It’s been a little over twenty years since The Amazing Race won the first Emmy for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, and in the time since, the Television Academy has steadily added more awards to honor the great work being done in the reality space. Given the popularity and staying power of the genre, those honors have been well deserved, but there’s still one huge omission the Television Academy needs to fix.

Producers, hosts, casting departments, cinematographers, costume designers and more working professionals are now eligible to win dedicated categories, but the actual people we tune into these shows to watch still aren’t eligible to win anything at the Emmys. That’s a problem, and it’s also a huge missed opportunity. We need a category that’s for Best Reality Competition Contestant And/ Or Cast Member, and we need it as soon as possible.

Imagine an alternate universe in which Survivor legends like Boston Rob, Parvati Shallow, Sandra Diaz-Twine and Cirie Fields were Emmy nominees or even winners. Imagine a world in which Big Brother favorites like Rachel Reilly, Dan Gheesling and Taylor Hale could brag forever about being recognized by the Academy. Imagine if standouts from Drag Race, Top Chef, Amazing Race, American Idol, Love Island, The Traitors and other competitions were eligible to do more than just win the show.

And that’s doubly true for the stars of more traditional reality shows. The Real Housewives are the most obvious example. Nene Leakes, Lisa Vanderpump, Teresa Giudice and so many others have turned millions of people into passionate and dedicated fans. They’re fantastic at what they do and deserve the chance to be honored in the same way as the stars of more traditional scripted shows. How much drama and intrigue and fun would have been created by some of these women being put head-to-head in the same Emmy category? I’d watch a multiple episode arc of that every season.

I’m sure there are any number of practical reasons why this hasn’t happened. I’m sure there are issues with union vs non union performers. I’m sure there are issues with feeling like these personalities are supposed to be “real people” and not professionals working on a show. I’m sure it would be awkward for voters to try and figure out how to compare Tom Sandoval to Rick Devens and Bob The Drag Queen.

I get that it’s complicated, but the Emmys are about honoring people doing great work in television. Clearly, the Television Academy has decided the reality genre is worth celebrating and is here to stay. I agree. Now it’s time to start celebrating the actual people we’re watching each season. With all due respect to hosts, it’s the actual contestants who make or break a season. Assumedly, that’s why, back in 2017, the Academy officially added Outstanding Casting For A Reality Program. Now it’s time to do the same for the contestants and cast members.

If it were up to me, I’d add four categories and do Best Male Star In A Reality Show, Best Female Star In A Reality Show, Best Male Competitor In A Competition Show and Best Female Competitor In A Competition Show. Honestly though, I’d settle for just one that more generally honors the stars in the entire Reality-Competition space. They’ve collectively earned their moment. Now it’s time we give it to them.

Kelly Clarkson may be one of the most renowned singers of our day — with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, her own eponymous talk show and multiple wins as a coach on The Voice to boot — but to her two children, River (11) and Remington (10) — she’s a mother first. However, the same can’t be said for her kids’ friends. Clarkson got real about one hilarious side effect of being as famous as she is, and it’s certainly something I’ve never thought about.

The American Idol champ may be “Mom” to her two little ones, but to their friends, she’s still the ridiculously famous singer of hits like “Since U Been Gone” and “Behind These Hazel Eyes.” As such, they apparently refer to her as any normal person would when addressing a celebrity of her caliber. She said on The Kelly Clarkson Show (via US Weekly):

I’m glad she finds humor in the situation, because it’s actually so adorable to think of tweens just constantly full-naming Kelly Clarkson. I can’t blame them, because I’d do the same thing!

There’s certainly an adjustment period when people stop calling you by your name, and you have to accept the fact that your identity is now being someone’s mom. Living in Texas — Kelly Clarkson’s home state — I also get a lot of “Miss” and “Ma’am,” which is fine because it’s not “Hey,” or “Bruh,” and I don’t expect them all to learn my name.

However, everybody knows Kelly Clarkson’s name, and wouldn't it be so weird to call her “Miss Kelly” or “River’s mom”? She’s won three Grammys for godsakes!

Even Jenna Bush Hager — who was Kelly Clarkson’s guest — admitted she wouldn’t be able to call the singer anything but her full name, saying:

The Today with Jenna & Sheinelle host said she didn’t have the same issue using first names for her colleagues like Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, but they’re such a family over there at the NBC morning show that that’s not really a surprise.

It’s possible that River and Remington’s friends might be seeing more of Kelly Clarkson soon, as the host is ending The Kelly Clarkson Show at the end of its seventh season. She admitted that she needed to take some things off of her plate in order to be there for her children, especially in the wake of their father Brandon Blackstock’s death last August.

I think it’s a great move for her family, but I doubt it’s going to make a difference in how her kids’ friends refer to her. You can still catch The Kelly Clarkson Show on weekdays on NBC through the fall (check your local listings), and she’ll be back on The Voice for its milestone 30th season, which will premiere on the 2026 TV schedule in September.

American Idol has produced a number of famous contestants, such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, and many, many more. Clay Aiken has also kept a steady music career since becoming the runner-up in the second season. He received some tough criticism during his Idol days, though, which he didn’t mind, and even though Simon Cowell called him ugly, he still thinks he’s a TV genius.

Clarkson may have forgotten who won the season after hers, but many people remember that Aiken came in second place, just behind Ruben Studdard. It’s known that judges during Idol’s early days, particularly Cowell, were pretty rude, making the competition as stiff as ever. The feedback these days is more constructive criticism where Underwood is concerned, but way back when, the critique wasn’t just about the singing. Aiken recalled to TV Insider how Cowell commented on his looks, and he didn’t even remember until just recently:

Considering it came from Cowell, it’s unfortunately not so surprising. The current America’s Got Talent judge was perhaps the scariest part about American Idol because you never knew what to expect with his feedback. And sometimes, he’d comment on much more than how you were sounding. However, there was apparently a very different side of Cowell that contestants ended up knowing that wasn’t really shown on camera:

It’s nice to know just what Cowell and the other judges were like behind the scenes and how supportive he was of all the contestants. He might have been scary and harsh with the feedback, but when it came to the backstage stuff, it was all love and support. Sometimes it can be hard to hear that honest feedback, but that’s what makes Cowell so great at it. He knows when to be harsh, he’s honest, and according to Aiken, that’s why he’s such a genius.

