp;pm
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 11.13<ref name=s15average/>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 23
|-
| rowspan=14 style="text-align:center"| ]
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=March 13, 2018 |title='Bob's Burgers' and 'Ninja Warrior' adjust up, 'Deception' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-march-11-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313201337/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-march-11-2018/ |archive-date=March 13, 2018 |access-date=March 13, 2018 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 22, 2018 |title='Bob's Burgers,' 'Family Guy' and 'Dateline' adjust down: Sunday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-may-20-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522212828/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-may-20-2018/ |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |access-date=May 22, 2018 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=May 22, 2018 |title='Supergirl' and 'iZombie' adjust down: Monday final ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-may-21-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523100724/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/monday-final-ratings-may-21-2018/ |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |access-date=May 22, 2018 |website=]}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| March 11, 2018
| rowspan=2| 10.48
| Final Performances: May 20, 2018
| 7.47
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 9.57<ref name="s16average">{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 11, 2018 |title=Final Live +7 viewer averages for 2017–18: 'Roseanne,' 'Big Bang Theory' surpass 'SNF' |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/final-live-7-viewer-averages-for-2017-18-roseanne-big-bang-theory-surpass-snf/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142325/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/final-live-7-viewer-averages-for-2017-18-roseanne-big-bang-theory-surpass-snf/ |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=June 11, 2018 |website=]}}</ref>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 31
|-
| Season Finale: May 21, 2018
| 8.63
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(until April 23)''
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 9.51<ref name="s16average" />
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 32
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |date=March 5, 2019 |title='60 Minutes,' 'The Simpsons' adjust down: Sunday final ratings |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-march-3-2019/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305212154/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-march-3-2019/ |archive-date=March 5, 2019 |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |date=May 21, 2019 |title='American Idol' adjusts up, 'America's Funniest Home Videos' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-may-19-2019/-tv-ratings-sunday-may-5-2019-1207626 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301051116/https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-may-19-2019/-tv-ratings-sunday-may-5-2019-1207626 |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |website=TV By the Nu7mbers}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| March 3, 2019
| rowspan=2| 8.65
| rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 19, 2019
| rowspan=2| 8.74
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00&nbsp;pm
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 9.10<ref name="s17 avg">{{cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 10, 2019 |title=2018–19 TV Season: Live-Plus-7 Ratings for Every Broadcast Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/live-7-ratings-broadcast-tv-series-2018-19-1217293 |access-date=July 8, 2019 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 32
|-
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(until April 22)''
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 8.00<ref name="s17 avg" />
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 42
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |author-link=Mitch Metcalf |date=February 19, 2020 |title=Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.16.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-16-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219160842/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-16-2020.html |archive-date=February 19, 2020 |access-date=February 19, 2020 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=May 19, 2020 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.17.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-17-2020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519145204/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-5-17-2020.html |archive-date=May 19, 2020 |access-date=May 19, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| February 16, 2020
| rowspan=2| 8.07
| rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 17, 2020
| rowspan=2| 7.28
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00&nbsp;pm
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 8.34<ref name="variety may2020">{{cite web |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=May 21, 2020 |title=100 Most-Watched TV Shows of 2019–20: Winners and Losers |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/most-popular-tv-shows-highest-rated-2019-2020-season-masked-singer-last-dance-1234612885/ |website=Variety}}</ref>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 32
|-
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(until {{abbr|March 23|Intended to end on April 6}})''
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 8.54<ref name="variety may2020" />
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 30
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=February 17, 2021 |title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.14.2021 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-14-2021.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217152759/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-14-2021.html |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2021 |website=Showbuzz Daily}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bauder |first=David |date=May 25, 2021 |title=Triumph of the unhip: 'NCIS' tops TV, streaming rankings |url=https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-lakers-technology-entertainment-sports-nba-96fd259f28418539af05715b7590bbf1 |access-date=May 25, 2021 |publisher=]}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| February 14, 2021
| rowspan=2| 6.95
| rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 23, 2021
| rowspan=2| 6.50
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00&nbsp;pm
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 7.42<ref name="2020-21Ratings">{{cite magazine |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 8, 2021 |title=2020–21 TV Ratings: Complete 7-Day Ratings for Broadcast Network Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2020-21-tv-ratings-every-network-show-ranked-1234964854/ |url-status=live |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609002528/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2020-21-tv-ratings-every-network-show-ranked-1234964854/ |archive-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 25
|-
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(until April 19)''
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 6.24<ref name="2020-21Ratings" />
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 39
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web |last=] |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Sunday 2.27.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals |url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-2-27-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=] |date=May 24, 2022 |title=Sunday 5.22.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals |url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-5-22-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |access-date=May 24, 2022 |website=]}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| February 27, 2022
| rowspan=2| 6.30
| rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 22, 2022
| rowspan=2| 6.49
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00&nbsp;pm
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 7.29<ref name="2021-22Ratings">{{cite magazine |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 8, 2022 |title=2021–22 TV Ratings: Final Seven-Day Numbers for Every Network Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2021-22-tv-ratings-every-network-series-ranked-1235161738/ |magazine=] |access-date=June 9, 2022}}</ref>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 25
|-
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(until May 2)''
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 6.99<ref name="2021-22Ratings" />
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 28
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-2-19-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=Sunday 2.19.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals|work=]|author=Mitch Salem|date=February 22, 2023|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-5-21-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=Sunday 5.21.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals|work=]|author=Mitch Salem|date=May 23, 2023|access-date=July 24, 2023}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| February 19, 2023
| rowspan=2| 5.27
| rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 21, 2023
| rowspan=2| 6.62
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00&nbsp;pm
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 6.92<ref name="2022-23Ratings">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-2022-23-every-primetime-network-show-ranked-1235508593/|title=TV Ratings 2022-23: Final Seven-Day Averages for Every Network Series|last=Porter|first=Rick|magazine=]|date=June 7, 2023|access-date=July 24, 2023}}</ref>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 20
|-
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00&nbsp;pm
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 6.06<ref name="2022-23Ratings" />
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 32
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-tracker-builds-in-total-viewers-from-equalizer-lead-in-for-cbs-tnt-and-tbs-win-key-demos-with-nba-all-star-game/|title=Sunday Ratings: ''Tracker'' Builds in Total Viewers Out of ''Equalizer'' Lead-In for CBS, TNT and TBS Win Key Demos with NBA All-Star Game|work=Programming Insider|author=Douglas Pucci|date=February 19, 2024|access-date=February 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-american-idol-on-abc-earns-season-highs-in-total-viewers-and-demos-with-22nd-finale/|title=Sunday Ratings: ''American Idol'' on ABC Earns Season-Highs in Total Viewers and Demos with 22nd Finale|work=Programming Insider|author=Douglas Pucci|date=May 21, 2024|access-date=May 21, 2024}}</ref>
| rowspan=2| February 18, 2024
| rowspan=2| 4.62
| rowspan=2| Final Performances/Season Finale: May 19, 2024
| rowspan=2| 5.64
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| ]
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Sunday 8:00&nbsp;pm
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 5.83<ref name="2023-24Ratings">{{Cite web|last=Schneider|first=Michael|title=100 Most-Watched TV Series of 2023-24: This Season's Winners and Losers|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/most-popular-tv-shows-highest-rated-2023-2024-season-tracker-survivor-1236015844/|website=]|date=May 28, 2024|access-date=May 28, 2024}}</ref>
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 35
|-
|style="font-size: smaller;text-align:center;line-height: 100%"| Monday 8:00&nbsp;pm<br>''(until April 29)''
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 5.28<ref name="2023-24Ratings" />
|style="background:#cce0ff;text-align:center"| 39
|} |}


''American Idol'' premiered in June 2002 and became the surprise summer hit show of 2002. The first show drew 9.9&nbsp;million viewers, giving Fox the best viewing figure for the 8.30&nbsp;pm spot in over a year.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 14, 2002 |title=US Pop Idol proves ratings hit |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2044410.stm |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> The audience steadily grew, and by finale night, the audience had averaged 23&nbsp;million, with more than 40&nbsp;million watching some part of that show.<ref name="NY Times – September 6, 2002">{{cite news |last1=Bill Carter |last2=Stuart Elliott |date=September 6, 2002 |title=Success of 'American Idol' To Spawn Many Copycats |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/06/business/the-media-business-advertising-success-of-american-idol-to-spawn-many-copycats.html}}</ref> That episode was placed third amongst all age groups, but more importantly it led in the ], the age group most valued by advertisers.<ref name="Watching TV: six decades of American television" />


The growth continued into the next season, starting with a season premiere of 26.5 million.<ref name="ratings rat race" /> The season attracted an average of 21.7&nbsp;million viewers, and was placed second overall amongst the 18–49 age group.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 22, 2003 |title=Ruben Studdard becomes second 'American Idol' winner by razor-thin margin |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/ruben-studdard-becomes-second-american-idol-winner-by-razor-thin-margin-1210.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Reality TV World}}</ref> The finale night when Ruben Studdard won over Clay Aiken was also the highest-rated ever ''American Idol'' episode at 38.1&nbsp;million for the final hour.<ref name="realitytvworld_5/24/2007"/> By the third season, the show had become the top show in the 18–49 demographic<ref name="realitytvworld_5/24/2007">{{cite web |title=American Idol's sixth season finale averages over 30&nbsp;million viewers |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/american-idol-sixth-season-finale-averages-over-30-million-viewers-5225.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Reality TV World}}</ref> a position it has held for all subsequent years up to and including the tenth season, and its competition stages ranked first in the nationwide overall ratings. By the fourth season, ''American Idol'' had become the most-watched series amongst all viewers on American TV for the first time, with an average viewership of 26.8&nbsp;million.<ref name="MSNBC January 10, 2007">{{cite web |title='American Idol' returns with big plans, deals |date=January 10, 2007 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16563051 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924125410/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/16563051 |archive-date=September 24, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=]}}</ref> The show reached its peak in the fifth season with numbers averaging 30.6&nbsp;million per episode, and this season remains the highest-rated of the series.<ref name="MSNBC January 10, 2007" />
The fourth season finale is scheduled to air ]-].


The sixth season premiered with the series' highest-rated debut episode and a few of its succeeding episodes rank among the most-watched episodes of ''American Idol.'' During this time, many television executives begun to regard the show as a programming force unlike any seen before,<ref name="carter" /> as its consistent dominance of up to two hours two or three nights a week exceeded the 30- or 60-minute reach of previous hits such as NBC's '']''. The show was dubbed "the ]",<ref name="death star" /> and competing networks often rearranged their schedules in order to minimize losses.<ref name="carter" /> However, the sixth season also showed a steady decline in viewership over the course of the season. The season finale saw a drop in ratings of 16% from the previous year. The sixth season was the first season wherein the average results show rated higher than the competition stages (unlike in the previous seasons), and became the second-highest-rated of the series after the preceding season.<ref name="realitytvworld_5/24/2007"/>
=== Season five ===
The fifth season of ''American Idol'' will be held in ] with auditions expected to be in the ] of ].


The loss of viewers continued into the seventh season. The premiere was down 11% among total viewers,<ref name="ratings rat race" /> and the results show in which Kristy Lee Cook was eliminated delivered its lowest-rated Wednesday show among the 18–34 demo since the first season in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |last=Collins |first=Scott |date=April 21, 2008 |title=Ominous signs for American Idol |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-21-et-channel21-story.html |access-date=August 25, 2010 |website=]}}</ref> However, the ratings rebounded for the seventh-season finale with the excitement over the battle of the Davids, and improved over the sixth season as the series' third most watched finale. The strong finish of season seven also helped Fox become the most watched TV network in the country for the first time since its inception, a first ever in ] history for a non-] major broadcast network.<ref name="Fox wins TV season">{{cite web |last=Bouder |first=David |date=May 23, 2008 |title=Fox wins TV season on strong 'Idol' finish |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2008-05-22-2653349510_x.htm |access-date=October 26, 2011 |website=]}}</ref> Overall ratings for the season were down 10% from the sixth season,<ref>{{cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Edward |date=May 24, 2008 |title="Idol" tries to keep viewers guessing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/24/arts/television/24idol.html |website=]}}</ref> which is in line with the fall in viewership across all networks due in part to the ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Krukowski |first=Andrew |title=May Sweeps Sees Record Low Ratings |url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/may_sweeps_sees_record_low_rat.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025215356/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/may_sweeps_sees_record_low_rat.php |archive-date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=TVWeek}}</ref>
== Releases ==
* ''American Idol Greatest Moments'' (])
* ''American Idol Season 2: All Time Classic American Love Songs'' (])
* ''American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics'' (2003)
* "]" (single) (2003)
*"What the World Needs Now" (single) (2003)
*'']'' (])


The declining trend however continued into the eighth season, as total viewers numbers fell by 5–10% for early episodes compared to the seventh season,<ref>{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Updated: ''Idol'' strong, retains almost 100% of night one audience |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/15/idol-watch-night-two-early-nielsen-ratings/10886 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117005912/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/15/idol-watch-night-two-early-nielsen-ratings/10886 |archive-date=January 17, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=]}}</ref> and by 9% for the finale.<ref name="TV by the numbers MAY 27, 2010" /> In the ninth season, ''Idol''{{'s}} six-year extended streak of perfection in the ratings was broken, when NBC's coverage of the ] on February 17 beat ''Idol'' in the same time slot with 30.1&nbsp;million viewers over ''Idol'''s 18.4&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |last=de Moraes |first=Lisa |date=February 19, 2010 |title=NBC's Winter Olympic coverage breaks 'American Idol's ratings streak |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/18/AR2010021805281.html |access-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> Nevertheless, ''American Idol'' overall finished its ninth season as the most watched TV series for the sixth year running, breaking the previous record of five consecutive seasons achieved by CBS' '']'' and NBC's '']''.<ref name="'Idol' is TV's No. 1 show">{{cite web |last=Herbert |first=Steven |date=June 2, 2010 |title=Even in decline, 'Idol' is TV's No. 1 show |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/million-251574-viewers-averaging.html |access-date=August 25, 2010 |website=]}}</ref>
== See also ==

*'']''
In the tenth season, the total viewer numbers for the first week of shows fell 12–13%, and by up to 23% in the 18–49 demo compared to the ninth season.<ref name="TVbythenumber 01-25-2011" /> Later episodes, however, retained viewers better, and the season ended on a high with a significant increase in viewership for the finale – up 12% for the adults 18–49 demographic and a 21% increase in total viewers from the ninth-season finale.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=May 26, 2011 |title=Updated TV Ratings Wednesday: 'American Idol' Finale Up, Buries Competition; ABC's Finales Down vs. Last Year |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/26/tv-ratings-wednesday-american-idol-finale-up-buries-competition-abcs-finales-down-vs-last-year/93940/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528114120/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/26/tv-ratings-wednesday-american-idol-finale-up-buries-competition-abcs-finales-down-vs-last-year/93940/ |archive-date=May 28, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |publisher=]}}</ref> While the overall viewer number has increased this season, its viewer demographics have continued to age year on year – the median age this season was 47.2 compared to a median age of 32.1 in its first season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Bill |last2=Vega |first2=Tanzina |author-link=Tanzina Vega |date=May 14, 2011 |title=In Shift, Ads Try to Entice Over-55 Set |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/business/media/14viewers.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |website=]}}</ref> The demographics also became "whiter" over time and less diverse.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 8, 2018 |title=The Masked Scheduler on 'American Idol,' part 3: How research and scheduling shaped the show |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-3-how-research-and-scheduling-shaped-the-show/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311061031/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/the-masked-scheduler-on-american-idol-part-3-how-research-and-scheduling-shaped-the-show/ |archive-date=March 11, 2018 |website=]}}</ref> Nevertheless, in the 2010–11 television season, Fox maintained its lead on over other networks with its seventh consecutive season of victory overall in the 18–49 demographic ratings in the United States.
*'']''

*]
The eleventh season, however, suffered a steep drop in ratings, a drop attributed by some to the arrival of new shows such as '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stelter |first=Brian |date=May 22, 2012 |title='Idol' Grapples With Its Own Competition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/arts/television/american-idol-ponders-a-ratings-dip-on-fox.html?_r=1 |access-date=May 24, 2012 |website=]}}</ref> The ratings for the first two episodes of the eleventh season fell 16–21% in overall viewer numbers and 24–27% in the 18/49 demo,<ref name="week1">{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=January 24, 2012 |title=TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: Giants-49ers, 'American Idol,' 'Big Bang Theory' Top Week 18 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/01/24/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-giants-49ers-american-idol-big-bang-theory-top-week-18/117360/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126162514/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/01/24/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-giants-49ers-american-idol-big-bang-theory-top-week-18/117360/ |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=January 25, 2012 |publisher=]}}</ref> while the season finale fell 27% in total viewer number and 30% in the 18–49 demo.<ref name="may2012" /> The average viewership for the season fell below 20 million viewers the first time since 2003, a drop of 23% in total viewers and 30% in the 18/49 demo. For the first time in eight years, ''American Idol'' lost the leading position in both the total viewers number and the 18/49 demo, coming in second to '']'', although the strengths of ''Idol'' in its second year in the Wednesday-Thursday primetime slots helped Fox achieve the longest period of 18–49 demographic victory in the Nielsen ratings, standing at 8 straight years from 2004 to 2012.<ref name="deadline2012" />
*]

The loss of viewers continued into the twelfth season, which saw the show hitting a number of series low in the 18–49 demo.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=March 24, 2013 |title='American Idol' drops again: How low will the ratings go? |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/03/22/american-idol-how-low-will-the-ratings-go/ |magazine=] |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> The finale had 7.2 million fewer viewers than the previous season, and saw a drop of 44% in the 18–49 demo.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kissell |first=Rick |date=May 17, 2013 |title='American Idol' Finale Down 44% From Last Year |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/american-idol-finale-tumbles-on-a-very-crowded-thursday-1200482948/ |website=]}}</ref> The season viewers averaged at 13.3 million, a drop of 24% from the previous season.<ref>{{cite news |last=McKay |first=Hollie |date=May 21, 2013 |title='American Idol' at a crossroads: Next season to bring fresh judges, many changes |work=] |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/american-idol-at-a-crossroads-next-season-to-bring-fresh-judges-many-changes/}}</ref> The thirteenth season suffered a huge decline in the 18–49 demographic, a drop of 28% from the twelfth season, and ''American Idol'' lost its Top 10 position in the Nielsen ratings by the end of the 2013–14 television season for the first time since its entry to the rankings in 2003 as a result, and never regained its Top 10 position by the series' end in 2016.<ref name="judges_season_14">{{cite magazine |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=June 24, 2014 |title=All the 'American Idol' judges will return for season 14 |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/06/23/american-idol-judges-season-14/ |magazine=]}}</ref>

The continuing decline influenced further changes for the fourteenth season, including the loss of ] as the show's major sponsor, and a decision to only broadcast one, two-hour show per week during the top 12 rounds (with results from the previous week integrated into the performance show, rather than having a separate results show).<ref name="variety-idolsing">{{cite web |date=December 17, 2014 |title=Fox Faces Challenge to Make 'American Idol' Sing |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/features/fox-faces-challenge-to-rejuvenate-american-idol-1201379994/ |access-date=January 7, 2015 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="deadline-idolcancelled">{{cite web |date=May 11, 2015 |title='American Idol' Renewed For Final Season |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/american-idol-renewed-final-season-15-1201424278/ |access-date=May 11, 2015 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="bosglobe-idol2015">{{cite web |title=In season 14, 'American Idol' hoping to bounce back |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2015/01/05/american-idol-the-search-for-next-pop-star-and-its-growing-pains/QmQXmq0nNqZw7RJfp9K6BI/story.html |access-date=January 7, 2015 |website=]}}</ref> On May 11, 2015, prior to the fourteenth-season finale, Fox announced that the fifteenth season of ''American Idol'' would be its last.<ref name="Idol Cancellation (May 2015)" /> Despite these changes, the show's ratings would decline more sharply. The fourteenth-season finale was the lowest-rated finale ever, with an average of only 8.03 million viewers watching the finale. The show's ratings, however, rebounded in its final season and ended its run in 2016 as Fox's first-ever program to conclude its run without dropping from the Nielsen Top 30 most-watched television shows in each of its seasons.