One of the most entertaining parts about American Idol’s early days was seeing Cowell get as harsh as possible with feedback, no matter how crushing it was for a contestant. The judges did not hold back, and Cowell was such a pain, according to Paula Abdul. Even though they’re not as severe these days, the harshness is definitely still there. Underwood, who won Season 4, has been a judge for two seasons now and doesn’t mind being booed because all she’s doing is motivating the contestants. There doesn’t seem to be any hard feelings between Aiken and Cowell, which is good, and I bet the same can be said for others who worked with the judge.

I would love it if Aiken and Cowell were to cross paths again, whether on America’s Got Talent or somewhere else, just to see what Cowell would say about him now. At the very least, Aiken returned to his stomping grounds, performing his new single “Rewind” towards the end of the latest season.

American Idol’s ninth season on ABC (and 24th overall) is beginning to wind down with the recent start of the live shows amid the 2026 TV schedule, and the fans have been quite vocal. Not only did they shatter voting records, but those in the crowd have made sure that they’re heard as well. That's particularly true when it comes to judge Carrie Underwood, who has been sharing brutally honest thoughts with contestants and bringing in a lot of boos in the process. However, Underwood doesn’t care about the blowback.

If anyone on Idol knows what it takes to win, it’s a judge who's also been that winner. Underwood is one of the most famous American Idol contestants, as she won Season 4 back in 2005. She's been on the other side of the judges’ table, and I could imagine that's partially why she has been so harsh with feedback. When Underwood appeared on the American Idol Official Podcast with fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, host Danielle Fishel brought up how she gave some “constructive criticism” about moments that were magical and moments that weren’t as good and got booed yet again. Underwood just had three simple words to say about it all:

Underwood previously took to social media to address the boos she’s gotte, revealing on X in early March that she got “booed A LOT” during Hollywood Week and, at that point, she also said she didn’t care. Her fellow judges have come to her defense, but it seems this all just comes with the territory. With Underwood having the experience she does, it makes sense for her to be a little harsher and have more critiques. However, during her appearance on the podcast, the "Before He Cheats" singer shared an even deeper explanation for her approach:

From the outside looking in, it seems quite tough being in the position Underwood, Bryan and Richie are in. American Idol continues to be watched by millions over two decades after its premiere on Fox, and viewers still seem to be quite invested in the contestants and the feedback they receive. Naturally, though, there are going to be times when a judge disagrees with how a performance played out and, again, having the experience they have, they just want to do right by the contestant to make sure they're receiving good feedback. I really appreciate just how candid Underwood is in driving that point home.

Carrie Underwood joined American Idol last season as a judge, replacing Katy Perry, who departed at the end of Season 7 to focus on her music. Her inclusion on the show coincided with the 20th anniversary of her win, and, unsurprisingly, she was pretty nostalgic when she stepped back into the Idol world. She still seems to be loving it, even with all the boos.

I wouldn't be surprised if Underwood dished out more constructive criticism on Idol and, with that, there may also be more boos from the crowd. At the very least, kudos to Underwood for her honesty and thick skin.

New episodes of American Idol air live on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and are streamable with a Disney+ subscription.

Ryan Seacrest is 51 and has even joked about how he's never been married, but he has been around the block when it comes to the dating scene. He recently admitted to a little “test” he likes to administer early on when spending time with a new person to see if they gel. The key to passing? “Politeness.”

The American Idol and Wheel of Fortune host is super famous, but he also feels it is extremely important to be courteous in public spaces. So, when asked about red flags in a new relationship, the host admitted he likes to do an outdoor activity to see how the person he’s with handles it. He said during an episode of On Air With Ryan Seacrest:

When he dropped this little nugget, his co-star blurted out, ‘It’s a test,’ to which Seacrest did not disagree. What he didn’t say is that it’s almost a two-part test, at least, in my opinion. The host is one of the busiest people working in the industry between his major hosting gigs, doing big carpet events, maintaining his radio show, and that's not even factoring in the myriad projects he produces. On top of this, exercise is obviously super important to him based on what he shares on social media.

I would assume if you aren’t the type of person to want to live an active lifestyle, then you aren’t going to be able to keep up with Ryan Seacrest, anyway. So doing an exercise date probably gets to the heart of a who a person is really quickly.

Seacrest didn’t just open up about red flags. He spoke about green flags, too. He said if you “do not have a boyfriend” that’s a green flag. Everyone roasted him, but he doubled down saying, ‘You have to start with this stuff.” He also loves having coffee with someone in the morning, but he hates milk, so he’s looking for a “black coffee drinker.” (The women all called him out for being too picky about this, but hey, a green flag is a green flag.)

It's not often we get these celebrity dating nuggets, so to run down the do's of dating Ryan Seacrest here:

• Don’t have a boyfriend.
• Do drink black coffee.
• Do have an alarm with “pleasant chime sounds.”
• Please be able to get ready in “under 27 minutes.” (Yes, that specific.)

The TV personality was famously in a relationship for eight years with Shayna Taylor, and they allegedly broke up when she wanted “a commitment” that was a little more serious. He had another long-term relationship with Aubrey Paige from 2021-2024. He’s been single since, though he’s been spotted with some big names, including an Australian realtor. If I had to hedge, he’s probably had more than one exercise date on the docket in recent months. Hopefully, everyone passed the “test.”

American Idol has made some music stars household names over the years. It’s also turned some of its also-rans into viral sensations. However, sometimes people who have auditioned for the show have gone on to become famous in their own right. Such was the case with Reacher star Alan Ritchson.

If you’re a fan of Idol, or of Ritchson, or you just spend far too many hours of your life on the internet, there’s a good chance you already knew that Alan Ritchson once auditioned for American Idol. The fact that he attempted to charm his way onto the Idol stage by serenading Paula Abdul is well-known. But if you haven’t seen the clip before, you really need to. It really is a hilarious preface to the actor's machismo-driven career path.

For as many people who have seen this clip before, there are always those for whom it is new when it ends up making the rounds on social media. It’s honestly worth it to see it every now and then because the reactions are always great. Comments here include:

• Alan Ritchson has always been hot before be beefed up. - @AreYourOrLah
• Crazy fit for AI? Alan Ritchson in Idol era must’ve been a vibe. - @yappingbucket
• wait alan ritchson on idol? that's wild - @UseVektorizeAI
• Don't think ive ever seen Reacher smile, nevermind sing - @gigidygigidygo

While some in the comments are critical of Ritchson’s singing, I’d argue he’s not all that bad. It’s difficult to imagine that he was ever going to win American Idol, but the guy can carry a tune.

The fact that we’re seeing this clip again is no accident. Ritchson’s name has been in the news recently following a physical altercation with a neighbor that resulted in a very different video going viral, one that showed Ritchson striking a man several times. In the end, it was Ritchson who was offered the opportunity to press charges in the incident, as the police believed the other man could be charged with reckless endangerment, but Ritchson declined.

The time will probably come several years down the line when the video of Ritchson's physical altercation will go viral again, and a lot of people will be surprised by it, having never seen it before.

For those fans keeping score, Alan Ritchson received three positive votes for his little serenade, but he was eliminated early in Season 3, before American Idol reached the final 32 contestants. No need to worry about him fizzling out of Hollywood, however, as indicated by all of his successes.

Ritchson recently wrapped post-production on Season 4 of Reacher, which is promised soon. He’s also expected to appear in the upcoming spinoff series Neagley. Both shows are available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Artists who compete on talent shows like American Idol need to feel confident in what they wear on stage in order to deliver the best possible performance. Why shouldn’t that same rule apply to the hosts? Ryan Seacrest gave viewers a treat on the March 30 episode of the singing competition that aired on the 2026 TV schedule by going barefoot, and yeah, he knows those tootsies are going viral.

As the Top 14 American Idol contestants took the stage on March 30, Kyndal Inskeep wore no shoes as she sang "Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus" to match the night’s theme of Songs of Faith. Ryan Seacrest decided to forgo his footwear as well when he joined her on stage, and he spoke to ET about it afterward, saying:

In his 25th year as American Idol’s host, I’d imagine Ryan Seacrest can pretty much get away with wearing anything he wants on stage, short of another “penis panic” wardrobe malfunction, of course. You can see Seacrest’s barefoot moment below:

The host was then asked if he was aware of the website dedicated to celebrity feet, and it turns out he is … even if he didn’t get the name exactly right. He said:

That might just be the most relatable thing Ryan Seacrest has ever said. Who wants to drop a whole bunch of cash on a nice pedicure, just to shove your feet back into socks and shoes?

As for the Wheel of Fortune host’s WikiFeet footprint, Ryan Seacrest is well-represented, with his feet earning a respectable score of 4.9 out of 5 stars. Try not to get too excited, but the site also features a video of Seacrest peeling a banana with his bare feet back from his Live with Kelly and Ryan days. Ah, the Internet never fails to provide.

I’m all for Ryan Seacrest feeling grounded and getting to show off his pedi, but I do worry a little about that dirty stage floor with so many people stomping around over the course of American Idol’s airtime. I fear we may have a Benny Blanco situation on our hands.

Ryan Seacrest going barefoot may not have been the most shocking part of Monday's Top 14 episode. The host announced that after receiving more than 10 million votes, more time was needed to determine which 12 contestants were moving forward to perform next week.

The results will be revealed at the beginning of the next episode, so tune in at 8 p.m. ET Monday, April 6, on ABC to see what happens. American Idol episodes are also available to stream the next day with a Hulu subscription.

The Kelly Clarkson Show will come to an end after seven seasons, as the Emmy-winner announced last week. Clarkson's big move will allow her to focus on her children after the death last year of their father Brandon Blackstock. However, Clarkson isn’t the only American Idol alum who’s since found success in daytime talk shows. Jennifer Hudson also has become a celebrated host, and she shared her unique perspective on the situation.

It’s not known exactly when Kelly Clarkson will host her final episode, just that it will be sometime on the 2026 TV schedule. When that day comes, she’ll get nothing but well-wishes from one fellow American Idol contestant, as Jennifer Hudson told Variety at the premiere of her new movie Goat:

It’s pretty sweet that Jennifer Hudson would use the animated movie’s title to reference someone else as the “Greatest Of All Time,” especially since they’re technically in competition for daytime viewers.

While both are among American Idol’s most famous contestants, they did not compete against each other on the show. Kelly Clarkson won the first season in 2002, with Jennifer Hudson finishing seventh on Season 3 (and yes, fans are still upset about that).

In addition to making music, both went on to pursue other opportunities post-Idol before the talk show world came knocking. They were both coaches on The Voice, for instance, and Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls before hitting the Broadway stage and ultimately earning an EGOT.

The Kelly Clarkson Show debuted in 2019, with The Jennifer Hudson Show following in 2022. They’ve both become hits, with Clarkson’s winning 24 Daytime Emmys and J-Hud’s earning a dozen nominations. Hudson’s viral Spirit Tunnel videos have become a phenomenon unto themselves.