For the revived series on ABC, the ratings were lower but remained stable compared to previous seasons on Fox. The finale of the seventeenth season was slightly more watched than the sixteenth.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ho |first=Rodney |date=May 23, 2019 |title='American Idol' notes: 'Idol' season finale ratings, Jennifer Hudson 'Jeffersons' theme, Adam Lambert |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/american-idol-notes-idol-season-finale-ratings-jennifer-hudson-jeffersons-theme-adam-lambert/zZ0UZ8B64nUqKHKndYCJhN/ |website=]}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
Early reviews were mixed in their assessment. Ken Tucker of '']'' considered that "As TV, ''American Idol'' is crazily entertaining; as music, it's dust-mote inconsequential".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=July 4, 2002 |title=American Idol: Read EW's original review |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/07/04/american-idol-2/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> Others, however, thought that "the most striking aspect of the series was the genuine talent it revealed".<ref name="Watching TV: six decades of American television" /> It was also described as a "sadistic musical bake-off",<ref>{{cite web |last=Carina Chocano |date=September 4, 2002 |title=How to make an "American Idol" |url=http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/diary/2002/09/04/american_idol |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908193257/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/diary/2002/09/04/american_idol |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |website=Salon.com}}</ref> and "a romp in humiliation".<ref>{{cite web |last=Dan Jewel |date=June 14, 2002 |title='American Idol,' so needlessly cruel |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/jun02/jun10/5_fri/news3friday.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103205541/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/jun02/jun10/5_fri/news3friday.html |archive-date=November 3, 2009 |access-date=October 21, 2011 |website=Medialife}}</ref> Other aspects of the show have attracted criticisms. The product placement in the show in particular was noted,<ref>{{cite news |last=Gallo |first=Phil |date=August 19, 2002 |title=American Idol: The Search for a Superstar |work=Variety |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117918490.html?categoryid=32&cs=1 |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> and some critics were harsh about what they perceived as its blatant commercial calculations – Karla Peterson of '']'' charged that ''American Idol'' is "a conniving multimedia monster" that has "absorbed the sin of our debauched culture and spit them out in a lump of reconstituted evil".<ref> Buying into American Idol by Henry Jenkins</ref> The decision to send the first season winner to sing the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial on the first anniversary of the ] in 2002 was also poorly received by many. ] of '']'' noted sarcastically that "The terrorists have won" and, with a sideswipe at the show's commercialism and voting process, that the decision as to who "gets to turn this important site into just another cog in the 'Great ''American Idol'' Marketing Mandala' is in the hands of the millions of girls who have made ''American Idol'' a hit. Them and a handful of phone-redialer geeks who have been clocking up to 10,000 calls each week for their contestant of choice (but who, according to Fox, are in absolutely no way skewing the outcome)."<ref name="lisa de moraes">{{cite news |date=September 4, 2002 |title=September 11: 'American Idol' Seizes the Day |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34942-2002Sep3 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821115103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34942-2002Sep3/ |archive-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref>

Some of the later writers about the show were more positive, Michael Slezak, again of ''Entertainment Weekly'', thought that "for all its bloated, synthetic, product-shilling, money-making trappings, ''Idol'' provides a once-a-year chance for the average American to combat the evils of today's music business."<ref>{{cite news |last=Slezak |first=Michael |date=May 14, 2010 |title=Worshiping at the 'Idol' Church |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/fashion/16Idol.html}}</ref> Singer ], who was later to act as a mentor on the show, however took the view that the show "undermines art in every way and promotes commercialism".<ref>{{cite web |date=March 14, 2007 |title=Sheryl Crow Doesn't get American Idol |url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/american-idol/sheryl-crow-doesnt-get-america-4988.aspx |access-date=August 6, 2011 |publisher=Buddytv.com}}</ref> Pop music critic ] nevertheless suggested that Idol has "reshaped the American songbook", "led us toward a new way of viewing ourselves in relationship to mainstream popular culture", and connects "the classic Hollywood dream to the multicentered popular culture of the future."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ann Powers |date=May 23, 2012 |title=The End Of 'Idol': There Are No More Songs Left To Be Sung |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/05/23/153316590/the-end-of-idol-there-are-no-more-songs-left-to-be-sung |access-date=May 25, 2012 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> Others focused on the personalities in the show; Ramin Setoodeh of '']'' accused judge Simon Cowell's cruel critiques in the show of helping to establish in the wider world a culture of meanness, that "Simon Cowell has dragged the rest of us in the mud with him."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ramin Setoodeh |date=May 24, 2010 |title=It's a Cruel, Cruel World |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2010/05/24/it-s-a-cruel-cruel-world.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120012437/http://www.newsweek.com/2010/05/24/it-s-a-cruel-cruel-world.html |archive-date=January 20, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |website=Newsweek}}</ref> Some such as singer ] disparaged the contestants, suggesting that those who appeared on ''Idol'' are not real artists with self-respect.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=April 1, 2003 |title=John Mayer disses ''American Idol'' |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/04/01/john-mayer-disses-american-idol/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref>

Some in the entertainment industry were critical of the star-making aspect of the show. ], a mentor on the show, bemoaning the loss of the "true art form of music", thought that shows like ''American Idol'' made it seem "so easy that everyone can do it, and that it can happen overnight", and that "television is a lie".<ref>{{cite news |last=Angus Batey |date=April 29, 2010 |title=Usher: 'The fans want my soul' |work=The Guardian |location=UK |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/apr/29/usher-raymond-v-raymond |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> Musician ], while acknowledging that the show had uncovered promising performers, said that ''American Idol'' "isn't really about music. It's about all the bad aspects of the music business – the arrogance of commerce, this sense of 'I know what will make this person a star; artists themselves don't know.' "<ref>{{cite news |last=Elysa Gardner |date=August 15, 2005 |title=What price 'Idol' fame? |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-08-15-idol-fame_x.htm |access-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref> That ''American Idol'' is seen to be a fast track to success for its contestants has been a cause of resentment for some in the industry. ], commenting on Carrie Underwood winning Best Female Artist in Country Music Awards over ] in 2006, said that "Carrie has not paid her dues long enough to fully deserve that award".<ref>{{cite web |date=November 14, 2006 |title=LeAnn Rimes Says Carrie Underwood 'Has Not Paid Her Dues' To Deserve Country Music Award |url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/11/14/leann_rimes_says_carrie_underwood_has_no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125194923/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/11/14/leann_rimes_says_carrie_underwood_has_no |archive-date=November 25, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Starpulse.com}}</ref> It is a common theme that has been echoed by many others. ], who had appeared as a mentor in the show but turned down an offer to be a judge on ''American Idol'', commenting on talent shows in general, said that "there have been some good acts but the only way to sustain a career is to pay your dues in small clubs".<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Martin |date=October 19, 2010 |title=Sir Elton John claims today's music all sounds the same |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8071167/Sir-Elton-John-claims-todays-music-all-sounds-the-same.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311050104/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8071167/Sir-Elton-John-claims-todays-music-all-sounds-the-same.html |archive-date=March 11, 2011}}</ref> ''American Idol'' revolutionized American pop culture and the pop idol process and has provided an opportunity for many to bypass the small club scene and allow a much larger audience to participate in and select the next potential chart topping performer.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Centellas |first=Miguel |date=January 2010 |title=Pop Culture in the Classroom: American Idol, Karl Marx, and Alexis de Tocqueville |url=https://www.academia.edu/9552295 |journal=PS: Political Science & Politics |language=en |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=561–565 |doi=10.1017/S1049096510000818 |s2cid=147269124|doi-access=free | issn=1049-0965}}</ref>

The success of the show's alumni, however, has led to a more positive assessment of the show, and the show was described as having "proven it has a valid way to pick talent and a proven way to sell records".<ref>{{cite news |date=January 11, 2007 |title='American Idol's' music cred growing |publisher=MSNBC |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16580946 |url-status=live |access-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822050723/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/16580946/ns/today-entertainment/t/american-idols-music-cred-growing/ |archive-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> While the industry is divided on the show success, its impact is felt particularly strongly in the country music format.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Phyllis Stark |date=May 14, 2015 |title='American Idol' and Its Deep Impact On The Country Format |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6568265/american-idol-and-its-deep-impact-on-the-country-format |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> According to a ] exec, reflecting on the success of Idol alumni in the country genre, "if you want to try and get famous fast by going to a cattle call audition on TV, Idol reasonably remains the first choice for anyone", and that country music and Idol "go together well".<ref>{{cite news |last=Sophie A. Schillaci, Michele Amabile Angermiller |date=May 24, 2012 |title=CMT Execs on Why 'American Idol' Rules Country and How the Industry is 'Divided' on Reality Show Success |work=Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/american-idol-cmt-voice-carrie-underwood-329282 |access-date=May 25, 2012}}</ref>

''American Idol'' was nominated for the Emmy's ] for nine years but never won.<ref>{{cite news |last=Appelo |first=Tim |date=May 26, 2011 |title=Why 'American Idol' Gets Snubbed by the Emmys (Analysis) |work=] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/why-american-idol-gets-snubbed-192702 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> Director Bruce Gower won a ] for ] in 2009, and the show won a ] each in 2007 and 2008, three in 2009, and two in 2011, as well as a ] in 2007 for its Idol Gives Back edition. It won the ], which honors the popular culture of the previous year as voted by the public, for favorite competition/reality show in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=People's Choice Awards 2011 Nominees |url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/index.jsp?year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715063438/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/index.jsp?year=2011 |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |publisher=PeoplesChoice.com}}</ref> It won the first ] in 2011 for Best Reality Competition.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 20, 2011 |title=Critics Choice TV Awards: 'American Idol,' Jim Parsons, Tina Fey Win |work=Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/critics-choice-tv-awards-american-203384 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref>

In 2013, ] ranked the series No. 48 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time.<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |website=TV Guide}}</ref>

===Geographical, ethnic, and gender bias===
Throughout the series, twelve of the seventeen ''Idol'' winners, including its first five, had come from the Southern United States.<ref name="MSNBC10">{{cite news |last=Kevin Downey |date=January 11, 2010 |title=Year after year, 'Idol' has a Southern accent |publisher=Today.com |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/year-after-year-idol-has-southern-accent-wbna34611375 |access-date=April 15, 2010}}</ref> A large number of other finalists during the series' run have also hailed from the American South, including Clay Aiken, Kellie Pickler, and Chris Daughtry,<ref name="MSNBC10" /> who are all from North Carolina. In 2012, an analysis of the 131 contestants who have appeared in the finals of all seasons of the show up to that point found that 48% have some connection to the Southern United States.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rodney Ho |date=April 23, 2012 |title=Ryan Seacrest signs on to continue as 'Idol' host; most of the top 6 have Southern ties |url=http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/04/23/ryan-seacrest-signs-on-to-continue-as-idol-host-most-of-the-top-6-have-southern-ties/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426235703/http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/04/23/ryan-seacrest-signs-on-to-continue-as-idol-host-most-of-the-top-6-have-southern-ties/ |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |access-date=April 24, 2012 |website=blogs.ajc.com |publisher=Cox Newspapers}}</ref>

The show itself was popular in the Southern United States, with households in the Southeastern United States 10% more likely to watch ''American Idol'' during the eighth season in 2009, and those in the East Central region, such as ], were 16 percent more likely to tune into the series.<ref name="MSNBC10" /> Data from ], a music-sales tracking service, showed that of the 47&nbsp;million CDs sold by ''Idol'' contestants through January 2010, 85 percent were by contestants with ties to the American South.<ref name="MSNBC10" />

Theories given for the success of Southerners on ''Idol'' have been: more versatility with musical genres, as the Southern U.S. is home to several music genre scenes; not having as many opportunities to break into the pop music business; text-voting due to the South having the highest percentage of cell-phone only households; and the strong heritage of music and singing, which is notable in the ], where it is in church that many people get their start in public singing.<ref name="MSNBC10" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Neely Tucker |date=April 18, 2006 |title=Who Put The Y'all In 'Idol'? |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/17/AR2006041701758.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Harry J Enten |date=May 25, 2012 |title=American Idol: why do southerners always seem to win? |work=Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/may/25/american-idol-winner-south}}</ref> Others also suggest that the Southern character of these contestants appeal to the South, as well as local pride.<ref name="MSNBC04">{{cite news |date=May 26, 2004 |title=Rise of the South on 'American Idol' |publisher=Today.com |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.today.com/id/5053569 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105233353/http://www.today.com/id/5053569 |archive-date=November 5, 2013}}</ref> According to fifth season winner Taylor Hicks, who is from the state of ], "People in the South have a lot of pride ... So, they're adamant about supporting the contestants who do well from their state or region."<ref name="MSNBC10" />

For five consecutive seasons, starting in the seventh season, the title was given to a white male who plays the guitar – a trend that ''Idol'' pundits call the "White guy with guitar" or "WGWG" factor.<ref name="Expert opinion" /> Just hours before the eleventh-season finale, where Phillip Phillips was named the winner, ], author of the book ''American Idol: The Untold Story'', said, "You have this alliance between young girls and grandmas and they see it, not necessarily as a contest to create a pop star competing on the contemporary radio, but as .... who's the nicest guy in a popularity contest", he says, "And that has led to this dynasty of four, and possibly now five, consecutive, affable, very nice, good-looking white boys."<ref name="Expert opinion">{{cite news |date=May 23, 2012 |title="American Idol" Expert Says Jessica Sanchez Can't Win |work=ABC |agency=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/05/american-idol-expert-says-jessica-sanchez-cant-win/ |access-date=May 23, 2012}}</ref>

===Start order bias===
Some fans call the final performance of the night the "pimp spot" because it usually receives a big boost in votes, due to the ]. By performing first, a performer may benefit from the ], but any other early performance may be stifled. The second performance spot is sometimes called the "un-pimp spot" because it is the least beneficial.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kubicek|first=John|url=https://www.buddytv.com/the-un-pimp-spot-why-performance-order-matters-on-american-idol/|title=The Un-Pimp Spot: Why Performance Order Matters on 'American Idol'|work=]|date=March 5, 2010|access-date=August 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327004559/https://www.buddytv.com/the-un-pimp-spot-why-performance-order-matters-on-american-idol/|archive-date=March 27, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Controversy==
{{Main|American Idol controversies{{!}}''American Idol'' controversies}}
The show was criticized in earlier seasons over the onerous contract contestants had to sign that gave excessive control to ] over their future careers<ref>{{cite news |date=September 18, 2002 |title=Slaves of Celebrity |work=Salon.com |url=http://www.salon.com/entertainment/feature/2002/09/18/idol_contract |access-date=February 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212095247/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/feature/2002/09/18/idol_contract |archive-date=February 12, 2010}}</ref> and handed a large part of their future earnings to the management.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kerensky |first=Lauren |date=January 16, 2007 |title=WWealth doesn't trickle down to 'Idol' talent |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/16657314 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205060858/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16657314 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |website=NBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=January 20, 2004 |title=Simon Fuller: 'American Idol' Svengali |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3943498 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924125302/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3943498 |archive-date=September 24, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=]}}</ref>

Individual contestants have generated controversy in this competition for their past actions<ref name="mtv – screening" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Idol's Most Notorious |url=http://www.comcast.net/slideshow/tv-eyeonidol-idolsmostnotorious/10/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313171941/http://www.comcast.net/slideshow/tv-eyeonidol-idolsmostnotorious/10/ |archive-date=March 13, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Comcast.net}}</ref> or for being 'ringers' planted by the producers.<ref name="ringers" /> A number of contestants have been disqualified for various reasons, such as for having an existing contract or undisclosed criminal record, although the show has also been accused of a double standard for disqualifying some but not others.<ref>{{cite news |last=Amy Bonawitz |date=March 6, 2007 |title=Frenchie Davis: "Idol" Double Standard? |work=CBS |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/frenchie-davis-idol-double-standard/ |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref>

Voting results have been a consistent source of controversy. The mechanism of voting has aroused considerable criticism, most notably in the second season when Ruben Studdard beat Clay Aiken in a close vote,<ref name="Your Vote Doesn't Count" /> and in the eighth season, when the massive increase in text votes<ref name="ATT 2009" /> fueled the texting controversy.<ref name="textgate" /> Concerns about power voting have been expressed from the first season.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Susman |first=Gary |date=August 19, 2002 |title=Power-dialing hackers spam ''American Idol'' voting |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/08/19/power-dialing-hackers-spam-american-idol-voting/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=April 3, 2011}}</ref> Since 2004, votes also have been affected to a limited degree by online communities such as ] and ].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==Cultural impact==

===Television===
The enormous success of the show and the revenue it generated were transformative for the Fox Broadcasting Company. ''American Idol'' and other shows such as '']'' and '']'' were credited for expanding reality television programming in the United States in the 1990s and 2000s, and ''Idol'' became the most watched non-scripted primetime television series, which it remained for almost a decade, from 2003 to 2012, breaking records on U.S. television (dominated by drama shows and ] in the preceding decades). On several occasions, notably in ] and ], ''American Idol'' overtook the ] as the most-watched non-sports entertainment event on U.S. television, marking the most recent time as of {{CURRENTYEAR}} that a live regular non-sports primetime series has garnered such viewership in the country.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 15, 2010 |title=A tale of two Simons |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/3b1653a0-d671-11df-81f0-00144feabdc0.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/3b1653a0-d671-11df-81f0-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |website=Financial Times}}</ref>