Rumors that Kelly Clarkson was quitting TV plagued the singer throughout 2025 — even after it was learned that her unexplained absences and canceled shows were due to the illness and ultimate death of ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. Insiders continued to suggest that her enthusiasm for The Kelly Clarkson Show was waning and that she would walk away after her contract expired following Season 7.

That turned out to be what happened, as she said it was “not an easy decision,” but:

Kelly Clarkson is reportedly “excited” about having more flexibility with her schedule to focus on her children River, 11, and Remington, 9, as well as continue to write and record music and even make more appearances on The Voice.

In fact, she’s set to appear alongside Adam Levine and John Legend on The Voice’s revamped Season 29 with all-new twists for what is being dubbed the “Battle of Champions.” Tune in at 9 p.m. ET Monday, February 23, on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription. You can also check your local listings to see when to catch The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Ryan Seacrest already seemed like one of the busiest men in showbiz between his American Idol hosting duties and leading the game on Wheel of Fortune, but apparently having a busy work schedule doesn't mean skipping gym days. The former Live with Ryan and Kelly co-lead took to social media to show off his workout now that American Idol is back in gear in the 2026 TV schedule. Let it not be said that he doesn't have his priorities, because he included "hair" among the muscle groups he's targeting!

You wouldn't necessarily think that hosting American Idol would be the most physically demanding job in Hollywood, but Luke Bryan recently shared that there's a lot of work that Seacrest puts in that viewers never see. Check out the routine that keeps him in great physical shape:

Well, working out to "Neverender" by Justice & Tame Impala isn't quite as on-brand for Ryan Seacrest training for American Idol as if he'd posted the video to the tune of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This," but whatever gets the heart pumping works! For longtime fans of the host, the video also gives a rare look at the back of his hair from above. Considering he always looks camera-ready for Idol, Wheel of Fortune, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, and more, it was a bold move to share this video.

While Seacrest isn't exactly doing lunges or lifts in the middle of an episode of American Idol on ABC (or streaming next day with a Hulu subscription), stamina is surely a factor. The auditions may only take a couple of hours per week for viewers to watch the process, but a lot more work goes into it that involves Ryan Seacrest. It's impressive that the host ever has time to sleep.

The wordless workout video is certainly a shift from some of his other recent posts, including his invention of his version of Charcuterie Chips, a.k.a. pimentos, capers, canned sardines, and lemon zest all piled into a bag of unsalted chips that was sliced open. Take a look:

The commenters on the video seemed to be split on whether this looks delicious or disgusting, but it was enough for him to be the target of American Idol supervising digital producer Adam Davis' "hot take snack" of a banana, peanut butter, and crushed Cool Ranch Doritos on Instagram. Seacrest was a good sport about it... although in fairness, banana and peanut butter is already a pretty conventional combination!

That video was posted shortly before Seacrest was ready to show off his workout video, so it's entertaining to go from one to the other. The American Idol host has been rolling with the punches going back to the very beginning when he shared the screen with Brian Dunkleman. At this point, it seems like he's willing to try just about anything at least once, including a multi-step workout routine that shows off some intensity that fans don't often see on the ABC competition show.

Tune in to ABC on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET to see Ryan Seacrest in action as longtime host of American Idol. Don't count on seeing him wordlessly working out in athletic wear on the show, but I think it's a safe bet fans will be able to appreciate the "hair" part of his "Arms. Legs. Hair. Repeat." approach.

Ryan Seacrest shot to mainstream fame back in 2002 when he debuted as the co-host of American Idol, and he has served as the solo host for the 24 seasons since. The show has changed judges and even networks over the years, but Seacrest is as present in the 2026 TV schedule as he was back in the early 2000s. The competition show returned for the ninth season on ABC and 25th season overall, prompting the host to open up about a wholesome trend he's noticed recently.

Seacrest, who keeps an extremely busy schedule now with Wheel of Fortune on top of his Idol duties, spoke with People about how he keeps his energy up for the show more than two decades and 25 seasons in. He said:

Back when Kelly Clarkson was still just a hopeful singer who didn't know she was on a TV show and Ryan Seacrest was co-hosting with Brian Dunkleman in 2002, nobody could have known that American Idol would become the pop culture juggernaut that it is today. Now, circa 2026, viewers are seeing singers who might have been watching Kelly Clarkson and her successors from home, dreaming of one day making it to the stage themselves.

And who better than the man who has been around from the very beginning to notice trends over the years? Seacrest went on to share a realization that he had more recently than when Kelly Clarkson was belting "A Moment Like This" as the first-ever American Idol champion:

Season 9 only just premiered on January 26 on ABC (and is available streaming now with a Hulu subscription), so there are surely many more artists like the ones Ryan Seacrest described on the way in the coming weeks. The contestants certainly have some former competitors worth looking up to.

Not only did Kelly Clarkson win the first season, but she is the artist behind some of the catchiest pop songs of the last quarter century, hosts her own talk show, coached The Voice to more wins than anybody other than Blake Shelton, and toured around the world. Jennifer Hudson stands as one of the few EGOT winners in history despite not even winning her season of Idol, Carrie Underwood has eight Grammys to her name, and Adam Lambert joined with the one and only Queen.

And hey, if there are any out there who have TV hosting dreams of their own, Ryan Seacrest is a stellar example. In addition to American Idol and now Wheel of Fortune, Seacrest spent six seasons co-hosting Live with Kelly and Ryan alongside Kelly Ripa, and he returned to ABC for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve to ring in the new year from 2025 to 2026.

Tune in to American Idol on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with Season 9 of the ABC revival and Season 25 of the series overall. You can also stream next day on Hulu.

Career-wise, it feels like there’s very little that Kelly Clarkson hasn’t done. Since finding fame as the very first winner of American Idol, she has starred in a movie, toured all over the world, become a mom, provided commentary at the Olympics, started a talk show and won Emmy Awards for it. There is no venue too big for Clarkson’s powerhouse vocals, but of everything she’s accomplished, there was just one audience that left her “terrified” — her child’s classroom.

Kelly Clarkson is used to the spotlight, but apparently, it feels different when all of those looks are coming from children — and not just any children, but the ones your own kid has to see every day. She opened up about the harrowing experience when Saturday Night Live comedian (and new children’s book author) Kenan Thompson visited The Kelly Clarkson Show, admitting to him:

Yes, I left “sang for the pope” off the above list of Kelly Clarkson's accomplishments, but that’s a pretty good example to describe just how much pressure she felt going in front of a classroom to read a book. Maybe if she’d been up there to sing, rather than read, she would have felt slightly more at home.

Kenan Thompson agreed that reading for children is terrifying because at that young age, they have no filter, and they’re not afraid to share their opinions, no matter how brutal the truth could be.

Neither Kelly Clarkson nor Kenan Thompson seemed to actually have had a bad experience with any of the students, thankfully, because I can understand the main reason Clarkson would be nervous. She said:

Kelly Clarkson has two children, 11-year-old River and 9-year-old Remington, whom she shared with her ex-husband. Brandon Blackstock died in August after a long, private battle with cancer, and sources say that while Clarkson’s children have always been her priority, she’s especially focused on being present now.

I wonder if that means more trips to the classroom might be in order!

Either way, even those outside of her kids’ school will be able to see more of Kelly Clarkson soon, as she’s returning as a coach on The Voice when Season 29 hits the 2026 TV schedule next month. She’s joining fellow veterans Adam Levine and John Legend for a revamped season dubbed “Battle of Champions.”

Catch the premiere at 9 p.m. ET Monday, February 23, on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription. You can also continue to see Kelly Clarkson weekdays on her talk show (check your local listings for time and channel).

When American Idol premieres its 24^th season on the 2026 TV schedule on Monday, January 26, we'll get to see Ryan Seacrest back in action once again. Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Idol winner Carrie Underwood will also be returning to the judges’ panel. However, I note the host, because Seacrest has been in the Idol game since the very beginning, going all the way back to his frosted tips. Plus, Bryan decided to give the longtime host his flowers by explaining how much work his colleague does on the show (and let me tell you, it's a heavier workload than I expected).

Seacrest is known for putting in more work than the average person. Between his radio show, his hosting gigs on American Idol and Wheel of Fortune, running his nonprofit organization, and so much more, he is seemingly always working. While some may think that hosting isn’t too big of a deal and it’s just announcing, it’s actually a lot more than that. And it’s something that Seacrest has been doing on American Idol for years.

Luke Bryan, who has been a judge since the beginning of the revived series, praised Seacrest and his job specifically while speaking to TV Insider and explaining the complexity of the gig. He said:

The fact that Seacrest has to study scripts, memorize the camera blocking, and be ready to roll with the unpredictability of reality television is miraculous. Of course, he’s had some flubs over the years, but since he’s been hosting American Idol for so long, everything is probably second-nature to him. Clearly, he's a pro at it all, and has been for a while, as Bryan explained. So, while this all sounds like a lot, it's probably just a normal weekday for the longtime host.

Even though I knew that Ryan Seacrest’s hosting gig on American Idol was anything but relaxing, it’s crazy to know what all he’s dealing with behind the scenes. Since he keeps coming back season after season, he doesn’t seem to mind the heavy workload. Either that, or he’s just having the time of his life and doesn’t want it to stop. And I can’t say I blame him, since Idol keeps proving to be a success.

Meanwhile, Seacrest actually addressed his busy schedule last year, saying he does sleep and he actually gets a “good night’s sleep.” So, while it seems like he has an unfathomable workload to me between hosting Wheel of Fortune and Idol full-time (among many other things), clearly, he has a routine and work ethic that works really well for him.

Considering American Idol Season 24 (which you will be able to watch on ABC and stream with a Hulu subscription) has already been in full swing with auditions, Seacrest has been as busy as ever, and that business will continue once the season actually premieres and the live shows begin later. You never know what to expect with live television, but Seacrest has proven time and time again that he’s ready for anything.

American Idol will mark its 24^th overall season during the 2026 TV schedule, while The Voice is wrapping up its 28^th season amid the 2025 TV schedule. For years, fans have been able to root for their favorite aspiring singers on a number of singing competition shows However, with a handful of artists using social media as a stepping stone instead of TV, some viewers may be surprised that artists are still trying to emerge by way of the small screen. Now, Simon Cowell is sharing his take on this.

Cowell knows all too well what it takes to make it big on TV. He’s judged and produced a host of singing competition shows, including American Idol, and also created, judged, and produced The X Factor UK. He's also behind the Got Talent franchise, which has various international spinoffs and offshoots. With a handful of outlets for people to get their start on TV, Cowell acknowledged to Page Six that more people are gradually trying to make it big online, but he’s not so sure how it will work out for them:

Of course, a lot of popular artists that have been discovered online but, in reality, it doesn't seem to happen as often as people might think. Simon Cowell does make a good point in that a lot of singers upload videos of themselves online in the hopes of being discovered and, in many cases, their videos are buried underneath hundreds of thousands of other clips of people trying to do the same thing. So what does Cowell think is the best course of action for artists trying to make it to the big leagues? Here's what he said:

Even if someone only makes it to the audition phase of a show, that still could provide sheer exposure for a singer. After all, shows like American Idol and The Voice are viewed seen by millions of people. That being said, even being on those shows doesn’t always help a person's career, but I still can't say I blame Cowell for believing aspiring singers have more a chance on TV than on the Internet. Heck, even Brian Littrell's own son was on Idol.

Some of American Idol’s most famous contestants include Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry, just to name a few. Other successful artists that have made it big, thanks to a singing competition series are One Direction, Little Mix, Fifth Harmony, Carly Rae Jepsen, Melanie Martinez and Cher Lloyd. So the proof is in the pudding.