The show pushed Fox to become the number one U.S. TV network in overall viewers in 2008 and among adults aged 18–49,<ref>{{cite news |last=La |first=Paul R. |date=January 16, 2007 |title='Idol' fatigue? Think again |publisher=CNN |url=https://money.cnn.com/2007/01/10/commentary/mediabiz/index.htm |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> the key demographic coveted by advertisers, for an unprecedented eight consecutive years from 2005 to 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=May 23, 2012 |title=FOX Sets New Broadcast Industry Record With 8th Consecutive Season Victory Among Adults 18–49 – Ratings |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/fox-sets-new-broadcast-industry-record-with-8th-consecutive-season-victory-among-adults-18-49/135709/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527053444/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/24/fox-sets-new-broadcast-industry-record-with-8th-consecutive-season-victory-among-adults-18-49/135709/ |archive-date=May 27, 2012 |access-date=January 17, 2015 |publisher=Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com}}</ref> Its success also helped lift the ratings of other shows that were scheduled around it such as '']'' and '']'', and ''Idol'', for years, was Fox's strongest platform primetime television program for promoting eventual hit shows of the 2010s (of the same network) such as '']'', '']'' and '']''.<ref name="carter" /> The show, its creator Simon Fuller claimed, "saved Fox".<ref name="usatoday.com">{{cite news |last=Lieberman |first=David |date=March 30, 2005 |title='American Idol' zooms from hit show to massive business |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2005-03-29-media-usat_x.htm |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref>

The show's massive success in the mid-2000s to early 2010s spawned a number of imitating singing-competition shows, such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |date=January 24, 2007 |title='American Idol' Imitators Find Success As Elusive As A Rave From Simon |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1550615/american-idol-imitators-fail-find-success.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107113537/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1550615/american-idol-imitators-fail-find-success.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |website=Mtv}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lori Rackl |date=January 17, 2012 |title=Still on top, 'American Idol' honchos rib their rivals |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/television/10068270-421/still-on-top-american-idol-honchos-rib-their-rivals.html}}</ref> The number of imitative singing shows on American television had reached 17 by 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Emily Yahr |date=March 31, 2016 |title=You may scoff at 'American Idol' now, but it changed pop culture forever |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/you-may-scoff-at-american-idol-now-but-it-changed-pop-culture-forever/2016/03/31/6440d81a-ecd5-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html}}</ref> Its format also served as a blueprint for non-singing TV shows such as '']'' and '']'', most of which contribute to the current highly competitive reality TV landscape on American television.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 8, 2009 |title=Pop culture sings an 'American Idol' tune |url=http://www.today.com/id/29584646/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/pop-culture-sings-american-idol-tune/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125194911/http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/40923972.html |archive-date=November 25, 2011 |access-date=November 23, 2019 |website=Today}}</ref>

===Music===
{{Main|American Idol alumni album sales{{!}}''American Idol'' alumni album sales|American Idol alumni single sales{{!}}''American Idol'' alumni single sales}}

As one of the most successful shows on U.S. television history, ''American Idol'' has had a strong impact not just on television, but also in the wider world of entertainment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zeitchik |first1=Steven |last2=LaPorte |first2=Nicole |date=May 7, 2006 |title=The money tree |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2006/music/news/the-money-tree-1200505945/ |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Yahr |first=Emily |date=April 2, 2016 |title=You may scoff at 'American Idol' now, but it changed pop culture forever |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/you-may-scoff-at-american-idol-now-but-it-changed-pop-culture-forever/2016/03/31/6440d81a-ecd5-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html}}</ref> It helped create a number of highly successful recording artists, such as Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry and Carrie Underwood, as well as others of varying notability. The alumni of the show's original run scored 13 ] wins out of 54 Grammy nominations up to its end in 2016, with Underwood and Clarkson receiving 10 wins combined.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jaffer |first=Murtz |date=April 7, 2016 |title='American Idol' pulls off surprises even as it crowns last-ever winner |work=the Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2016/04/07/american-idol-crowns-last-ever-winner-as-show-ends.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Schillaci |first=Sophie |date=April 7, 2016 |title=The Complete List of 'American Idol' Winners: Where Are They Now? |work=E Online |url=http://www.etonline.com/news/179150_the_complete_list_of_american_idol_winners_where_are_they_now/}}</ref>

Various ''American Idol'' alumni had success on various ] around the world; in the U.S. they had achieved 345 number ones on the '']'' ] in its first 10 years,<ref name=Billboard2012/> and 458 by its last year of broadcast in 2016, with 100 achieved by Kelly Clarkson alone.<ref name="billboard 2">{{cite magazine |last=Bronson |first=Fred |date=March 7, 2016 |title=Kelly Clarkson Makes History as First 'American Idol' Contestant With 100 Billboard No. 1s |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/6898428/kelly-clarkson-makes-history-as-first-american-idol-contestant-with-100 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> According to ], author of books on the Billboard charts, no other entity has ever created as many hit-making artists and bestselling albums and singles.<ref name="Fred Bronson">{{cite web |date=December 16, 2009 |title=American Idol Chart Achievements |url=http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/2312/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221191655/http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/2312/ |archive-date=February 21, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Americanidol.com}}</ref> In 2007, ''American Idol'' alums accounted for 2.1% of all music sales.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mansfield |first=Brian |date=January 29, 2010 |title=Nielsen report shows the 'American Idol' impact on music sales |work=USA Today |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2010/01/nielsen-report-shows-the-american-idol-impact-on-music-sales/1 |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> Its alumni have a massive impact on radio; in 2007, ''American Idol'' had become "a dominant force in radio" according to Rich Meyer, president of the radio station monitoring research company ].<ref>{{cite web |title=American Idol Has Massive Impact on Radio Airplay |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-idol-has-massive-impact-on-radio-airplay-52155477.html |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Prnewswire.com |location=California}}</ref> By 2010, four winners each had more than a million radio spins, with Kelly Clarkson leading the field with over four million spins.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 28, 2012 |title=Top 24 'American Idols' Of All-Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/reality-check/513688/top-24-american-idols-of-all-time |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref>

At the end of the show's original run on Fox in 2016, ''Idol'''s contestants have sold more than 60 million albums in the U.S. and more than 100 million records globally, more than 175 of which are certified platinum or gold. Its participants have generated more than 450 Billboard No. 1 hits and sold more than 260 million digital downloads.<ref>{{cite web |title=American Idol to Receive 2016 Governors Award |url=https://www.emmys.com/news/press-releases/american-idol-receive-2016-governors-award |website=Television Academy}}</ref>

===Film and theater===
{{Main|American Idol alumni in film, television and theater{{!}}''American Idol'' alumni in film, television and theater}}
The impact of ''American Idol'' was also strongly felt in musical theater, where many of ''Idol'' alumni have forged successful careers. The striking effect of former ''American Idol'' contestants on Broadway has been noted and commented on.<ref>{{cite web |title=Can 'American Idol' Stars Save Broadway |url=http://www.popeater.com/2009/01/16/american-idol-broadway/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809133534/http://www.popeater.com/2009/01/16/american-idol-broadway/ |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Popeater.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ben Brantley |date=March 27, 2005 |title=How Broadway Lost Its Voice to 'American Idol' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/27/theater/newsandfeatures/27bran.html}}</ref> The casting of a popular ''Idol'' contestant can lead to significantly increased ticket sales. Other alumni have gone on to work in television and films, the most notable being Jennifer Hudson who, on the recommendation of the ''Idol'' vocal coach Debra Byrd,<ref>{{cite web |last=Ho |first=Rodney |date=March 15, 2007 |title=Talk with Idol vocal coach |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/idol/entries/2007/03/15/315_talk_with_i.html |access-date=February 24, 2011 |website=Palm Beach Post}}</ref> won a role in '']'' and eventually went on to win an ] for her performance. She later became the show's first and only alumnus ever to ]. In all, as of {{CURRENTYEAR}}, ''American Idol'' finalists resulted to 5 ] winners (Clarkson, Barrino, Hudson, Underwood and Mandisa), 2 ] winners (Clarkson and Hudson), and an ], ], ], ], ] and ] winner (Hudson).

In 2007, a musical based on the show, '']'', played ].<ref>{{cite web |date=August 13, 2007 |title=This 'Idol' is all clay feet |url=https://www.nj.com/ledgerentertainment/2007/08/this_idol_is_all_clay_feet.html |access-date=June 7, 2022 |publisher=NJ.com}}</ref> The musical closed after its official opening night.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=August 13, 2007 |title=Idol: The Musical Closes Off-Broadway! |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/110272-Idol-The-Musical-Closes-Off-Broadway |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021061954/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/110272-Idol-The-Musical-Closes-Off-Broadway |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |website=Playbill}}</ref>

==Revenue and commercial ventures==
]
The dominance of ''American Idol'' in the ratings had made it the most profitable show in U.S. TV for many years. The show was estimated to generate $900&nbsp;million for the year 2004 through sales of TV ads, albums, merchandise and concert tickets.<ref name="usatoday.com" /> By the seventh season, the show was estimated to earn around $900&nbsp;million from its ad revenue alone, not including ancillary sponsorship deals and other income.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wyatt |first=Edward |date=May 10, 2009 |title=Despite Lower Ratings, Cash Flow Rises for 'Idol |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/business/media/11idol.html}}</ref><ref name="WSJ">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Ethan |date=January 12, 2010 |title=Blunt but Popular Simon Cowell Will Bow Out of 'American Idol' |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704081704574652652621377082 |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> One estimate puts the total TV revenue for the first eight seasons of ''American Idol'' at $6.4&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 11, 2008 |title=Idol Riches |url=http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/2009/04/22/Monetary-Value-of-American-Idol/ |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Portfolio.com}}</ref> Sponsors that bought fully integrated packages can expect a variety of promotions of their products on the show, such as product placement, adverts and product promotion integrated into the show, and various promotional opportunities.<ref name="Billboard May 12, 2009">{{cite web |date=May 12, 2009 |title=Brands Take The 'American Idol' Stage |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i322daa247a5902fcfc51fe829e3ddfad |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114090003/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i322daa247a5902fcfc51fe829e3ddfad |archive-date=January 14, 2010 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Billboard.biz}}</ref> Other off-air promotional partners pay for the rights to feature "Idol" branding on their packaging, products and marketing programs.<ref name="Brandweek" /> ''American Idol'' also partnered with Disney in its theme park attraction The American Idol Experience.

===Advertising revenue===
''American Idol'' became the most expensive series on broadcast networks for advertisers starting the fourth season,<ref>{{cite news |date=September 28, 2004 |title='American Idol' Charges Most for Ads |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/28/business/media/28adde.html}}</ref> and by the next season, it had broken the record in advertising rate for a regularly scheduled prime-time network series, selling over $700,000 for a 30-seconds slot,<ref>{{cite web |date=September 12, 2005 |title='Idol' Spots Going For A Song (Plus $700,000) |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/idol-spots-going-song-plus-700000-81477 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Adweek.com}}</ref> and reaching up to $1.3&nbsp;million for the finale.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 18, 2006 |title=Goodbye Bucky, Hello Big Bucks! 'Idol' Ad Sales $oar |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=1855007&page=1 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Abcnews.go.com}}</ref> Its ad prices reached a peak in the seventh season at $737,000.<ref name="WSJ" /> Estimated revenue more than doubled from $404&nbsp;million in the third season to $870&nbsp;million in the sixth season.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hampp |first=Andrew |date=December 29, 2009 |title=Can 'Idol' Survive Without Its X Factor, Simon Cowell? |url=http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=141231 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Adage.com}}</ref> While that declined from the eighth season onwards, it still earned significantly more than its nearest competitor,<ref>{{cite news |last=Pomerantz |first=Dorothy |date=March 16, 2011 |title=TV's Biggest Moneymakers |work=Forbes |url=https://blogs.forbes.com/dorothypomerantz/2011/03/16/tvs-biggest-moneymakers/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328055302/http://blogs.forbes.com/dorothypomerantz/2011/03/16/tvs-biggest-moneymakers/ |archive-date=March 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bill Carter |date=April 6, 2010 |title=An 'Idol' Ratings Loss, but Not in Its Pocketbook |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/business/media/07adco.html}}</ref> with advertising revenue topping $800&nbsp;million annually the next few seasons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Flint |first=Joe |date=July 6, 2010 |title=Even in decline, 'American Idol' can't be bought for a song |newspaper=LA Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-06-la-fi-ct-idol-20100706-story.html |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> However, the sharp drop in ratings in the eleventh season also resulted in a sharp drop in advertising rate for the twelfth season, and the show lost its leading position as the costliest show for advertisers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brian Steinberg |date=October 21, 2012 |title=TV Ad Prices: 'Idol' No Match for Football |work=Ad Age |url=http://adage.com/article/media/tv-ad-prices-idol-match-football/237874/}}</ref> By 2014, ad revenue from had fallen to $427 million where a 30-second spot went for less than $300,000.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Michele Amabile Angermiller and Shirley Halperin |date=December 10, 2015 |title=American Idol' Final Season To Be Four Weeks Shorter Than Last |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6805220/american-idol-final-season-cut-four-weeks-short}}</ref> For the relaunched ''Idol'' on ABC, it has been reported that a 30-second spot may cost between $120,000 and $160,000.<ref>{{cite news |last=O’Reilly |first=Lara |date=March 7, 2018 |title=CMO Today: Discovery-Scripps Deal Closes; Brands Set For 'Idol' Return; Light Beer Marketing Face-Off |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cmo-today-discovery-scripps-deal-closes-brands-set-for-idol-return-light-beer-marketing-face-off-1520427633}}</ref>

===Media sponsorship===
] and ] were two of the first sponsors of ''American Idol'' in its first season. The sponsorship deal cost around $10&nbsp;million in the first season,<ref>{{cite news |last=Bill Carter |date=May 23, 2003 |title=Fox Mulls How to Exploit The Mojo of 'American Idol' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/23/business/fox-mulls-how-to-exploit-the-mojo-of-american-idol.html}}</ref> rising to $35&nbsp;million by the seventh season,<ref name="Brandweek">{{cite web |date=January 15, 2008 |title=Idol's big three sponsors paid $35 million each for their brand integration |url=http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/american_idol_7/2008_Jan_15_sponsor_fee |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Realityblurred}}</ref> and between $50 and $60 million in the tenth season.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 12, 2011 |title=Coke builds 'Harmony' with 'Idol' |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/coke-builds-harmony-with-idol-1118036860/ |access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref> The third major sponsor AT&T Wireless joined in the second season but ended after the twelfth season, and Coca-Cola officially ended its sponsorship after the thirteenth season amidst the declining ratings of ''Idol'' in the mid-2010s. ] sponsored the show since the seventh season.

''American Idol'' prominent display of its sponsors' logo and products had been noted since the early seasons.<ref name="Watching TV: six decades of American television" /><ref name="NY Times – September 6, 2002" /> By the sixth season, ''Idol'' showed 4,349 ]s according to ].<ref name="Nielsen 2007">{{cite web |title=The Nielsen Company Measures the American Idol Phenom |url=http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/press-room/2008/the_nielsen_company11.html |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Nielsen.com}}</ref> The ] integration proved beneficial to its advertisers – promotion of AT&T text-messaging as a means to vote successfully introduced the technology into the wider culture,<ref name="ATT 2003" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Svensson |first=Peter |date=June 27, 2003 |title=Wireless Carriers Try To Hook Americans On Text Messaging |url=http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/18823122/wireless-carriers-try-to-hook-americans-on-text-messaging.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819110628/http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/18823122/wireless-carriers-try-to-hook-americans-on-text-messaging.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 19, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Crn.com }}</ref> and Coca-Cola has seen its equity increased during the show.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lindstrom |first=Martin |date=November 17, 2008 |title=Why 'Idol' Works For Coke-But Not For Ford |url=http://adage.com/cmostrategy/article?article_id=132522 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Adage.com}}</ref>
* Coca-Cola – Cups bearing logo of Coca-Cola, and occasionally its subsidiary ],<ref>{{cite web |last=Dana Kasser |date=February 10, 2010 |title=Where Are The 'American Idol' Coke Cups? – MTV.com – February&nbsp;10, 2010 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631657/20100210/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006230008/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631657/20100210/story.jhtml |archive-date=October 6, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=MTV}}</ref> are featured prominently on the judges table. Contestants are shown between songs held in the "Coca-Cola Red Room", the show's equivalent of the ]. (The Coca-Cola logo however is obscured during rebroadcast in the UK which until 2011 banned product placement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Torin Douglas |date=February 28, 2011 |title=Product placement ban on British TV lifted |work=BBC |location=UK |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12593061 |url-status=live |access-date=May 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520030133/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12593061 |archive-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref>)
* Ford – Contestants appear in the special Ford videos on the results shows, and winners Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks, and Kris Allen have also appeared in commercials for Ford.<ref name="Billboard May 12, 2009" /> The final two each won a free ] in the fourth through sixth seasons, ] in the seventh season, ] in the eighth season, ] in the ninth season, and 2013 ] in the eleventh season. In the tenth season Scotty McCreery chose a ] and Lauren Alaina chose ]. In the red room, there is a glass table with a Ford wheel as its base.
* AT&T – ] is promoted as the service provider for text-voting. AT&T created an ad campaign that centered on an air-headed teenager going around telling people to vote.
* Apple iTunes – Ryan Seacrest announces the availability of contestants' performances exclusively via iTunes. Videos are regularly shown of contestants learning their songs by rehearsing with iPods.
* Previous sponsors include ] and ]'s ]. In the second and third seasons, contestants sometimes donned Old Navy clothing for their performances with celebrity stylist ] assisting with their wardrobe selection,<ref>{{cite web |title=Style expert Steven Cojocaru to give 'American Idol' finalists an Old Navy makeover |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/style-expert-steven-cojocaru-give-american-idol-finalists-an-old-navy-makeover-1039.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Realitytvworld.com}}</ref> and contestants received Clairol-guided hair makeovers. In the seventh-season finale, both David Cook and David Archuleta appeared in "]"-inspired commercials for ], a sponsor of the tour that year.