It's likely that for the foreseeable future, there will be people who prefer trying to make it big via social media rather than on TV and vice versa. Of course, despite Simon Cowell's take, that doesn’t necessarily mean one method is worse than the other. As previously mentioned, many artists have become successful by starting out online, such as Justin Bieber, Troye Sivan, Shawn Mendes, Tori Kelly and Billie Eilish. So just about anything seems possible in this music landscape.

ABC’s version of American Idol is worlds away from what it was like in the beginning, with the trio of current judges never coming anywhere near to the revulsion and other over-the-top reactions from OG mainstay Simon Cowell. Of course, the producer’s frank and unbridled comments were a big part of what made the show such a gobsmacking hit during its early years, even if fellow judges like Paula Abdul thought he was a pain. But despite viewers blaming him at the time for Jennifer Hudson’s shocking elimination, he stands by his innocence, as it were.

Speaking to Rolling Stone about his exciting new show Simon Cowell: The Next Act, which dropped its first trailer recently and became a seeming threat to the likes of other talent-showcasing shows like Idol and The Voice. When asked if Hudson’s infamous vote-off came across as a problem with the process, Cowell said the issue didn’t involve anything behind the scenes, but what was on the screen. He explained:

That early on in the lifespan of reality TV singing competitions, without social media playing into it, a contestant's song choice definitely had a bigger potential to impact an outcome. So while we'll never truly know how far Hudson would have gone in Season 3 had she not made Barry Manilow's, "Weekend in New England" her song choice, Simon Cowell seems pretty convinced that she would have moved on beyond the Top 7.

I have to think that she still could landed the Dreamgirls role even if she'd been eliminated in successive weeks, or even won out entirely, since it was well over a year later when the casting wasn't announced. But regardless, no one can argue that both Idol and Dreamgirls were huge milestones in her wildly successful career that led to her become one of the few rarefied EGOT winners.

What was argued, at least around the time of American Idol's third season, was that Cowell was somehow to blame for Hudson being voted off, even though the show's trio didn't actually do the voting. He continued:

Sure, any of Cowell's harsh on-screen comments could sway those voting at home at any point, but it'd be patently impossible to prove him culpable for Hudson's elimination. Unless someone discovered he had a home gymnasium full of sentient monkeys and robots calling in votes for the other contestants. But that seems...unlikely.

Simon Cowell has been lending his skills-seeking expertise to the NBC staple America's Got Talent, but as mentioned above, will soon debut a brand new series within that subgenre. Check out the trailer below!

Wil Jennifer Hudson pop up on Cowell's new show the way he appeared on her talk show for their first in-person chat in 18 years? Probably not, but find out when Simon Cowell: The Next Act begins streaming via Netflix subscription on Wednesday, December 10.

Simon Cowell earned notoriety during the early aughts for sharing his harsh feedback on American Idol. Yet the media personality has sustained a successful presence within the reality competition circuit. Now, he’s taking a moment to reminisce about Idol's first season on Fox (which aired in 2002) as well as its breakout star, Kelly Clarkson. Cowell also explained how Clarkson’s star power -- and her likeability factors -- helped the show avoid flopping.

Ahead of the release of his upcoming Netflix show, The Next Act (for which a trailer was recently released), Cowell chatted with Rolling Stone about the various competition shows he's been a part of. Naturally, American Idol, the small-screen juggernaut that kicked off the singing competition show craze, came up. With that, Clarkson's victory during that inaugural season was also mentioned. All in all, Cowell, seems to have positive feelings about how Clarkson closed out Season 1, saying:

I 100% agree with his feelings about the OG American Idol winner, and I feel that Tamara Gray could've given her a run for her money. And, while she didn't enter the competition until Season 3, Jennifer Hudson also could've given Clarkson some competition. (If you couldn’t guess, I was watching in real time and was devastated when Gray and Hudson were booted in their respective seasons.) Ultimately, though, the “Stronger” singer’s historic reality show moment was just the beginning of a career that would be marked by multiple hit albums, a Vegas residency and even a nationally syndicated talk show.

Kelly Clarkson's iconic win was also huge for the success of American Idol. Simon Cowell seemed to be confident, in some ways, about the show's potential to dominate in the ratings. However, that was far from a certainty for the series, which was also featured Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson as judges. When talking about his headspace, Cowell said:

Again, his assessment, to me, is spot on, as Clarkson was just a young woman going about her business in Texas. But, even with that shimmer of hope, the margin of error was huge, given that televised talent competitions hadn’t blended with reality shows in a fuller capacity at that point. At that point, series like Survivor and The Bachelor were on the reality competition scene alongside MTV’s offbeat offerings. Star Search already existed, but that show had been off the air for years by the time Idol arrived.

Obviously, since Kelly Clarkson won that first year, American Idol has had its fair shares of ups and downs. Other shows offering similarly exciting fare also entered the arena and shifted the paradigm, so to speak. Also, even years in, Abdul left the show, Cowell left soon after, and Jackson called it quits just shy of the 15th Season, with Ryan Seacrest remaining as host throughout the entire run . Eventually, Fox canceled the show in 2016, but it gained new life in 2018 when ABC picked it up for more episodes.

Even though it's been over two decades since Cowell and co. crowned Clarkson the first American Idol, the show remains a pop culture staple. And, quite frankly, I love to see it.

American Idol is set to return to ABC amid the 2026 TV schedule. In the meantime, stream episodes of the show using a Hulu subscription.

American Idol fans are likely pleased to know that Carrie Underwood will again sit alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie when the singing competition’s 24th season kicks off on the 2026 TV schedule. Not only is she returning as a judge for a second season of the singing competition she won two decades ago, she’s also trying to impact pop culture. The country music star pitched an idea for ending the viral “6-7” trend, and she might be onto something.