Coca-Cola's archrival ] declined to sponsor ''American Idol'' at the show's start. What the ''Los Angeles Times'' later called "missing one of the biggest marketing opportunities in a generation" contributed to ] losing market share, by 2010 falling to third place from second in the United States. PepsiCo sponsored the American version of Cowell's ''The X Factor'' in hopes of not repeating its ''Idol'' mistake until its cancellation.<ref name="james20110317">{{cite news |last=James |first=Meg |date=March 17, 2011 |title=Pepsi hopes tapping a big gun will restore market share |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0317-ct-pepsi-x-20110317,0,3320526,print.story |url-status=dead |access-date=March 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128014837/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0317-ct-pepsi-x-20110317,0,3320526,print.story |archive-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref>

For the revived series on ABC, ] and ]'s ] signed on as the major sponsors of the show.<ref>{{cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=February 23, 2018 |title=Macy's, Johnson & Johnson Sign On as Major Sponsors of ABC's 'American Idol' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/american-idol-macys-zyrtec-abc-tv-advertising-1202709292/ |website=Variety}}</ref>

===American Idol tour===
]
The top ten (eleven in the tenth season, five in the fourteenth season, and seven in the sixteenth season) toured at the end of every season except for the fifteenth and seventeenth seasons.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Michele Amabile Angermiller |date=March 31, 2016 |title='American Idol' Pulls the Plug on Summer Tour |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7318673/american-idol-summer-tour-canceled |access-date=April 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Brooks |first=Dave |date=May 6, 2018 |title='American Idol' Tour to Return For 2018 Season |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8454686/american-idol-tour-to-return-for-2018-season |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> In the ] a semi-finalist who won a sing-off was also added to the tour. ]'s ] was the sponsor for the first seven seasons, and Guitar Hero was added for the ]. ] Pretzel Chocolate Candies was a sponsor of the ]. The ] was the most successful tour with gross of over $35&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |date=December 23, 2006 |title=The Year in Music and Touring 2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qg4EAAAAMBAJ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> However no concert tour was organized in the fifteenth and seventeenth seasons, the only seasons not to have an associated tour.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Michele Amabile Angermiller |date=March 31, 2016 |title='American Idol' Pulls the Plug on Summer Tour |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7318673/american-idol-summer-tour-canceled}}</ref> The ] featured the band ] as an opener on select dates.<ref>Shirley Halperin, '']'', May 4, 2018.</ref>

==''Idol Gives Back''==
{{Main|Idol Gives Back{{!}}''Idol Gives Back''}}
''Idol Gives Back'' was a special charity event started in season six featuring performances by celebrities and various fund-raising initiatives. This event was also held in seasons seven and nine and has raised nearly $185&nbsp;million in total.<ref name="idol gives back">{{cite web |date=April 26, 2010 |title='American Idol's "Idol Gives Back" charity special raises $45&nbsp;million |url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/american-idol-idol-gives-back-charity-special-raises-45-million-10835.php |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Realitytvworld.com}}</ref>

===Music releases===
{{Main|American Idol compilation series{{!}}''American Idol'' compilation series|American Idol Hot 100 singles{{!}}''American Idol'' Hot 100 singles}}
''American Idol'' has traditionally released studio recordings of contestants' performances as well as the winner's coronation single for sale. For the first five seasons, the recordings were released as a compilation album at the end of the season. All five of these albums reached the top ten in Billboard 200 which made ''American Idol'' the most successful soundtrack franchise of any motion picture or television program.<ref>{{cite web |title=American Idol 'Season 5 Encores' |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-idol-season-5-encores-55920522.html |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Prnewswire.com |location=California}}</ref> Starting late in the fifth season, individual performances were released during the season as digital downloads, initially from the ''American Idol'' official website only. In the seventh season the live performances and studio recordings were made available during the season from iTunes when it joined as a sponsor. In the tenth season the weekly studio recordings were also released as compilation digital album straight after performance night.

19 Recordings, a recording label owned by 19 Entertainment, currently hold the rights to phonographic material recorded by all the contestants. 19 Recordings originally partnered with ] (BMG) to promote and distribute the recordings through its labels ], ], ], and ]. From 2005–2007, BMG partnered with ] to form a joint venture known as ]. From 2008 to 2010, following their acquisition of BMG, ] handled the distribution of ''American Idol'''s music. In 2010, ]'s ] Records replaced Sony as the music label for ''American Idol''.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 3, 2010 |title='American Idol' drops Sony, signs with Universal Music Group for distribution deal |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/08/american-idol-drops-sony-signs-with-universal-music-group-for-album-distribution-deal.html |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref>

===Tie-ins===
'''''American Idol'' video games'''
* '']'' – ], ], ], mobile phone
* '']'' – PlayStation 2
* '']'' – PlayStation 2, ], ], Xbox 360
* '']'' – PlayStation 3, ], Xbox 360

==Theme park attraction==
{{Main|The American Idol Experience}}
On February 14, 2009, ] debuted "]" at its ] theme park at the ] in Florida. In this live production, co-produced by 19 Entertainment, park guests chose from a list of songs and auditioned privately for Disney cast members. Those selected then performed on a stage in a 1000-seat theater replicating the ''Idol'' set. Three judges, whose mannerisms and style mimicked those of the real ''Idol'' judges, critiqued the performances.<ref name="AI experience">{{cite web |date=January 27, 2009 |title=Disney's Hollywood Studios tunes up for debut of American Idol Experience |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2009-01-27-amidol27-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204073744/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/orl-amidol2709jan27,0,5593815.column |archive-date=December 4, 2010 |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref> Audience members then voted for their favorite performer. There were several preliminary-round shows during the day that culminated in a "finals" show in the evening where one of the winners of the previous rounds that day was selected as the overall winner.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 8, 2008 |title=Topic Galleries – |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-bk-idol020708,0,5093676.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015205805/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-bk-idol020708,0,5093676.story |archive-date=October 15, 2008 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=Orlandosentinel.com}}</ref> The winner of the finals show received a "Dream Ticket" that granted them front-of-the-line privileges at any future ''American Idol'' audition.<ref name="AI experience" /> The attraction closed on August 30, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dewayne Bevil |date=August 15, 2014 |title=Closing time: Disney moves up end date for American Idol Experience |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-disney-american-idol-experience-closing-20140815,0,7409662.post |access-date=February 13, 2015 |website=orlandosentinel.com |publisher=Tribune Newspapers}}</ref>
{{wide image|American Idol Experience stage.png|700px|American Idol Experience stage}}

==Other broadcasts==
{{Update section|date=May 2021}}
''American Idol'' is broadcast to over 100 nations worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 8, 2008 |title=Disney World plans American Idol attraction |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1578046/Disney-World-plans-American-Idol-attraction.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1578046/Disney-World-plans-American-Idol-attraction.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In most nations these are not live broadcasts and may be tape delayed by several days or weeks, except for other season finales that are aired live in several countries simulcast with the U.S. broadcast on Fox (2002–2016) and ABC (since 2018). In Canada, the first thirteen seasons of American Idol were aired live countrywide by ] and/or ], in simulcast with Fox. CTV dropped ''Idol'' after its thirteenth season and in August 2014, ] announced that it had picked up Canadian rights to ''American Idol'' beginning in its 2015 season.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 13, 2014 |title=Win Big with CTS TV this Fall! |work=Marketing Magazine |url=http://www.marketingmag.ca/uncategorized/win-big-with-cts-tv-this-fall-115857}}</ref><ref name="cts-sayyes">{{cite web |title=Say "Yes" to YES TV – YES TV Set to Launch This Fall |url=http://ctstv.com/news?release=58 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812190359/http://ctstv.com/news?release=58 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 13, 2014 |website=CTSTV.com |publisher=Crossroads Christian Communications}}</ref> In 2017, it was announced the show would return to ] for its sixteenth season.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 20, 2018 |title=Iconic Music Series AMERICAN IDOL Lands on CTV Two, March 11 |url=http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/iconic-music-series-american-idol-lands-on-ctv-two-march-11/ |access-date=February 25, 2018 |website=Bell Media}}</ref> Since season nineteen, the show started airing on ]. In Slovakia, American Idol was broadcast on ].<ref>{{cite web |date=2006-08-18 |title=STV - TV program - 15.8.2006 - Jednotka |url=http://www.stv.sk/tvprogram/jednotka/2006-08-15/ |access-date=2024-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818182657/http://www.stv.sk/tvprogram/jednotka/2006-08-15/ |archive-date=August 18, 2006 }}</ref>

In Latin America, the show is broadcast and subtitled by ]. In Southeast Asia, it is broadcast by ] every Monday and Tuesday nine or ten hours after since its revival. In Philippines, it is aired every Thursday and Friday nine or ten hours after its United States telecast; from 2004 to 2007 on ]; 2008–11 on ], then ]; and 2012–16, 2018–19 on ]. In Indonesia, it was aired on ] in the 2002 to 2003 season with the ] subtitles, before ] was held in the 2004, aired after each episode ended, and in the 2011 to 2013 season it was broadcast by B-Channel (now ]). In Australia, it aired a few hours after the U.S. telecast. It was aired on ] from 2002 to 2008 and then again in 2013. Between 2008 and 2012 it aired on ] and the thirteenth and fourteenth seasons (2014–15) it aired on digital channel, ], a sister channel to Network Ten. Its final season (2016) aired on Fox8 hours after the original U.S. broadcast. The show enjoyed a lot of popularity in Australia throughout the 2000s before declining in the ratings.<ref>{{cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=August 2, 2013 |title=Australia's Network Ten Confirms 'Australian Idol' Not Returning |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/australian-idol-not-returning-local-598745 |website=]}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, episodes were aired one day after the U.S. broadcast on digital channel ]. In the twelfth season, the episodes aired on ]. It was also aired in Ireland on ] two days after the telecast. In Brazil and Israel, the show airs two days after its original broadcast, and broadcast live during the season finale. In the instances where the airing is delayed, the shows may sometimes be combined into one episode to summarize the results. In Italy, the twelfth season was broadcast by La3.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 3, 2014 |title=American Idol: la 12° stagione su La3 |url=http://www.dtti.it/programmitv/american-idol-la-12-stagione-su-la3-37693/ |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=DTTI Digitale Terrestre}}</ref> In Singapore, The show was broadcast on ] for the ] and ] seasons.

==Spin-offs==
*'']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* ''Idol Camp''
* ''Idol Wrap''

==See also==
* ]
* ]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}


== External links == == External links ==
* <!-- Per ], choose one official website only -->
* {{commons category-inline}}
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* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title|0319931}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes TV | id= american-idol | title= American Idol }}
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Latest revision as of 02:13, 22 December 2024

American singing competition For the most recent season, see American Idol season 22.

American Idol
Also known asAmerican Idol: The Search for a Superstar
GenreReality competition
Created bySimon Fuller
Based onPop Idol
Directed by
  • Andy Scheer (2002)
  • Bruce Gowers (2002–2010)
  • Ken Warwick (2003–2013)
  • Nigel Lythgoe (2003–2008, 2012)
  • Paul Miller (2003)
  • John Pritchett (2008)
  • Bill DeRonde (2009, 2014–16)
  • Gregg Gelfand (2008–2013)
  • Russell Norman (2013, 2015–16, 2019)
  • Louis J. Horvitz (2014)
  • Glenn Weiss (2015)
  • Phil Heyes (2015–2016, 2018–present)
  • Ben Thursby-Palmer (2018, 2020–present, Auditions only)
  • Ryan Goble (2019)
  • Sam Wrench (2020)
  • Julia Knowles (2022)
Presented by
Judges
Theme music composer
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons22
No. of episodes699 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Simon Fuller (2002–16)
  • Cecile Frot-Coutaz (2002–2016, 2018)
  • Simon Jones (2002–03)
  • Nigel Lythgoe (2002–08, 2011–13, 2016 finale)
  • Ken Warwick (2002–13)
  • J. Brian Gadinsky (2002)
  • Charles Boyd (2009–16)
  • Trish Kinane (2013–2016, 2018–2022)
  • Jesse Ignjatovic (2014)
  • Evan Prager (2014)
  • Per Blankens (2014–15)
  • David Hill (2015–16)
  • Megan Wolflick (2015–2016, 2018–present)
  • Jessica Castro (2016)
  • Jennifer Mullin (2018–present)
  • Phil McIntyre (2018)
  • Caroline Abaecheta (2018–20)
  • Daniel Martin (2018–20)
  • Chris Anokute (2019)
  • Robert McLoed (2019, 2023)
  • Eli Holzman (2020–present)
  • Aaron Saidman (2020–present)
  • Brian Burke (2021–present)
  • Brian Updyke (2021–22)
  • Nikki Varhely Gillingham (2021)
  • Theodore Dimitriou (2022–present)
  • Matt Banks (2022–present)
  • Mike Deffina (2023–present)
  • Katie Fennelly Watkins (2024–present)
Running time22–104 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkFox
ReleaseJune 11, 2002 (2002-06-11) –
April 7, 2016 (2016-04-07)
NetworkABC
ReleaseMarch 11, 2018 (2018-03-11) –
present

American Idol is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to April 7, 2016, for 15 seasons. It was on hiatus for two years until March 11, 2018, when a revival of the series began airing on ABC.

It started as an addition to the Idol format that was based on Pop Idol from British television, in which the programme's first series, which was won by Will Young, ended over four months before the show began, as it later became one of the most successful shows in the history of American television. The concept of the series involves discovering recording stars from unsigned singing talents, with the winner determined by American viewers using phones, Internet platforms, and SMS text voting. The winners of the first twenty-two seasons, as chosen by viewers, are Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, Scotty McCreery, Phillip Phillips, Candice Glover, Caleb Johnson, Nick Fradiani, Trent Harmon, Maddie Poppe, Laine Hardy, Just Sam, Chayce Beckham, Noah Thompson, Iam Tongi, and Abi Carter.

American Idol employs a select panel of judges who critique the contestants' performances. The original judges, for seasons one through eight, were record producer and music manager Randy Jackson, singer and choreographer Paula Abdul, and music executive and manager Simon Cowell. The judging panel for the last three seasons on Fox consisted of singers Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr. Season sixteen brought three new judges: singers Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie. Beginning in the twenty-third season, Underwood will replace Perry, alongside returning judges Bryan and Richie. The show has been hosted by television presenter Ryan Seacrest throughout its run, apart from the show's inaugural season when comedian Brian Dunkleman joined Seacrest as co-host.

The success of American Idol has been described as "unparalleled in broadcasting history". A rival TV executive said the series was "the most impactful show in the history of television". It became a recognized springboard for launching the career of many artists as bona fide stars. According to Billboard magazine, in its first ten years, "Idol has spawned 345 Billboard chart-toppers and a platoon of pop idols, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Jennifer Hudson, Clay Aiken, Adam Lambert, and Jordin Sparks while remaining a TV ratings juggernaut." For an unprecedented eight consecutive years, from the 2003–04 television season through the 2010–11 season, either its performance show or result show was ranked number one in U.S. television ratings.

History

Logo used for the original series

American Idol was based on the British show Pop Idol created by Simon Fuller, which was in turn inspired by the New Zealand television singing competition Popstars. Television producer Nigel Lythgoe saw a version in Australia and helped bring it over to Britain. Fuller was inspired by the idea from Popstars of employing a panel of judges to select singers in audition. He then added other elements, including telephone voting by the viewing public (which at the time was already in use in shows, such as the Eurovision Song Contest), the drama of backstories, and real-life soap opera unfolding in real time. Pop Idol debuted in Britain in 2001 with Lythgoe as showrunner‍—‌the executive producer and production leader‍—‌and Simon Cowell as one of the judges, and was successful with the viewing public.

In 2001, Fuller, Cowell, and TV producer Simon Jones attempted to sell the Pop Idol format to the United States, but the idea was initially met with poor responses from all the television networks including UPN and Fox. However, Rupert Murdoch, head of Fox's parent company, was later persuaded to buy the series by his daughter, Elisabeth, who had seen the British show. Although Fox's executives wanted to change the format, Murdoch insisted that it should remain the same as the British one. One change was nevertheless made due to the presence of multiple time zones in the United States that made it impractical for the country to vote in the same time period, an additional half-hour results show was therefore added the day following the performance show. The show was renamed American Idol: The Search for a Superstar and debuted in the summer of 2002. Cowell was initially offered the job of showrunner, but turned down the offer; Lythgoe then took over that position. Much to the surprise of Cowell and Fox, it became one of the biggest shows of the summer. With its successful launch in the summer, the show was then moved to January and expanded. The show grew into a phenomenon largely due to its personal engagement with the contestants by prompting the viewers to vote, and the presence of the acid-tongued Cowell as a judge. By 2004, it had become the most-watched show on U.S. television, a position it then held for seven consecutive seasons until 2011.

However, after a few years of sharp declining ratings starting in 2012, with rating falls of over 20% each season, the fifteenth season would be its last on Fox, ending its run in April 2016. In May 2017, ABC acquired the rights to the series and the program returned for the 2017–18 television season. The first season of the revived series, or the sixteenth season overall, started airing in March 2018. Seven seasons have been aired on ABC as of May 2024.

Judges and hosts

Judges and host of the upcoming season of American IdolLionel RichieCarrie UnderwoodLuke BryanRyan Seacrest (host)

Judges

The show had originally planned on having four judges following the Pop Idol format; however, only three judges had been found by the time of the audition round in the first season, namely Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell. A fourth judge, radio DJ Stryker, was originally chosen but he dropped out citing "image concerns." In the second season, New York radio personality Angie Martinez had been hired as a fourth judge but withdrew after only a few days of auditions, due to being uncomfortable with giving out criticism. The show decided to continue with the three judges format until the eighth season. All three original judges stayed on the judging panel for eight seasons.

In the eighth season, Latin Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter and record producer Kara DioGuardi was added as a fourth judge. Abdul left the show in 2009, after the eighth season, as a result of failing to agree to terms with the show producers. Emmy Award-winning talk show host Ellen DeGeneres replaced Abdul for the ninth season, but left in 2010 after just one season. DioGuardi was let go from American Idol in 2010 after two seasons, as producers favored a return to the three-person judges panel previously used prior to DioGuardi's appearance on the show. Cowell also left the show in 2010 to introduce the American version of his show The X Factor in 2011. Jackson was the only judge from the ninth season to return for the tenth.

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joined the judging panel in the tenth season, but both left in 2012 after two seasons. Jackson was the only judge from the eleventh season to return for the twelfth. They were replaced by three new judges, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, and Keith Urban, who joined Jackson in the twelfth season. However, both Carey and Minaj left after one season. Jackson also departed the judges table after twelve seasons, but would return as the in-house mentor for the thirteenth season in 2014, after which he left the show permanently.

Urban was the only judge from the twelfth season to return as a judge for the thirteenth season. After a one-season hiatus, Lopez returned to American Idol for the thirteenth season, and was joined by former mentor Harry Connick Jr. After this, Lopez, Urban, and Connick Jr. remained on the show until its cancellation after the fifteenth season in 2016.

When the show was revived by ABC in 2018, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie were selected as judges, marking the sixteenth season of Idol. Bryan and Richie have remained on the show since, while Perry left the show in May 2024 after seven seasons. On July 31, 2024, published reports announced former Idol winner Carrie Underwood as Perry's replacement, joining Bryan and Richie for the twenty-third season.