In-person auditions have begun for American Idol Season 24, as evidenced by an amusing video of Carrie Underwood talking to a potential contestant named Uzziah. The phrase “6-7” gets brought up — as it does oh so often these days — and she shared a pretty brilliant idea for making it all stop:

In the video — posted, appropriately, 67 days before American Idol returns on January 26 — the hopeful contestant mentions hearing kids say, “6-7” all day. Carrie Underwood responds by doing the corresponding hand movement before enlisting Uzziah’s help in ending the trend. She said:

Carrie Underwood has two boys at home, born in 2015 and 2019, and as someone with a teen and a pre-teen myself, I stand in solidarity. Honestly, what did schools think was going to happen when they started banning the phrase? That’s a good way to ensure the longevity of a trend, not the end of it.

To that point, I agree with Carrie Underwood and Uzziah here — I think this could work. Not because I think kids know (or care) about the Tommy Tutone song “867-5309/Jenny” from the ‘80s, but because nothing kills the vibes quicker than when mom starts singing.

Admittedly, this is probably not true in Carrie Underwood’s case, but the quickness with which I can empty a room is impressive, and my girls will be scurrying in double-time if the tune I’m singing has the numbers “6-7” in it. Even without the singing part of it, when adults start using popular slang terms, it’s time to retire them (the slang, not the adults).

So far, Dictionary.com making it its Word of the Year for 2025 hasn’t deterred those Gen Alphas, so it’s possible that the invincibility of “6-7” is as nonsensical as its meaning. As for what it means, exactly, it’s one of the more unsatisfying responses you’ll get from Google or Urban Dictionary or wherever you go when you’re too ashamed to ask a real person. Its popularity stems from the rap song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla, and Dictionary.com basically says it’s a catch-all word with no definition.

Wow, dictionary, you had literally one job. The entry reads, in part:

Will enough people attempt Carrie Underwood’s strategy of phasing out the term? Will something different and even more nonsensical take its place? I certainly can’t say, but I can tune in to see American Idol try to find the next music superstar who can impart their own will on pop culture. Season 24 kicks off at 8 p.m. ET Monday, January 26 on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

One easy way to avoid the crippling heat outside is to keep track of all the new Netflix shows, upcoming horror series, returning network dramas, new DC projects and more, and then just watch it all inside somewhere air-conditioned and comfortable. (Not official medical advice.) July 2026 is bringing a lot of new and returning shows that make staying inside sound downright brilliant.

Sci-fi fan? New seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Silo and the Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe have you covered. True crime? Check out Murder 101. Love animation? X-Men '97 Season 2, King of the Hill Season 15 and the Ghost in the Shell anime debut this month. And get ready to laugh at Will Ferrell's The Hawk and Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham in Ride or Die. Keep reading for more, or click a specific month to jump right to it.

NOTE: New series premieres are listed in ALL CAPS, and all times listed below are in ET/EST.

July 2026 TV Premieres

At long last, Paramount+ revealed that fans can look forward to the fourth genre-mashing season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in July, which also comes peppered with returns from Apple TV's sci-fi fave Silo, the long-running reality series Project Runway, and the final story-concluding feature from Netflix's Heartstopper. By way of new shows, Anya Taylor Joy shows off her skills in Apple's Lucky, and I'm shamelessly intrigued by Tubi's new adult-animated comedy Breaking Bear co-starring Brendan Fraser and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

August 2026 TV Premieres

August is a huge months for streaming. Ted Lasso is making its long-awaited Season 4 return on Apple TV, and we also have the DCU mystery drama Lanterns, Outer Banks' final season, Lioness' third season, Reacher Season 4, and the Ricky Gervais animated series Alley Cats, to name but a few.

September 2026 TV Premieres

September is always a huge time for NFL fans, but boxing fanatics are also waiting for this year's Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout on Netflix. This month also marks the return of Shemar Moore's Hondo in S.W.A.T. Exiles, premiering on Starz, and Maria Sten's Reacher character Neagley for her self-titled spinoff.

October 2026 TV Premieres

Amidst all of the broadcast network legacy dramas returning in October, arguably the biggest standalone series premiering is the MCU's VIsionQuest, with Paul Bettany reprising his Avengers hero, or something of that nature, for a story that's also bringing James Spader's Ultron back into the mix. But if you're a horror fan, it's hard to argue against the Friday the 13th prequel Crystal Lake or Mike Flanagan's Carrie. (Which technically still doesn't have a locked-down date.)

November 2026 TV Premieres

The November 2026 project i'm most interested in at the moment, outside of NBC's hilarious Monday night comedies, is the debut of Netflix adult animated series Bass x Machina, an action-filled western steampunk starring Brian Tyree Henry and Cree Summer. 'Nuff said, really.

December 2026 TV Premieres

2026 Shows Without Premiere Dates

Quite a few upcoming TV shows are presumed to be starting up in 2026, but without official premiere dates set in stone. Here's a round-up of some of the biggest projects that we can probably expect to see at some point later this year.

• 3 Body Problem Season 2 - Netflix
• BLADE RUNNER 2099 - Prime Video
• CAMP ROCK 3 [TV Movie] - Disney Channel
• COVEN ACADEMY - Disney Channel
• DESCENDANTS: WICKED WONDERLAND [TV Movie] Disney Channel
• The Diplomat Season 4 - Netflix
• The Hunting Wives Season 2 - Netflix
• MONSTER: THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY - Netflix
• Nobody Wants This Season 3 - Netflix
• Saturday Night Live Season 52 - NBC
• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 4 - AMC
• The Witcher Season 5 (Final Season) - Netflix
• Yellowjackets Season 4 (Final Season) - Paramount+

Remember to check back for more dates as they're revealed by networks and streaming services in the coming months.