Guest judges may occasionally be introduced. In the second season, guest judges such as Richie and Gladys Knight were used, and in the third season, Donna Summer, Quentin Tarantino, Gloria Estefan, and some of the mentors also joined as judges to critique the performances in the final rounds. Guest judges were sporadically used during the audition rounds: Gene Simmons, LL Cool J, Brandy, Mark McGrath, and Kenny Loggins in the fourth season; Carole Bayer Sager, Jewel, and Olivia Newton-John in the sixth season; Shania Twain, Neil Patrick Harris, Avril Lavigne, Mary J. Blige, Joe Jonas, Kristin Chenoweth, Victoria Beckham, and Perry in the ninth season (substituting in the vacant chair, before DeGeneres was hired); and Adam Lambert filled in for Urban at one audition location during the fourteenth season. In the ABC version, two instances occurred during the live shows: Abdul filled in for Bryan on one episode of the nineteenth season, while Alanis Morissette and Ed Sheeran filled in for Perry and Richie on an episode of the twenty-first season.

Hosts

Brian Dunkleman co-hosted with Seacrest for the first season.

The first season was co-hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman, following the format of Pop Idol of using two presenters. Dunkleman quit thereafter, resulting in Seacrest becoming the sole emcee starting with the second season in 2003.

Seacrest has remained as sole host of American Idol ever since, with the exception of the two-year hiatus between 2016 and 2018 as well as April 8, 2019, during the seventeenth season, when Bobby Bones subbed for Seacrest after the latter fell ill. Dunkleman did, however, return for the initial series finale on Fox in 2016 as a guest.

Cast Timeline

Color key
  Host   Guest Host   Judge   Guest Judge   Contestant   In-House Mentor   Guest Mentor   Musical Director   Vocal Coach
Cast Member Seasons
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Ryan Seacrest ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Brian Dunkleman ●
Paula Abdul ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Simon Cowell ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Randy Jackson ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Kara DioGuardi ● ●
Ellen DeGeneres ●
Jennifer Lopez ● ● ● ● ● ●
Steven Tyler ● ●
Mariah Carey ● ●
Nicki Minaj ●
Keith Urban ● ● ● ● ●
Harry Connick Jr. ● ● ● ● ●
Luke Bryan ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Katy Perry ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Lionel Richie ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Carrie Underwood ● ● ● ●
Kelly Clarkson ● ● ●
Adam Lambert ● ● ● ● ●
Jimmy Iovine ● ● ●
Scott Borchetta ● ●
Bobby Bones ● ● ● ●
Rickey Minor ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Ray Chew ● ● ●
Kris Pooley ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Debra Byrd ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Peggi Blu ● ●

Annotations

  • Bones substituted for Seacrest on the second "Top 20 Duets" episode of Season 17, in addition to being In-House Mentor the entire season.
  • Lambert substituted for Urban at one Season 14 audition location (New York City), due to the latter's family emergency.

Selection process

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In a series of steps, the show selected the eventual winner out of many tens of thousands of contestants.

Contestant eligibility

The eligible age-range for contestants is fifteen to twenty-eight years old. The initial age limit was sixteen to twenty-four in the first three seasons, but the upper limit was raised to twenty-eight in the fourth season, and the lower limit was reduced to fifteen in the tenth season. The contestants have to be legal U.S. residents, can not have advanced to particular stages of the competition in previous seasons, and must not have held a current recording or talent representation contract by the semi-final stage (in previous years by the audition stage).

Season nine's Denver audition, at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Initial auditions

For the first eighteen seasons, contestants went through at least three sets of cuts. The first was a brief audition with a few other contestants in front of selectors which may include one of the show's producers. Although auditions can exceed 10,000 in each city, only a few hundred of these made it past the preliminary round of auditions. Successful contestants then sing in front of producers, where more may be cut. Only then can they proceed to audition in front of the judges, which is the only audition stage shown on television. Those selected by the judges are sent to Hollywood. Between 10 and 60 people in each city may make it to Hollywood (the average total is between 150 and 200).

From the nineteenth season onwards, contestants request a Zoom interview and audition remotely for the show's producers. If the audition goes well, they will then invite the contestants to audition in front of the judges, in one of the audition cities.

Hollywood week

Once in Hollywood, the contestants perform individually or in groups in a series of rounds. Until the tenth season, there were usually three rounds of eliminations in Hollywood. In the first round the contestants emerged in groups but performed individually. For the next round, the contestants put themselves in small groups and performed a song together. In the final round, the contestants performed solo with a song of their choice a cappella or accompanied by a band‍—‌depending on the season. In the second and third seasons, contestants were also asked to write original lyrics or melody in an additional round after the first round. In the seventh season, the group round was eliminated and contestants may, after a first solo performance and on judges approval, skip a second solo round and move directly to the final Hollywood round. In the twelfth season, the executive producers split up the females and males and chose the members to form the groups in the group round.

In the tenth and eleventh seasons, a further round was added in Las Vegas, where the contestants performed in groups based on a theme, followed by one final solo round to determine the semi-finalists. At the end of this stage of the competition, 24 to 36 contestants were selected to move on to the semi-final stage. In the twelfth season the Las Vegas round became a Sudden Death round, where the judges had to choose five guys and five girls each night (four nights) to make the top twenty. In the thirteenth season, the Las Vegas round was eliminated and a new round called "Hollywood or Home" was added, where if the judges were uncertain about some contestants, those contestants were required to perform soon after landing in Los Angeles, and those who failed to impress were sent back home before they reached Hollywood. In the fourteenth season, the "Hollywood or Home" round was dropped, and a Showcase round was added, where the contestants performed at the House of Blues or auditorium for the judges and a live audience, and these performances determine who makes into the Top 24. In the seventeenth and eighteenth seasons, the showcase round took place in Hawaii. From the nineteenth season onward, a showstopper round was used.

Audience voting

From the semi-finals onward, the fate of the contestants is decided by public vote. During the contestant's performance as well as the recap at the end, a toll-free telephone number for each contestant was displayed on the screen. For a two-hour period after the episode ends (up to four hours for the finale) in each US time zone, viewers may call or send a text message to their preferred contestant's telephone number, and each call or text message was registered as a vote for that contestant. Viewers were allowed to vote as many times as they can within the two-hour voting window. However, the show reserves the right to discard votes by power dialers. One or more of the least popular contestants may be eliminated in successive weeks until a winner emerges. Over 110 million votes were cast in the first season, and by the tenth season the seasonal total had increased to nearly 750 million. Voting via text messaging was made available in the second season when AT&T Wireless joined as a sponsor of the show, and 7.5 million text messages were sent to American Idol that season. The number of text messages rapidly increased, reaching 178 million texts by the eighth season. Online voting was offered for the first time in the tenth season. The votes are counted and verified by Telescope Inc.

Semi-finals

In the first three seasons, the semi-finalists were split into different groups to perform individually in their respective night. In the first season, there were three groups of ten, with the top three contestants from each group making the finals. In the second and third seasons, there were four groups of eight, and the top two of each selected. These seasons also featured a wildcard round, where contestants who failed to qualify were given another chance. In the first season, only one wildcard contestant was chosen by the judges, giving a total of ten finalists. In the second and third seasons, each of the three judges championed one contestant with the public advancing a fourth into the finals, making 12 finalists in all.

From the fourth through seventh and ninth seasons, the twenty-four semi-finalists were divided by gender in order to ensure an equal gender division in the top twelve. The men and women sang separately on consecutive nights, and the bottom two in each groups were eliminated each week until only six of each remained to form the top twelve.

The wildcard round returned in the eighth season, wherein there were three groups of twelve, with three contestants moving forward – the highest male, the highest female, and the next highest-placed singer – for each night, and four wildcards were chosen by the judges to produce a final 13. Starting in tenth season, the girls and boys perform on separate nights. In the tenth and eleventh seasons, five of each gender were chosen, and three wildcards were chosen by the judges to form a final 13. In the twelfth season, the top twenty semifinalists were split into gender groups, with five of each gender advancing to form the final 10. In the thirteenth season, there were thirty semifinalists, but only twenty semifinalists (ten for each gender) were chosen by the judges to perform on the live shows, with five in each gender based on the vote and three wildcards chosen by the judges composing the final 13. In the fourteenth season, the top 24 performed at The Fillmore Detroit, starting with the 12 males on one night and then the 12 females on the next night. The following week, the same order went for the top 16, with four males eliminated, followed by four females based on the vote. Then, on the first night of finals, a similar sequence from the thirteenth season was used to determine the final 12, with five of each gender based on the vote and two wildcards chosen by the judges. In the fifteenth season, the top 24 performed at Cathedral of Saint Vibiana in Los Angeles and were split into two groups of twelve and performed twice, one being a solo performance and one being a duet with a former Idol contestant. In each group, the judges chose 7 contestants to advance to the top 14 where the judges chose 4 to advance to the top 10 and remaining 6 contestants were chosen based on the vote. In the sixteenth season, the top 24 performed at the Academy in the Heart of LA, and the show repeated the process from the previous season. However, instead of Idol alumnus as duet partners, superstar celebrity singers were used as the duet partners. In the seventeenth season, the same process was repeated again. However, instead of a top 24, it's a top 20, the contestants performed at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, and performed solos in one episode, and performed the duets in two episodes. In the eighteenth season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the top 20 performed at their homes, and based on the vote, half of the top 20 would advance to the top 10, and the other half would be eliminated. However, a wild card was given to one of the bottom 10 to save them from elimination. In the nineteenth season, the show used a combination of the process from the sixteenth and fourteenth seasons. In the twentieth season, the show repeated the process from the previous season, but they used a top 20 instead of a top 16, and there were no all star duets. In the twenty-first season, the same process was repeated, but they started with a top 26 instead of a top 24. In the twenty-second season, the show repeated the process from the twentieth season.

Finals

The finals are broadcast in primetime from Los Angeles, in front of a live studio audience (except the eighteenth season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic). From 2002 to 2019 and from 2021 to 2022, the venue was CBS Television City. Starting in 2023, it changed to Red Studios. The finals lasted eight weeks in the first season. From the second to ninth and fourteenth seasons, the finals lasted eleven weeks. The tenth and eleventh seasons lasted for twelve weeks, while the twelfth season lasted for ten weeks. In the thirteenth season, the finals lasted thirteen weeks. The finals lasted seven weeks in the fifteenth season, and six weeks in the sixteenth season. Each finalist performs songs based on a weekly theme which may be a musical genre such as Motown, disco, or big band, songs by artists such as Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley or The Beatles, or more general themes such as Billboard number-one hits or songs from the contestant's year of birth. Contestants usually worked with a celebrity mentor related to the theme. From the tenth to twelfth seasons, Jimmy Iovine was brought in as a mentor for the season. Initially the contestants sang one song each week, but this was increased to two songs from top four or five onwards, then three songs for the top two or three.

The most popular contestants are usually not revealed in the results show. Instead, typically the three contestants (two in later rounds) who received the lowest number of votes was called to the center of the stage. One of these three was usually sent to safety; however the two remaining were not necessarily the bottom two. The contestant with the fewest votes was then revealed and eliminated from the competition. A montage of the eliminated contestant's time on the show was played and they gave their final performance (from the fourteenth season onward, the montage and the final performance were dropped). However, in the sixth season, during the series' first ever Idol Gives Back episode, no contestant was eliminated, but on the following week, two were sent home. Moreover, from the eighth to the fourteenth seasons, and the seventeenth season onward, the judges may overturn viewers' decision with a "Judges' Save" if they unanimously agreed to. "The save" could only be used once, and only up through the Top 5. In the eighth to tenth and fourteenth seasons, a double elimination then took place in the week following the activation of the save, but in the eleventh and thirteenth seasons, a regular single elimination took place. The save was not activated in the twelfth season and consequently, a non-elimination took place in the week after its expiration with the votes then carrying over into the following week.

The "Fan Save" was introduced in the fourteenth season. During the finals, viewers were given a five-minute window to vote for the contestants in danger of elimination by using their Twitter account to decide which contestant will move on to the next show, starting with the Top 8.

Season finale

During the original run of American Idol on Fox, the finale week consisted of a one-hour long final performance night and a two-hour last episode of the season that culminates in revealing the winner, both of which are broadcast live in the U.S. Eastern and Central time zones. For the first, third through sixth and fourteenth through fifteenth seasons it was broadcast from the Dolby Theatre, which has an audience capacity of approximately 3,400. The second-season finale took place at the Gibson Amphitheatre, which had an audience capacity of over 6,000. In the seventh through thirteenth seasons, the venue was at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, which holds an audience of over 7,000. Since the show's reboot on ABC, the venue remains the same throughout the entire show (excluding auditions), but was still two episodes in the sixteenth season, and then stretched to a single three-hour season finale that is annually aired live simultaneously in all U.S. territories, starting with the seventeenth season. The eighteenth-season finale was conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rewards for winner and finalists

The winner usually receives a record deal with a major label, which may be for up to six albums, and secures a management contract with American Idol-affiliated 19 Management (which has the right of first refusal to sign all contestants), as well as various lucrative contracts. All winners prior to the ninth season reportedly earned at least $1 million in their first year as winner. At first the contract came with a $250,000-plus advance, but dropped to about $62,500 over the Fox years. All the runners-up of the first ten seasons, as well as some of other finalists, had also received record deals with major labels. However, starting in the eleventh season, the runner-up may only be guaranteed a single-only deal. BMG/Sony (first through ninth seasons), UMG (tenth through fifteenth seasons), and Disney Music Group's Hollywood Records (sixteenth through eighteenth seasons) had the right of first refusal to sign contestants for three months after the season's finale. In the fourteenth and fifteenth seasons, the winner was signed with Big Machine Records. Prominent music mogul Clive Davis also produced some of the selected contestants' albums, such as Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo. All top 10 (11 in the tenth and twelfth seasons, 5 in the fourteenth season, and 7 in the sixteenth season) finalists earn the privilege of going on a tour, where the participants may each earn a six-figure sum.

Series overview

Main article: List of American Idol episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedWinnerRunner-up
First airedLast airedNetwork
125June 11, 2002 (2002-06-11)September 4, 2002 (2002-09-04)FoxKelly ClarksonJustin Guarini
240January 21, 2003 (2003-01-21)May 21, 2003 (2003-05-21)Ruben StuddardClay Aiken
344January 19, 2004 (2004-01-19)May 26, 2004 (2004-05-26)Fantasia BarrinoDiana DeGarmo
443January 18, 2005 (2005-01-18)May 25, 2005 (2005-05-25)Carrie UnderwoodBo Bice
541January 17, 2006 (2006-01-17)May 24, 2006 (2006-05-24)Taylor HicksKatharine McPhee
641January 16, 2007 (2007-01-16)May 23, 2007 (2007-05-23)Jordin SparksBlake Lewis
742January 15, 2008 (2008-01-15)May 21, 2008 (2008-05-21)David CookDavid Archuleta
840January 13, 2009 (2009-01-13)May 20, 2009 (2009-05-20)Kris AllenAdam Lambert
943January 12, 2010 (2010-01-12)May 26, 2010 (2010-05-26)Lee DeWyzeCrystal Bowersox
1039January 19, 2011 (2011-01-19)May 25, 2011 (2011-05-25)Scotty McCreeryLauren Alaina
1140January 18, 2012 (2012-01-18)May 23, 2012 (2012-05-23)Phillip PhillipsJessica Sanchez
1237January 16, 2013 (2013-01-16)May 16, 2013 (2013-05-16)Candice GloverKree Harrison
1339January 15, 2014 (2014-01-15)May 21, 2014 (2014-05-21)Caleb JohnsonJena Irene
1430January 7, 2015 (2015-01-07)May 13, 2015 (2015-05-13)Nick FradianiClark Beckham
1524January 6, 2016 (2016-01-06)April 7, 2016 (2016-04-07)Trent HarmonLa'Porsha Renae
1619March 11, 2018 (2018-03-11)May 21, 2018 (2018-05-21)ABCMaddie PoppeCaleb Lee Hutchinson
1719March 3, 2019 (2019-03-03)May 19, 2019 (2019-05-19)Laine HardyAlejandro Aranda
1816February 16, 2020 (2020-02-16)May 17, 2020 (2020-05-17)Just SamArthur Gunn
1919February 14, 2021 (2021-02-14)May 23, 2021 (2021-05-23)Chayce BeckhamWillie Spence
2020February 27, 2022 (2022-02-27)May 22, 2022 (2022-05-22)Noah ThompsonHunterGirl
2120February 19, 2023 (2023-02-19)May 21, 2023 (2023-05-21)Iam TongiMegan Danielle
2218February 18, 2024 (2024-02-18)May 19, 2024 (2024-05-19)Abi CarterWill Moseley

Season synopses

Each season premieres with the audition round, taking place in different cities. The audition episodes typically feature a mix of potential finalists, interesting characters and woefully inadequate contestants. Each successful contestant receives a golden or platinum ticket to proceed on to the next round in Hollywood. Based on their performances during the Hollywood round (Las Vegas round from the tenth through twelfth seasons), 24 to 36 contestants are selected by the judges to participate in the semifinals. From the semifinals onward the contestants perform their songs live, with the judges making their critiques after each performance. The contestants are voted for by the viewing public, and the outcome of the public votes is then revealed during a results segment. The results segment feature group performances by the contestants as well as guest performers. The Top-three results also features homecoming events for the Top 3 finalists. The season reaches its climax in a two-hour results finale show, where the winner of the season is revealed.

With the exception of the first two seasons, the contestants in the semifinals onward perform in front of a studio audience. They perform with a full band in the finals. The current musical director is Kris Pooley, who has been with the show since the sixteenth season. In previous seasons, the American Idol band was led by Rickey Minor (fourth through ninth and thirteenth through fifteenth seasons) and Ray Chew (tenth through twelfth seasons). Assistance has also been given by vocal coaches and song arrangers, such as Michael Orland and Debra Byrd to contestants behind the scene. Starting with the seventh season, contestants may perform with a musical instrument from the Hollywood rounds onward. In later seasons, the contestants were allowed to perform with a musical instrument in the auditions. During the first nine seasons, performances were usually aired live on Tuesday nights, followed by the results shows on Wednesdays, but moved to Wednesdays and Thursdays from the tenth through thirteenth seasons, with the tenth, eleventh and thirteenth-season finales aired on Tuesday and Wednesday. From the fourteenth season onward, there were no separate results shows. On the fourteenth season, the show aired on Wednesday nights, and on the fifteenth season, Thursday nights. Since the sixteenth season, the show has been airing on Sundays and Mondays.

2002–2016: Fox

Season 1 (2002)

Main article: American Idol season 1
Kelly Clarkson, the first season winner

The first season of American Idol debuted as a summer replacement show in June 2002 on the Fox network. It was co-hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell served as judges.

In the audition rounds, 121 contestants were selected from around 10,000 who attended the auditions. These were cut to 30 for the semifinal, with ten going on to the finals. One semifinalist, Delano Cagnolatti, was disqualified for lying to evade the show's age limit. One of the early favorites, Tamyra Gray, was eliminated at the top four, the first of several such shock eliminations that were to be repeated in later seasons. Christina Christian was hospitalized before the top six result show due to chest pains and palpitations, and she was eliminated while she was in the hospital. Jim Verraros was the first openly gay contestant on the show; his sexual orientation was revealed on his blog, however it was removed during the competition after a request from the show producers over concerns that it might be unfairly influencing votes.

The final showdown was between Justin Guarini, one of the early favorites, and Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson was not initially thought of as a contender, but impressed the judges with some good performances in the final rounds, such as her performance of Aretha Franklin's "Natural Woman", and Betty Hutton's "Stuff Like That There", and eventually won the crown on September 4, 2002.

In what was to become a tradition, Clarkson performed the coronation song during the finale, and released the song immediately after the season ended. The single, "A Moment Like This", went on to break a 38-year-old record held by The Beatles for the biggest leap to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Guarini did not release any song immediately after the show and remains the only runner-up not to do so. Both Clarkson and Guarini made a musical film, From Justin to Kelly, which was released in 2003 but was widely panned. Clarkson has since become one of the most successful Idol contestants internationally, with worldwide album sales of more than 25 million.

Starting September 30, 2006, this season was repackaged as "American Idol Rewind" and syndicated directly to stations in the U.S.

Season 2 (2003)

Main article: American Idol season 2
Ruben Studdard, the second season winner

Following the success of the first season, the second season was moved up to air in January 2003. The number of episodes increased, as did the show's budget and the charge for commercial spots. Dunkleman left the show, leaving Ryan Seacrest as the lone host. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. Kristin Adams was a correspondent for this season.

Corey Clark was disqualified during the finals for having an undisclosed police record; however, he later alleged that he and Paula Abdul had an affair while on the show and that this contributed to his expulsion. Clark also claimed that Abdul gave him preferential treatment on the show due to their affair. The allegations were dismissed by Fox after an independent investigation. Two semi-finalists were also disqualified that year – Jaered Andrews for an arrest on an assault charge, and Frenchie Davis for having previously modeled for an adult website.

The season finale drew more than 38 million viewers, marking Idol's biggest audience ever for a single episode. Ruben Studdard emerged as the winner, beating Clay Aiken by a small margin. Out of a total of 24 million votes, Studdard finished just 134,000 votes ahead of Aiken. This slim margin of victory was controversial due to the large number of calls that failed to get through. In an interview prior to the fifth season, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe indicated that Aiken had led the fan voting from the wildcard week onward until the finale.

Both finalists found success after the show, but Aiken out-performed Studdard's coronation song "Flying Without Wings" with his single release from the show "This Is the Night", as well as in their subsequent album releases. The fourth-place finisher Josh Gracin also enjoyed some success as a country singer.

Season 3 (2004)

Main article: American Idol season 3
Fantasia Barrino, the third season winner

The third season premiered on January 19, 2004. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. One of the most talked-about contestants during the audition process was William Hung whose off-key rendition of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" received widespread attention. His exposure on Idol landed him a record deal and surprisingly he became the third bestselling singer from that season.

Much media attention on the season had been focused on the three black singers, Fantasia Barrino, LaToya London, and Jennifer Hudson, dubbed the Three Divas. All three unexpectedly landed on the bottom three on the top seven result show, with Hudson controversially eliminated. Elton John, who was one of the mentors that season, called the results of the votes "incredibly racist". The prolonged stays of John Stevens and Jasmine Trias in the finals, despite negative comments from the judges, had aroused resentment, so much so that John Stevens reportedly received a death threat, which he dismissed as a joke 'blown out of proportion'.

The performance of "Summertime" by Barrino, later known simply as "Fantasia", at Top 8 was widely praised, and Simon Cowell considered it as his favorite Idol moment in the nine seasons he was on the show. Fantasia and Diana DeGarmo were the last two finalists, and Fantasia was crowned as the winner. Fantasia released as her coronation single "I Believe", a song co-written by the first season finalist Tamyra Gray, and DeGarmo released "Dreams".

Season 4 (2005)

Main article: American Idol season 4
Carrie Underwood, the fourth season winner

The fourth season premiered on January 18, 2005. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. This was the first full season of the series to be aired in high definition; the finale of the third season was also aired in high definition. The number of those attending the auditions by now had increased to over 100,000 from the 10,000 of the first season. The age limit was raised to 28 in this season, and among those who benefited from this new rule were Constantine Maroulis and Bo Bice, the two rockers of the show.

The top 12 finalists originally included Mario Vazquez, but he dropped out citing 'personal reasons' and was replaced by Nikko Smith. Later, an employee of Fremantle Media, which produces the show, sued the company for wrongful termination, claiming that he was dismissed after complaining about lewd behavior by Vazquez toward him during the show.

During the top 11 week, due to a mix-up with the contestants' telephone number, voting was repeated on what was normally the result night, with the result reveal postponed until the following night.

In May 2005, Underwood was announced the winner, with Bice the runner-up. Both Underwood and Bice released the coronation song "Inside Your Heaven", with Underwood's version of the song making her the first country artist ever to debut at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. As of 2015, Underwood has become the most successful Idol contestant in the U.S., selling 16 million albums in the country, while selling a total of 65 million records worldwide.

Season 5 (2006)

Main article: American Idol season 5
Taylor Hicks, the fifth season winner

The fifth season began on January 17, 2006. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. It remains the highest-rated season in the show's run so far. Two of the more prominent contestants during the Hollywood round were the Brittenum twins who were later disqualified for identity theft.

Chris Daughtry's performance of Fuel's "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" on the show was widely praised and led to an invitation to join the band as Fuel's new lead singer, an invitation he declined. His performance of Live's version of "I Walk the Line" was well received by the judges but later criticized in some quarters for not crediting the arrangement to Live. He was eliminated at the top four in a shocking result.

On May 30, 2006, Taylor Hicks was named American Idol, with Katharine McPhee the runner-up. "Do I Make You Proud" was released as Hicks' first single and McPhee's was "My Destiny".

Despite being eliminated earlier in the season, Chris Daughtry (as lead of the band Daughtry) became the most successful recording artist from this season. Other contestants, such as Hicks, McPhee, Bucky Covington, Mandisa, Kellie Pickler, and Elliott Yamin have had varying levels of success.

Season 6 (2007)

Main article: American Idol season 6
Jordin Sparks, the sixth season winner

The sixth season began on Tuesday, January 16, 2007. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. The premiere drew a massive audience of 37.3 million viewers, peaking in the last half hour with more than 41 million viewers.

Teenager Sanjaya Malakar was the season's most talked-about contestant for his unusual hairdo, and for managing to survive elimination for many weeks due in part to the weblog Vote for the Worst and satellite radio personality Howard Stern, who both encouraged fans to vote for him. However, on the Top 7 results, Sanjaya was voted off.

This season saw the first Idol Gives Back telethon-inspired event, which raised more than $76 million in corporate and viewer donations. No contestant was eliminated that week, but two (Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson) were eliminated the next.

In the May 23 season finale, Jordin Sparks was declared the winner with the runner-up being Blake Lewis. Sparks has had some success as a recording artist post-Idol.

This season also saw the launch of the American Idol Songwriter contest which allows fans to vote for the "coronation song". Thousands of recordings of original songs were submitted by songwriters, and 20 entries selected for the public vote. The winning song, "This Is My Now", was performed by both finalists during the finale and released by Sparks on May 24, 2007.

Season 7 (2008)

Main article: American Idol season 7
David Cook, the seventh season winner

The seventh season premiered on January 15, 2008, for a two-day, four-hour premiere. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. The media focused on the professional status of the seventh season contestants, the so-called 'ringers', many of whom, including Kristy Lee Cook, Brooke White, Michael Johns, and in particular Carly Smithson, had prior recording contracts. Contestant David Hernandez also attracted some attention due to his past employment as a stripper.

For the finals, American Idol debuted a new state-of-the-art set and stage on March 11, 2008, along with a new on-air look. David Cook's performance of "Billie Jean" on top-ten night was lauded by the judges, but provoked controversy when they apparently mistook the Chris Cornell arrangement to be David Cook's own even though the performance was introduced as Cornell's version. Cornell himself said he was 'flattered' and praised David Cook's performance. David Cook was taken to the hospital after the top-nine performance show due to heart palpitations and high blood pressure.

David Archuleta's performance of John Lennon's "Imagine" was considered by many as one of the best of the season. Jennifer Lopez, who was brought in as a judge in the tenth season, called it a beautiful song-moment that she will never forget. Jason Castro's semi-final performance of "Hallelujah" also received considerable attention, and it propelled Jeff Buckley's version of the song to the top of the Billboard digital song chart. This was the first season in which contestants' recordings were released onto iTunes after their performances, and although sales information was not released so as not to prejudice the contest, leaked information indicated that contestants' songs frequently reached the top of iTunes sales charts.

Idol Gives Back returned on April 9, 2008, and raised $64 million for charity.

The finalists were Cook and Archuleta. David Cook was announced the winner on May 21, 2008, the first rocker to win the show. Both Cook and Archuleta had some success as recording artists with both selling over a million albums in the U.S.

The American Idol Songwriter contest was also held this season. From ten of the most popular submissions, each of the final two contestants chose a song to perform, although neither of their selections was used as the "coronation song". The winning song, "The Time of My Life", was recorded by David Cook and released on May 22, 2008.

Season 8 (2009)

Main article: American Idol season 8
Kris Allen, the eighth season winner

The eighth season premiered on January 13, 2009. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. This season featured the first major change to the judging panel; a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, was introduced. Mike Darnell, the president of alternative programming for Fox, stated that the season would focus more on the contestants' personal life.

This was also the first season without executive producer Nigel Lythgoe who left to focus on the international versions of his show So You Think You Can Dance. The Hollywood round was moved to the Kodak Theatre for 2009 and was also extended to two weeks. Idol Gives Back was canceled for this season due to the global recession at the time.

There were 13 finalists this season, but two were eliminated in the first result show of the finals. A new feature introduced was the "Judges' Save", and Matt Giraud was saved from elimination at the top seven by the judges when he received the fewest votes. The next week, Lil Rounds and Anoop Desai were eliminated.

The two finalists were Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, both of whom had previously landed in the bottom three at the top five. Allen won the contest in the most controversial voting result since the second season. It was claimed, and then later retracted, that 38 million of the 100 million votes cast on the night came from Allen's home state of Arkansas alone, and that AT&T employees unfairly influenced the votes by giving lessons on power-texting at viewing parties in Arkansas.

Both Allen and Lambert released the coronation song, "No Boundaries" which was co-written by DioGuardi. This is the first season in which the winner failed to achieve gold album status.

Season 9 (2010)

Main article: American Idol season 9
Lee DeWyze, the ninth season winner

The ninth season premiered on January 12, 2010. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. Paula Abdul left the show and Ellen DeGeneres replaced Abdul at the start of Hollywood Week. One of the most prominent auditioners this season was General Larry Platt whose performance of "Pants on the Ground" became a viral hit song.

Crystal Bowersox, who has Type-I diabetes, fell ill due to diabetic ketoacidosis on the morning of the girls performance night for the top 20 week and was hospitalized. The schedule was rearranged so the boys performed first and she could perform the following night instead; she later revealed that Ken Warwick, the show producer, wanted to disqualify her but she begged to be allowed to stay on the show.

Michael Lynche was the lowest vote getter at top nine and was given the Judges' Save. The next week Katie Stevens and Andrew Garcia were eliminated. That week, Adam Lambert was invited back to be a mentor, the first Idol alum to do so. Idol Gives Back returned this season on April 21, 2010, and raised $45 million.

A special tribute to Simon Cowell was presented in the finale for his final season with the show. Many figures from the show's past, including Paula Abdul, made an appearance.

The final two contestants were Lee DeWyze and Bowersox. DeWyze was declared the winner during the May 26 finale. No new song was used as coronation song this year; instead, the two finalists each released a cover song – DeWyze chose U2's "Beautiful Day", and Bowersox chose Patty Griffin's "Up to the Mountain". This is the first season where neither finalist achieved significant album sales.

Season 10 (2011)

Main article: American Idol season 10
Scotty McCreery, the tenth season winner

The tenth season premiered on January 19, 2011. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Randy Jackson returned as a judge. Many changes were introduced this season, from the format to the personnel of the show. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joined Randy Jackson as judges following the departures of Simon Cowell (who left to launch the American version of The X Factor), Kara DioGuardi (whose contract was not renewed) and Ellen DeGeneres, who left the show on her own accord.

Randy Jackson was the only judge from the ninth season to return for the tenth. Nigel Lythgoe returned as executive producer. Jimmy Iovine, chairman of the Interscope Geffen A&M label group, the new partner of American Idol, acted as the in-house mentor in place of weekly guest mentors, although in later episodes special guest mentors such as Beyoncé, will.i.am and Lady Gaga were brought in.

The tenth season is the first to include online auditions where contestants could submit a 40-second video audition via Myspace. Karen Rodriguez was one such auditioner and reached the final rounds.

One of the more prominent contestants this year was Chris Medina, whose story of caring for his brain-damaged fiancée received widespread coverage. Medina was cut in the Top 40 round. Casey Abrams, who suffers from ulcerative colitis, was hospitalized twice and missed the Top 13 result show. The judges used their one save on Abrams on the Top 11, and as a result this was the first season that 11 finalists went on tour instead of 10. In the following week, Naima Adedapo and Thia Megia were both eliminated.

Pia Toscano, one of the presumed favorites to advance far in the season, was unexpectedly eliminated on April 7, 2011, finishing in ninth place. Her elimination drew criticisms from some former Idol contestants, as well as actor Tom Hanks. After Idol, Jennifer Lopez helped guide her career.

The two finalists in 2011 were Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, both teenage country singers. McCreery won the competition on May 25, being the youngest male winner and the fourth male in a row to win American Idol. McCreery released his first single, "I Love You This Big", as his coronation song, and Alaina released "Like My Mother Does". McCreery's debut album, Clear as Day, became the first debut album by an Idol winner to reach No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 since Ruben Studdard's Soulful in 2003, and he became the youngest male artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Season 11 (2012)

Main article: American Idol season 11
Phillip Phillips, the eleventh season winner

The eleventh season premiered on January 18, 2012. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson returned as judges. One more finalist would join the Top 24 making it the Top 25, which was later revealed to be Jermaine Jones. However, on March 14, Jones was disqualified in 12th place for concealing arrests and outstanding warrants. Jones denied the accusation that he concealed his arrests.

Finalist Phillip Phillips suffered from kidney pain and was taken to the hospital before the Top 13 results show, and later received medical procedure to alleviate a blockage caused by kidney stones. He was reported to have eight surgeries during his Idol run, and had considered quitting the show due to the pain. He underwent surgery to remove the stones and reconstruct his kidney soon after the season had finished.

Jessica Sanchez received the fewest votes during the Top 7 week, and the judges decided to use their "save" option on her, making her the first female recipient of the save. The following week, unlike previous seasons, Colton Dixon was the only contestant sent home. Sanchez later made the final two, the first season where a recipient of the save reached the finale.

Phillips became the winner, beating Sanchez. During the finale, fifth season finalist Ace Young proposed marriage to third season runner-up Diana DeGarmo on stage – which she accepted.

Phillips released "Home" as his coronation song, while Sanchez released "Change Nothing". Phillips' "Home" has since become the best selling of all coronation songs, with over 5 million copies sold.

Season 12 (2013)

Main article: American Idol season 12
Candice Glover, the twelfth season winner

The twelfth season premiered on January 16, 2013. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Randy Jackson returned as a judge. Judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler left the show after two seasons. Randy Jackson was the only judge from the eleventh season to return for the twelfth. This season's judging panel consisted of Randy Jackson, along with Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj.

This was the first season since the ninth season to have four judges on the panel. The pre-season buzz and the early episodes of the show were dominated by the feud between the judges Minaj and Carey after a video of their dispute was leaked to TMZ.

The top 10 contestants started with five males and five females, however, the males were eliminated consecutively in the first five weeks, with Lazaro Arbos the last male to be eliminated. For the first time in the show's history, the top 5 contestants were all female. It was also the first time that the judges' "save" was not used, the top four contestants were therefore given an extra week to perform again with their votes carried over with no elimination in the first week.

23-year-old Candice Glover won the season with Kree Harrison taking the runner-up spot. Glover became the first female to win American Idol since Jordin Sparks, who won the show in 2007. Glover released "I Am Beautiful" as a single while Harrison released "All Cried Out" immediately after the show. Glover sold poorly with her debut album, and this is also the first season that the runner-up was not signed by a music label.

Towards the end of the season, Randy Jackson, the last remaining of the original judges, announced he would no longer serve as a judge to pursue other business ventures. Both judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj also decided to leave after one season to focus on their music careers.

Season 13 (2014)

Main article: American Idol season 13
Caleb Johnson, the thirteenth season winner

The thirteenth season premiered on January 15, 2014. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Keith Urban returned as a judge. Urban was the only judge from the twelfth season to return as a judge for the thirteenth season. Randy Jackson returned, though Jackson moved from the judging panel to the role of in-mentor. Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj left the panel after one season. Former judge Jennifer Lopez and former mentor Harry Connick, Jr. joined Urban on the panel. Connick Jr. served as a mentor for Idol in 2010 and 2012. Also, Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick were replaced as executive producers by Per Blankens, Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Pragger. Bill DeRonde replaced Warwick as a director of the audition episodes, while Louis J. Horvitz replaced Gregg Gelfand as a director of the show.

This was the first season where the contestants were permitted to perform in the final rounds songs they wrote themselves. In the Top 8, Sam Woolf received the fewest votes, but he was saved from elimination by the judges. The 500th episode of the series was the Top 3 performance night.

Caleb Johnson was named the winner of the season, with Jena Irene as the runner-up. Johnson released "As Long as You Love Me" as his coronation single while Irene released "We Are One".

Season 14 (2015)

Main article: American Idol season 14
Nick Fradiani, the fourteenth season winner

The fourteenth season premiered on January 7, 2015. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. returned for their respective fourth, third and second seasons as judges. Eighth season runner-up Adam Lambert filled in for Urban during the New York City auditions. Randy Jackson did not return as the in-house mentor and left the show permanently. Scott Borchetta replaced Jackson as the mentor.

Changes this season include only airing one episode a week during the final ten. Coca-Cola ended their longtime sponsorship of the show and Ford Motor Company maintained a reduced role. The winner of the season also received a recording contract with Big Machine Records.

Nick Fradiani won the season, defeating Clark Beckham. Fradiani became the first winner from the Northeast region. Fradiani released "Beautiful Life" as his coronation single while Beckham released "Champion". Jax, the third place finalist, also released a single called "Forcefield".

Season 15 (2016)

Main article: American Idol season 15
Trent Harmon, the fifteenth season winner

Fox announced on May 11, 2015, that the fifteenth season would be the final season of American Idol; as such, the season was expected to have an additional focus on the program's alumni. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, with Harry Connick Jr., Keith Urban, and Jennifer Lopez all returning as judges. The fifteenth season premiered on January 6, 2016. The season was shortened by four weeks compared to previous years. During the finale episode, President Barack Obama praised the millions of young people that voted for contestants and pitched that they vote in the upcoming election. The farewell season concluded on April 7, 2016. Seacrest signed off by saying: "And one more time—this is so tough—we say to you from Hollywood, goodnight America", and then he added, "for now."

Trent Harmon won the season against runner-up La'Porsha Renae. Harmon released "Falling" co-written by Keith Urban as his coronation song. Renae's "Battles", third-place finisher Dalton Rapattoni's "Strike A Match" and fourth-place finisher MacKenzie Bourg's "Roses" were also released as singles.

2018–present: ABC revival

In early 2017, Variety reported that Fremantle Media was in talks to revive the show for NBC or for its original network, Fox. A dispute between Fremantle and Core Media Group derailed these plans. In May 2017, ABC was making a bid to revive the program. ABC acquired the rights to the series, and American Idol returned for the 2017–18 television season.

Season 16 (2018)

Main article: American Idol season 16
Maddie Poppe, the sixteenth season winner

In July 2017, it was announced that Ryan Seacrest would return as host, and by September 2017 it was revealed that Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie would serve as judges. The sixteenth season premiered on March 11, 2018. This was the first season of American Idol to air on ABC. The season was again shortened compared to the previous season to twelve weeks, with multiple elimination in the final rounds. Unlike previous seasons where only two finalists remained in the final episode, three finalists performed in the finale. On May 21, 2018, the season concluded with Maddie Poppe crowned the winner, beating Caleb Lee Hutchinson as runner-up and Gabby Barrett in third place. Her winning song was "Going, Going, Gone". Caleb Lee Hutchinson released "Johnny Cash Heart" as a single, while Gabby Barrett's song was "Rivers Deep".

Season 17 (2019)

Main article: American Idol season 17
Laine Hardy, the seventeenth season winner

ABC renewed the revival series for another season. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges. The seventeenth season premiered on March 3, 2019. For the finale, the show no longer features separate performance and result shows. On May 19, 2019, the season concluded with three finalists, with Madison VanDenburg eliminated in third place after performing two songs, and the final two performing their last song. For the first time, there were no separate performance and grand finale shows this season. Laine Hardy was crowned the winner and Alejandro Aranda runner-up. Hardy released a single, "Flame", immediately after the win, but Aranda did not. However, Aranda later released a song he performed in the finale, "Tonight", under the name Scarypoolparty on June 28, 2019.

Season 18 (2020)

Main article: American Idol season 18

On May 13, 2019, the series was renewed for an eighteenth season and it premiered on February 16, 2020. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges. For the first time, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, from the top 20 to the finale, the contestants performed in their own homes, while Ryan Seacrest hosted the show remotely in his own home in Los Angeles with the judges also in their respective homes. The season was also further truncated, with the top 5 performing in the finale. Each finalist also performed only two songs for the finale. On May 17, the season concluded, with Just Sam crowned as the winner, with Arthur Gunn finishing as the runner-up. "Rise Up", the song Just Sam performed for their audition and reprised on the finale, was released as their debut song.

Season 19 (2021)

Main article: American Idol season 19

On May 15, 2020, ABC renewed the series for a nineteenth season and it premiered on February 14, 2021. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges. Later in October, it was announced that Bobby Bones will return as mentor. On May 23, the season concluded, with Chayce Beckham crowned the winner, with Willie Spence finishing as the runner-up. "23", the song Chayce Beckham wrote and performed for Top 4, was released as his debut song.

Season 20 (2022)

Main article: American Idol season 20
Noah Thompson, the twentieth season winner

On May 13, 2021, ABC renewed the series for a twentieth season and it premiered on February 27, 2022. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges. On December 31, it was announced that Bones would not be returning as a mentor. On May 22, the season concluded, with Noah Thompson crowned as the winner, with HunterGirl finishing as the runner-up. "One Day Tonight", the song Noah Thompson performed for the Grand Finale, was released as his debut song.

Season 21 (2023)

Main article: American Idol season 21
Iam Tongi, the twenty-first season winner

On May 13, 2022, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-first season and it premiered on February 19, 2023. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges. On May 21, the season concluded, with Iam Tongi crowned as the winner, with Megan Danielle finishing as the runner-up.

Season 22 (2024)

Main article: American Idol season 22
Abi Carter, the twenty-second season winner

On May 16, 2023, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-second season and it premiered on February 18, 2024. Seacrest returned as host, and Bryan, Perry and Richie returned as judges. In February 2024, Perry announced that the season would be her last. On May 20, the season concluded, with Abi Carter crowned as the winner, with Will Moseley finishing as the runner-up.

Season 23 (2025)

On May 10, 2024, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-third season; it was also announced the network was in-talks with "high-profile stars" to replace the outgoing Perry. On July 31, 2024, it was announced Seacrest would return as host, with Bryan and Richie returning as judges; Underwood was named as Perry's successor. The season will premiere on March 9, 2025.

Reception

U.S. television ratings

Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of American Idol. It holds the distinction of having the longest winning streak in the Nielsen annual television ratings; it became the highest-rated of all television programs in the United States overall for an unprecedented seven consecutive years, or eight consecutive (and total) years when either its performance or result show was ranked number one overall.

Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May sweeps.
Network Season Premiered Ended TV season Timeslot (ET) Season
viewers 		Season
ranking
Date Viewers
(in millions) 		Date Viewers
(in millions)
Fox 1 June 11, 2002 9.85 Final Performances: September 3, 2002 18.69 2001–02 Tuesday 9:00 pm
(performance) 		12.22 N/A
Season Finale: September 4, 2002 23.02 Wednesday 9:30 pm
(results) 		11.62 N/A
2 January 21, 2003 26.50 Final Performances: May 20, 2003 25.67 2002–03 Tuesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		21.03 4
Season Finale: May 21, 2003 38.06 Wednesday 8:30 pm
(results) 		19.63 7
3 January 19, 2004 28.96 Final Performances: May 25, 2004 25.13 2003–04 Tuesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		25.73 1
Season Finale: May 26, 2004 28.84 Wednesday 8:30 pm
(results) 		24.31 3
4 January 18, 2005 33.58 Final Performances: May 24, 2005 28.05 2004–05 Tuesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		27.32 1
Season Finale: May 25, 2005 30.27 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(results) 		26.07 3
5 January 17, 2006 35.53 Final Performances: May 23, 2006 31.78 2005–06 Tuesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		31.17 1
Season Finale: May 24, 2006 36.38 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(results) 		30.16 2
6 January 16, 2007 37.44 Final Performances: May 22, 2007 25.33 2006–07 Tuesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		30.11 2
Season Finale: May 23, 2007 30.76 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(results) 		30.58 1
7 January 15, 2008 33.48 Final Performances: May 20, 2008 27.06 2007–08 Tuesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		28.80 1
Season Finale: May 21, 2008 31.66 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(results) 		27.81 2
8 January 13, 2009 30.45 Final Performances: May 19, 2009 23.82 2008–09 Tuesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		26.25 2
Season Finale: May 20, 2009 28.84 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(results) 		26.77 1
9 January 12, 2010 29.95 Final Performances: May 25, 2010 20.07 2009–10 Tuesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		22.97 1
Season Finale: May 26, 2010 24.22 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(results) 		21.95 2
10 January 19, 2011 26.23 Final Performances: May 24, 2011 (Tues) 20.57 2010–11 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		25.97 1
Season Finale: May 25, 2011 (Wed) 29.29 Thursday 8:00 pm
(results) 		23.87 2
11 January 18, 2012 21.93 Final Performances: May 22, 2012 (Tues) 14.85 2011–12 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		19.81 2
Season Finale: May 23, 2012 (Wed) 21.49 Thursday 8:00 pm
(results) 		18.33 4
12 January 16, 2013 17.93 Final Performances: May 15, 2013 12.11 2012–13 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		15.04 7
Season Finale: May 16, 2013 14.31 Thursday 8:00 pm
(results) 		14.65 9
13 January 15, 2014 15.19 Final Performances: May 20, 2014 (Tues) 6.76 2013–14 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(performance) 		11.94 17
Season Finale: May 21, 2014 (Wed) 10.53 Thursday 8:00 pm
(results) 		11.43 22
14 January 7, 2015 11.20 Final Performances: May 12, 2015 (Tues) 5.55 2014–15 Wednesday 8:00 pm
 10.31 41
Season Finale: May 13, 2015 (Wed) 8.03 Thursday 8:00 pm
(until March 12) 		11.55 28
15 January 6, 2016 10.96 Final Performances: April 6, 2016 9.70 2015–16 Wednesday 8:00 pm
(until February 24) 		11.52 19
Season Finale: April 7, 2016 13.30 Thursday 8:00 pm 11.13 23
ABC 16 March 11, 2018 10.48 Final Performances: May 20, 2018 7.47 2017–18 Sunday 8:00 pm
 9.57 31
Season Finale: May 21, 2018 8.63 Monday 8:00 pm
(until April 23) 		9.51 32
17 March 3, 2019 8.65 Final Performances/Season Finale: May 19, 2019 8.74 2018–19 Sunday 8:00 pm 9.10 32
Monday 8:00 pm
(until April 22) 		8.00 42
18 February 16, 2020 8.07 Final Performances/Season Finale: May 17, 2020 7.28 2019–20 Sunday 8:00 pm 8.34 32
Monday 8:00 pm
(until March 23) 		8.54 30
19 February 14, 2021 6.95 Final Performances/Season Finale: May 23, 2021 6.50 2020–21 Sunday 8:00 pm 7.42 25
Monday 8:00 pm
(until April 19) 		6.24 39
20 February 27, 2022 6.30 Final Performances/Season Finale: May 22, 2022 6.49 2021–22 Sunday 8:00 pm 7.29 25
Monday 8:00 pm
(until May 2) 		6.99 28
21 February 19, 2023 5.27 Final Performances/Season Finale: May 21, 2023 6.62 2022–23 Sunday 8:00 pm 6.92 20
Monday 8:00 pm 6.06 32
22 February 18, 2024 4.62 Final Performances/Season Finale: May 19, 2024 5.64 2023–24 Sunday 8:00 pm 5.83 35
Monday 8:00 pm
(until April 29) 		5.28 39

American Idol premiered in June 2002 and became the surprise summer hit show of 2002. The first show drew 9.9 million viewers, giving Fox the best viewing figure for the 8.30 pm spot in over a year. The audience steadily grew, and by finale night, the audience had averaged 23 million, with more than 40 million watching some part of that show. That episode was placed third amongst all age groups, but more importantly it led in the 18–49 demographic, the age group most valued by advertisers.

The growth continued into the next season, starting with a season premiere of 26.5 million. The season attracted an average of 21.7 million viewers, and was placed second overall amongst the 18–49 age group. The finale night when Ruben Studdard won over Clay Aiken was also the highest-rated ever American Idol episode at 38.1 million for the final hour. By the third season, the show had become the top show in the 18–49 demographic a position it has held for all subsequent years up to and including the tenth season, and its competition stages ranked first in the nationwide overall ratings. By the fourth season, American Idol had become the most-watched series amongst all viewers on American TV for the first time, with an average viewership of 26.8 million. The show reached its peak in the fifth season with numbers averaging 30.6 million per episode, and this season remains the highest-rated of the series.

The sixth season premiered with the series' highest-rated debut episode and a few of its succeeding episodes rank among the most-watched episodes of American Idol. During this time, many television executives begun to regard the show as a programming force unlike any seen before, as its consistent dominance of up to two hours two or three nights a week exceeded the 30- or 60-minute reach of previous hits such as NBC's The Cosby Show. The show was dubbed "the Death Star", and competing networks often rearranged their schedules in order to minimize losses. However, the sixth season also showed a steady decline in viewership over the course of the season. The season finale saw a drop in ratings of 16% from the previous year. The sixth season was the first season wherein the average results show rated higher than the competition stages (unlike in the previous seasons), and became the second-highest-rated of the series after the preceding season.

The loss of viewers continued into the seventh season. The premiere was down 11% among total viewers, and the results show in which Kristy Lee Cook was eliminated delivered its lowest-rated Wednesday show among the 18–34 demo since the first season in 2002. However, the ratings rebounded for the seventh-season finale with the excitement over the battle of the Davids, and improved over the sixth season as the series' third most watched finale. The strong finish of season seven also helped Fox become the most watched TV network in the country for the first time since its inception, a first ever in American television history for a non-Big Three major broadcast network. Overall ratings for the season were down 10% from the sixth season, which is in line with the fall in viewership across all networks due in part to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.

The declining trend however continued into the eighth season, as total viewers numbers fell by 5–10% for early episodes compared to the seventh season, and by 9% for the finale. In the ninth season, Idol's six-year extended streak of perfection in the ratings was broken, when NBC's coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics on February 17 beat Idol in the same time slot with 30.1 million viewers over Idol's 18.4 million. Nevertheless, American Idol overall finished its ninth season as the most watched TV series for the sixth year running, breaking the previous record of five consecutive seasons achieved by CBS' All in the Family and NBC's The Cosby Show.

In the tenth season, the total viewer numbers for the first week of shows fell 12–13%, and by up to 23% in the 18–49 demo compared to the ninth season. Later episodes, however, retained viewers better, and the season ended on a high with a significant increase in viewership for the finale – up 12% for the adults 18–49 demographic and a 21% increase in total viewers from the ninth-season finale. While the overall viewer number has increased this season, its viewer demographics have continued to age year on year – the median age this season was 47.2 compared to a median age of 32.1 in its first season. The demographics also became "whiter" over time and less diverse. Nevertheless, in the 2010–11 television season, Fox maintained its lead on over other networks with its seventh consecutive season of victory overall in the 18–49 demographic ratings in the United States.

The eleventh season, however, suffered a steep drop in ratings, a drop attributed by some to the arrival of new shows such as The Voice and The X Factor. The ratings for the first two episodes of the eleventh season fell 16–21% in overall viewer numbers and 24–27% in the 18/49 demo, while the season finale fell 27% in total viewer number and 30% in the 18–49 demo. The average viewership for the season fell below 20 million viewers the first time since 2003, a drop of 23% in total viewers and 30% in the 18/49 demo. For the first time in eight years, American Idol lost the leading position in both the total viewers number and the 18/49 demo, coming in second to NBC Sunday Night Football, although the strengths of Idol in its second year in the Wednesday-Thursday primetime slots helped Fox achieve the longest period of 18–49 demographic victory in the Nielsen ratings, standing at 8 straight years from 2004 to 2012.

The loss of viewers continued into the twelfth season, which saw the show hitting a number of series low in the 18–49 demo. The finale had 7.2 million fewer viewers than the previous season, and saw a drop of 44% in the 18–49 demo. The season viewers averaged at 13.3 million, a drop of 24% from the previous season. The thirteenth season suffered a huge decline in the 18–49 demographic, a drop of 28% from the twelfth season, and American Idol lost its Top 10 position in the Nielsen ratings by the end of the 2013–14 television season for the first time since its entry to the rankings in 2003 as a result, and never regained its Top 10 position by the series' end in 2016.

The continuing decline influenced further changes for the fourteenth season, including the loss of Coca-Cola as the show's major sponsor, and a decision to only broadcast one, two-hour show per week during the top 12 rounds (with results from the previous week integrated into the performance show, rather than having a separate results show). On May 11, 2015, prior to the fourteenth-season finale, Fox announced that the fifteenth season of American Idol would be its last. Despite these changes, the show's ratings would decline more sharply. The fourteenth-season finale was the lowest-rated finale ever, with an average of only 8.03 million viewers watching the finale. The show's ratings, however, rebounded in its final season and ended its run in 2016 as Fox's first-ever program to conclude its run without dropping from the Nielsen Top 30 most-watched television shows in each of its seasons.

For the revived series on ABC, the ratings were lower but remained stable compared to previous seasons on Fox. The finale of the seventeenth season was slightly more watched than the sixteenth.

Critical reception

Early reviews were mixed in their assessment. Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly considered that "As TV, American Idol is crazily entertaining; as music, it's dust-mote inconsequential". Others, however, thought that "the most striking aspect of the series was the genuine talent it revealed". It was also described as a "sadistic musical bake-off", and "a romp in humiliation". Other aspects of the show have attracted criticisms. The product placement in the show in particular was noted, and some critics were harsh about what they perceived as its blatant commercial calculations – Karla Peterson of The San Diego Union-Tribune charged that American Idol is "a conniving multimedia monster" that has "absorbed the sin of our debauched culture and spit them out in a lump of reconstituted evil". The decision to send the first season winner to sing the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2002 was also poorly received by many. Lisa de Moraes of The Washington Post noted sarcastically that "The terrorists have won" and, with a sideswipe at the show's commercialism and voting process, that the decision as to who "gets to turn this important site into just another cog in the 'Great American Idol Marketing Mandala' is in the hands of the millions of girls who have made American Idol a hit. Them and a handful of phone-redialer geeks who have been clocking up to 10,000 calls each week for their contestant of choice (but who, according to Fox, are in absolutely no way skewing the outcome)."

Some of the later writers about the show were more positive, Michael Slezak, again of Entertainment Weekly, thought that "for all its bloated, synthetic, product-shilling, money-making trappings, Idol provides a once-a-year chance for the average American to combat the evils of today's music business." Singer Sheryl Crow, who was later to act as a mentor on the show, however took the view that the show "undermines art in every way and promotes commercialism". Pop music critic Ann Powers nevertheless suggested that Idol has "reshaped the American songbook", "led us toward a new way of viewing ourselves in relationship to mainstream popular culture", and connects "the classic Hollywood dream to the multicentered popular culture of the future." Others focused on the personalities in the show; Ramin Setoodeh of Newsweek accused judge Simon Cowell's cruel critiques in the show of helping to establish in the wider world a culture of meanness, that "Simon Cowell has dragged the rest of us in the mud with him." Some such as singer John Mayer disparaged the contestants, suggesting that those who appeared on Idol are not real artists with self-respect.

Some in the entertainment industry were critical of the star-making aspect of the show. Usher, a mentor on the show, bemoaning the loss of the "true art form of music", thought that shows like American Idol made it seem "so easy that everyone can do it, and that it can happen overnight", and that "television is a lie". Musician Michael Feinstein, while acknowledging that the show had uncovered promising performers, said that American Idol "isn't really about music. It's about all the bad aspects of the music business – the arrogance of commerce, this sense of 'I know what will make this person a star; artists themselves don't know.' " That American Idol is seen to be a fast track to success for its contestants has been a cause of resentment for some in the industry. LeAnn Rimes, commenting on Carrie Underwood winning Best Female Artist in Country Music Awards over Faith Hill in 2006, said that "Carrie has not paid her dues long enough to fully deserve that award". It is a common theme that has been echoed by many others. Elton John, who had appeared as a mentor in the show but turned down an offer to be a judge on American Idol, commenting on talent shows in general, said that "there have been some good acts but the only way to sustain a career is to pay your dues in small clubs". American Idol revolutionized American pop culture and the pop idol process and has provided an opportunity for many to bypass the small club scene and allow a much larger audience to participate in and select the next potential chart topping performer.

The success of the show's alumni, however, has led to a more positive assessment of the show, and the show was described as having "proven it has a valid way to pick talent and a proven way to sell records". While the industry is divided on the show success, its impact is felt particularly strongly in the country music format. According to a CMT exec, reflecting on the success of Idol alumni in the country genre, "if you want to try and get famous fast by going to a cattle call audition on TV, Idol reasonably remains the first choice for anyone", and that country music and Idol "go together well".

American Idol was nominated for the Emmy's Outstanding Reality Competition Program for nine years but never won. Director Bruce Gower won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series in 2009, and the show won a Creative Arts Emmys each in 2007 and 2008, three in 2009, and two in 2011, as well as a Governor's Award in 2007 for its Idol Gives Back edition. It won the People's Choice Award, which honors the popular culture of the previous year as voted by the public, for favorite competition/reality show in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012. It won the first Critics' Choice Television Award in 2011 for Best Reality Competition.

In 2013, TV Guide ranked the series No. 48 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time.

Geographical, ethnic, and gender bias

Throughout the series, twelve of the seventeen Idol winners, including its first five, had come from the Southern United States. A large number of other finalists during the series' run have also hailed from the American South, including Clay Aiken, Kellie Pickler, and Chris Daughtry, who are all from North Carolina. In 2012, an analysis of the 131 contestants who have appeared in the finals of all seasons of the show up to that point found that 48% have some connection to the Southern United States.

The show itself was popular in the Southern United States, with households in the Southeastern United States 10% more likely to watch American Idol during the eighth season in 2009, and those in the East Central region, such as Kentucky, were 16 percent more likely to tune into the series. Data from Nielsen SoundScan, a music-sales tracking service, showed that of the 47 million CDs sold by Idol contestants through January 2010, 85 percent were by contestants with ties to the American South.

Theories given for the success of Southerners on Idol have been: more versatility with musical genres, as the Southern U.S. is home to several music genre scenes; not having as many opportunities to break into the pop music business; text-voting due to the South having the highest percentage of cell-phone only households; and the strong heritage of music and singing, which is notable in the Bible Belt, where it is in church that many people get their start in public singing. Others also suggest that the Southern character of these contestants appeal to the South, as well as local pride. According to fifth season winner Taylor Hicks, who is from the state of Alabama, "People in the South have a lot of pride ... So, they're adamant about supporting the contestants who do well from their state or region."

For five consecutive seasons, starting in the seventh season, the title was given to a white male who plays the guitar – a trend that Idol pundits call the "White guy with guitar" or "WGWG" factor. Just hours before the eleventh-season finale, where Phillip Phillips was named the winner, Richard Rushfield, author of the book American Idol: The Untold Story, said, "You have this alliance between young girls and grandmas and they see it, not necessarily as a contest to create a pop star competing on the contemporary radio, but as .... who's the nicest guy in a popularity contest", he says, "And that has led to this dynasty of four, and possibly now five, consecutive, affable, very nice, good-looking white boys."

Start order bias

Some fans call the final performance of the night the "pimp spot" because it usually receives a big boost in votes, due to the recency effect. By performing first, a performer may benefit from the primacy effect, but any other early performance may be stifled. The second performance spot is sometimes called the "un-pimp spot" because it is the least beneficial.

Controversy

Main article: American Idol controversies

The show was criticized in earlier seasons over the onerous contract contestants had to sign that gave excessive control to 19 Entertainment over their future careers and handed a large part of their future earnings to the management.

Individual contestants have generated controversy in this competition for their past actions or for being 'ringers' planted by the producers. A number of contestants have been disqualified for various reasons, such as for having an existing contract or undisclosed criminal record, although the show has also been accused of a double standard for disqualifying some but not others.

Voting results have been a consistent source of controversy. The mechanism of voting has aroused considerable criticism, most notably in the second season when Ruben Studdard beat Clay Aiken in a close vote, and in the eighth season, when the massive increase in text votes fueled the texting controversy. Concerns about power voting have been expressed from the first season. Since 2004, votes also have been affected to a limited degree by online communities such as DialIdol and Vote for the Worst.

Cultural impact

Television

The enormous success of the show and the revenue it generated were transformative for the Fox Broadcasting Company. American Idol and other shows such as Survivor and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? were credited for expanding reality television programming in the United States in the 1990s and 2000s, and Idol became the most watched non-scripted primetime television series, which it remained for almost a decade, from 2003 to 2012, breaking records on U.S. television (dominated by drama shows and sitcoms in the preceding decades). On several occasions, notably in 2003 and 2008, American Idol overtook the Academy Awards as the most-watched non-sports entertainment event on U.S. television, marking the most recent time as of 2024 that a live regular non-sports primetime series has garnered such viewership in the country.

The show pushed Fox to become the number one U.S. TV network in overall viewers in 2008 and among adults aged 18–49, the key demographic coveted by advertisers, for an unprecedented eight consecutive years from 2005 to 2012. Its success also helped lift the ratings of other shows that were scheduled around it such as House and Bones, and Idol, for years, was Fox's strongest platform primetime television program for promoting eventual hit shows of the 2010s (of the same network) such as Glee, New Girl and Empire. The show, its creator Simon Fuller claimed, "saved Fox".

The show's massive success in the mid-2000s to early 2010s spawned a number of imitating singing-competition shows, such as Rock Star, Nashville Star, The Voice, Rising Star, The Sing-Off, and The X Factor. The number of imitative singing shows on American television had reached 17 by 2016. Its format also served as a blueprint for non-singing TV shows such as Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, most of which contribute to the current highly competitive reality TV landscape on American television.

Music

Main articles: American Idol alumni album sales and American Idol alumni single sales

As one of the most successful shows on U.S. television history, American Idol has had a strong impact not just on television, but also in the wider world of entertainment. It helped create a number of highly successful recording artists, such as Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry and Carrie Underwood, as well as others of varying notability. The alumni of the show's original run scored 13 Grammy Award wins out of 54 Grammy nominations up to its end in 2016, with Underwood and Clarkson receiving 10 wins combined.

Various American Idol alumni had success on various record charts around the world; in the U.S. they had achieved 345 number ones on the Billboard charts in its first 10 years, and 458 by its last year of broadcast in 2016, with 100 achieved by Kelly Clarkson alone. According to Fred Bronson, author of books on the Billboard charts, no other entity has ever created as many hit-making artists and bestselling albums and singles. In 2007, American Idol alums accounted for 2.1% of all music sales. Its alumni have a massive impact on radio; in 2007, American Idol had become "a dominant force in radio" according to Rich Meyer, president of the radio station monitoring research company Mediabase. By 2010, four winners each had more than a million radio spins, with Kelly Clarkson leading the field with over four million spins.

At the end of the show's original run on Fox in 2016, Idol's contestants have sold more than 60 million albums in the U.S. and more than 100 million records globally, more than 175 of which are certified platinum or gold. Its participants have generated more than 450 Billboard No. 1 hits and sold more than 260 million digital downloads.

Film and theater

Main article: American Idol alumni in film, television and theater

The impact of American Idol was also strongly felt in musical theater, where many of Idol alumni have forged successful careers. The striking effect of former American Idol contestants on Broadway has been noted and commented on. The casting of a popular Idol contestant can lead to significantly increased ticket sales. Other alumni have gone on to work in television and films, the most notable being Jennifer Hudson who, on the recommendation of the Idol vocal coach Debra Byrd, won a role in Dreamgirls and eventually went on to win an Academy Award for her performance. She later became the show's first and only alumnus ever to win the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). In all, as of 2024, American Idol finalists resulted to 5 Grammy Award winners (Clarkson, Barrino, Hudson, Underwood and Mandisa), 2 Emmy Award winners (Clarkson and Hudson), and an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Tony Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics' Choice Award winner (Hudson).

In 2007, a musical based on the show, Idol: The Musical, played off-Broadway. The musical closed after its official opening night.

Revenue and commercial ventures

The American Idol Experience marquee sign

The dominance of American Idol in the ratings had made it the most profitable show in U.S. TV for many years. The show was estimated to generate $900 million for the year 2004 through sales of TV ads, albums, merchandise and concert tickets. By the seventh season, the show was estimated to earn around $900 million from its ad revenue alone, not including ancillary sponsorship deals and other income. One estimate puts the total TV revenue for the first eight seasons of American Idol at $6.4 billion. Sponsors that bought fully integrated packages can expect a variety of promotions of their products on the show, such as product placement, adverts and product promotion integrated into the show, and various promotional opportunities. Other off-air promotional partners pay for the rights to feature "Idol" branding on their packaging, products and marketing programs. American Idol also partnered with Disney in its theme park attraction The American Idol Experience.

Advertising revenue

American Idol became the most expensive series on broadcast networks for advertisers starting the fourth season, and by the next season, it had broken the record in advertising rate for a regularly scheduled prime-time network series, selling over $700,000 for a 30-seconds slot, and reaching up to $1.3 million for the finale. Its ad prices reached a peak in the seventh season at $737,000. Estimated revenue more than doubled from $404 million in the third season to $870 million in the sixth season. While that declined from the eighth season onwards, it still earned significantly more than its nearest competitor, with advertising revenue topping $800 million annually the next few seasons. However, the sharp drop in ratings in the eleventh season also resulted in a sharp drop in advertising rate for the twelfth season, and the show lost its leading position as the costliest show for advertisers. By 2014, ad revenue from had fallen to $427 million where a 30-second spot went for less than $300,000. For the relaunched Idol on ABC, it has been reported that a 30-second spot may cost between $120,000 and $160,000.

Media sponsorship

Ford Motor Company and Coca-Cola were two of the first sponsors of American Idol in its first season. The sponsorship deal cost around $10 million in the first season, rising to $35 million by the seventh season, and between $50 and $60 million in the tenth season. The third major sponsor AT&T Wireless joined in the second season but ended after the twelfth season, and Coca-Cola officially ended its sponsorship after the thirteenth season amidst the declining ratings of Idol in the mid-2010s. iTunes sponsored the show since the seventh season.

American Idol prominent display of its sponsors' logo and products had been noted since the early seasons. By the sixth season, Idol showed 4,349 product placements according to Nielsen Media Research. The branded entertainment integration proved beneficial to its advertisers – promotion of AT&T text-messaging as a means to vote successfully introduced the technology into the wider culture, and Coca-Cola has seen its equity increased during the show.

  • Coca-Cola – Cups bearing logo of Coca-Cola, and occasionally its subsidiary Vitaminwater, are featured prominently on the judges table. Contestants are shown between songs held in the "Coca-Cola Red Room", the show's equivalent of the green room. (The Coca-Cola logo however is obscured during rebroadcast in the UK which until 2011 banned product placement.)
  • Ford – Contestants appear in the special Ford videos on the results shows, and winners Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks, and Kris Allen have also appeared in commercials for Ford. The final two each won a free Ford Mustang in the fourth through sixth seasons, Ford Escape Hybrid in the seventh season, Ford Fusion Hybrid in the eighth season, Ford Fiesta in the ninth season, and 2013 Ford Fusion in the eleventh season. In the tenth season Scotty McCreery chose a Ford F-150 and Lauren Alaina chose Shelby Mustang. In the red room, there is a glass table with a Ford wheel as its base.
  • AT&T – AT&T Mobility is promoted as the service provider for text-voting. AT&T created an ad campaign that centered on an air-headed teenager going around telling people to vote.
  • Apple iTunes – Ryan Seacrest announces the availability of contestants' performances exclusively via iTunes. Videos are regularly shown of contestants learning their songs by rehearsing with iPods.
  • Previous sponsors include Old Navy and Clairol's Herbal Essences. In the second and third seasons, contestants sometimes donned Old Navy clothing for their performances with celebrity stylist Steven Cojocaru assisting with their wardrobe selection, and contestants received Clairol-guided hair makeovers. In the seventh-season finale, both David Cook and David Archuleta appeared in "Risky Business"-inspired commercials for Guitar Hero, a sponsor of the tour that year.

Coca-Cola's archrival PepsiCo declined to sponsor American Idol at the show's start. What the Los Angeles Times later called "missing one of the biggest marketing opportunities in a generation" contributed to Pepsi losing market share, by 2010 falling to third place from second in the United States. PepsiCo sponsored the American version of Cowell's The X Factor in hopes of not repeating its Idol mistake until its cancellation.

For the revived series on ABC, Macy's and Johnson & Johnson's Zyrtec signed on as the major sponsors of the show.

American Idol tour

Tenth season American Idol tour, Scotty McCreery performing with Thia Megia, Haley Reinhart and Pia Toscano

The top ten (eleven in the tenth season, five in the fourteenth season, and seven in the sixteenth season) toured at the end of every season except for the fifteenth and seventeenth seasons. In the twelfth season tour a semi-finalist who won a sing-off was also added to the tour. Kellogg's Pop-Tarts was the sponsor for the first seven seasons, and Guitar Hero was added for the seventh season tour. M&M's Pretzel Chocolate Candies was a sponsor of the ninth season tour. The fifth season tour was the most successful tour with gross of over $35 million. However no concert tour was organized in the fifteenth and seventeenth seasons, the only seasons not to have an associated tour. The sixteenth season tour featured the band In Real Life as an opener on select dates.

Idol Gives Back

Main article: Idol Gives Back

Idol Gives Back was a special charity event started in season six featuring performances by celebrities and various fund-raising initiatives. This event was also held in seasons seven and nine and has raised nearly $185 million in total.

Music releases

Main articles: American Idol compilation series and American Idol Hot 100 singles

American Idol has traditionally released studio recordings of contestants' performances as well as the winner's coronation single for sale. For the first five seasons, the recordings were released as a compilation album at the end of the season. All five of these albums reached the top ten in Billboard 200 which made American Idol the most successful soundtrack franchise of any motion picture or television program. Starting late in the fifth season, individual performances were released during the season as digital downloads, initially from the American Idol official website only. In the seventh season the live performances and studio recordings were made available during the season from iTunes when it joined as a sponsor. In the tenth season the weekly studio recordings were also released as compilation digital album straight after performance night.

19 Recordings, a recording label owned by 19 Entertainment, currently hold the rights to phonographic material recorded by all the contestants. 19 Recordings originally partnered with Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) to promote and distribute the recordings through its labels RCA Records, Arista Records, J Records, and Jive Records. From 2005–2007, BMG partnered with Sony Music Entertainment to form a joint venture known as Sony BMG Music Entertainment. From 2008 to 2010, following their acquisition of BMG, Sony Music handled the distribution of American Idol's music. In 2010, UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records replaced Sony as the music label for American Idol.

Tie-ins

American Idol video games

Theme park attraction

Main article: The American Idol Experience

On February 14, 2009, The Walt Disney Company debuted "The American Idol Experience" at its Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. In this live production, co-produced by 19 Entertainment, park guests chose from a list of songs and auditioned privately for Disney cast members. Those selected then performed on a stage in a 1000-seat theater replicating the Idol set. Three judges, whose mannerisms and style mimicked those of the real Idol judges, critiqued the performances. Audience members then voted for their favorite performer. There were several preliminary-round shows during the day that culminated in a "finals" show in the evening where one of the winners of the previous rounds that day was selected as the overall winner. The winner of the finals show received a "Dream Ticket" that granted them front-of-the-line privileges at any future American Idol audition. The attraction closed on August 30, 2014.

American Idol Experience stage

Other broadcasts

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2021)

American Idol is broadcast to over 100 nations worldwide. In most nations these are not live broadcasts and may be tape delayed by several days or weeks, except for other season finales that are aired live in several countries simulcast with the U.S. broadcast on Fox (2002–2016) and ABC (since 2018). In Canada, the first thirteen seasons of American Idol were aired live countrywide by CTV and/or CTV Two, in simulcast with Fox. CTV dropped Idol after its thirteenth season and in August 2014, Yes TV announced that it had picked up Canadian rights to American Idol beginning in its 2015 season. In 2017, it was announced the show would return to CTV Two for its sixteenth season. Since season nineteen, the show started airing on Citytv. In Slovakia, American Idol was broadcast on Jednotka.

In Latin America, the show is broadcast and subtitled by Sony Entertainment Television. In Southeast Asia, it is broadcast by Sony Channel every Monday and Tuesday nine or ten hours after since its revival. In Philippines, it is aired every Thursday and Friday nine or ten hours after its United States telecast; from 2004 to 2007 on ABC 5; 2008–11 on QTV, then GMA News TV; and 2012–16, 2018–19 on ETC. In Indonesia, it was aired on RCTI in the 2002 to 2003 season with the Indonesian subtitles, before Indonesian Idol was held in the 2004, aired after each episode ended, and in the 2011 to 2013 season it was broadcast by B-Channel (now RTV). In Australia, it aired a few hours after the U.S. telecast. It was aired on Network Ten from 2002 to 2008 and then again in 2013. Between 2008 and 2012 it aired on Fox8 and the thirteenth and fourteenth seasons (2014–15) it aired on digital channel, Eleven, a sister channel to Network Ten. Its final season (2016) aired on Fox8 hours after the original U.S. broadcast. The show enjoyed a lot of popularity in Australia throughout the 2000s before declining in the ratings. In the United Kingdom, episodes were aired one day after the U.S. broadcast on digital channel ITV2. In the twelfth season, the episodes aired on 5*. It was also aired in Ireland on TV3 two days after the telecast. In Brazil and Israel, the show airs two days after its original broadcast, and broadcast live during the season finale. In the instances where the airing is delayed, the shows may sometimes be combined into one episode to summarize the results. In Italy, the twelfth season was broadcast by La3. In Singapore, The show was broadcast on Mediacorp Channel 5 for the ninth and tenth seasons.

Spin-offs

See also

Notes

References

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