The number of jobs that Ryan Seacrest holds — especially those big hosting gigs — has been marveled at for years. Between Wheel of Fortune (whose new season just premiered on the 2025 TV schedule), American Idol, his American Top 40 radio show and more, I’ve always wondered when the man finds time to sleep. Well, someone finally asked him that question.

Ryan Seacrest’s second season as the new host of Wheel of Fortune just started (with episodes now streaming next-day with a Hulu subscription or Peacock subscription) after taking over last year from Pat Sajak. Despite the game show adding to Seacrest’s already-full schedule, he assures fans that he is finding time to get some shut-eye, telling People:

In addition to hosting one of the best game shows of all time and the other shows mentioned above, Ryan Seacrest has also published a children’s book, The Make-Believers, works with pediatric hospitals through his Ryan Seacrest Foundation and hosts the weekly syndicated radio show On Air with Ryan, among other things, so yes, one can see how his waking hours might quickly be filled.

It makes sense, then, why he’d like to shorten the 15-minute breaks between Wheel of Fortune tapings to 9 minutes. Every second counts when you’re Ryan Seacrest.

As for falling asleep immediately to make sure he’s refreshed enough for the next activity-filled day, the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve host has a trick. He said:

That’s a pretty good idea, given how important it is for him to get his rest. Back in 2020, fans thought Ryan Seacrest was having a stroke when his face drooped and his speech started to slur during American Idol’s live finale. The host said his viral health scare was due to exhaustion, and in the years that followed, he reportedly got better at not overworking.

In fact, part of the reason he walked away from Live with Kelly and Ryan was allegedly to avoid the burnout of traveling back and forth between Los Angeles and New York.

Sleep is an important part of everyone’s health, but it seems especially important to get that mental and physical recovery when you’re as busy as Ryan Seacrest is — not to mention the physical toll Wheel of Fortune takes with contestants getting physical with him, his propensity to hit the floor to show off his breakdancing moves, and chasing after huge blocks of cheese.

I guess staying active helps the host stay awake, and I can definitely see how he can fall asleep the second his head hits his special pillow. I hope he’s rested up, because the new Wheel of Fortune season has just begun — with that new wedge on the wheel. Check your local listings to see when it plays in your area, or stream episodes the next day on Peacock or Hulu.

As America’s Got Talent continues to air on the 2025 TV schedule, Simon Cowell remains a fan-favorite judge, offering plenty of encouragement and compassion to contestants, in addition to his blunt critiques. He’s even called out producers for being “very mean” to the Season 20 contestants. How the tables have turned! Back in the early days of American Idol, Cowell was known for his rudeness, and fellow OG judge Paula Abdul had a pretty specific way of dealing with him.

Paula Abdul paid a visit to The Jennifer Hudson Show, reuniting with the EGOT winner years after J-Hud (shockingly) finished in seventh place on American Idol Season 3. The Dreamgirls actress told the audience that Abdul was definitely the “nice” judge back then, when she sat alongside Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Hudson said she gave the contestants gifts and offered encouragement, calling her the “softest” of the trio, to which Abdul replied:

Ah, Simon Cowell. He and Paula Abdul definitely did not see eye to eye for much of the first eight seasons, before the “Straight Up” singer left American Idol. They went at each other on camera and under the table, apparently, as Abdul revealed:

Jennifer Hudson agreed that in her experience, Simon Cowell “wasn’t too nice” back then, but he’s been a guest on her talk show — he was actually her very first guest back when The Jennifer Hudson Show premiered in 2022 — and she noted that he’s “so mellow” now.

Paula Abdul thinks that becoming a dad in 2014 changed him, but she qualified that by saying:

While it’s kind of amusing to think of Paula Abdul having that Chihuahua energy on American Idol (it’s not an unfair comparison), Simon Cowell actually treating her like a dog or calling to her by affecting a high-pitched voice and patting his lap is pretty obnoxious. I daresay he deserved those spikey kicks.

Simon Cowell left American Idol in 2010, one season after Paula Abdul did. He went on to host the American version of The X-Factor from 2011 until its cancellation in 2013, and then he landed on the show where we can find him today — America’s Got Talent.

American Idol has moved from Fox to ABC since Simon Cowell’s time but still remains on the air. The show has seen a bit of a judging table switch-up lately, with Katy Perry exiting after Season 22, and Carrie Underwood replacing her as a judge 20 years after winning Season 4. There’s no official word on who’s coming back for Season 24, but there are rumors that Underwood may be leaving.

Still, don’t count on seeing one particular OG judge return to his stomping grounds: Simon Cowell has said he would likely never return to American Idol. Instead you can catch him on AGT, which airs at 8 p.m. ET Tuesdays and Wednesdays on NBC.

American Idol may not be returning before the end of the 2025 TV schedule as the new season will be premiering in 2026, but fans are already speculating who could be part of the judges’ panel. The latest season of the long-running singing competition series saw returning judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, with Idol winner Carrie Underwood joining the fun. There have been rumors that Underwood might be leaving the show already, and Bryan is also part of those rumors, but the latter is weighing in on his future on American Idol.

Bryan has been a judge on Idol since the show was revived in 2018, along with Richie. Katy Perry, who also had been on since the revival, exited in 2024 to focus more on her music and was replaced by Underwood. While it’s unknown who will be returning and if anyone will be leaving, Bryan told Taste of Country that Underwood’s first season on the other side of the table was a success:

Considering Underwood nearly quit American Idol during her season as a competitor before she won the whole thing and then came back as a judge 20 years later, she is a walking ad for how your life can change because of the show. She’s one of the most famous Idol contestants, and it was so great seeing her as a judge this past season, knowing what those contestants are going through. Despite the rumors, Bryan shared his prediction on Underwood returning, and they’re pretty good:

It can be assumed that American Idol will be going out on the road soon to begin auditions for the next season, meaning that the judges could be announced any day now. Whether or not Underwood is among them is unknown, and it’s also unknown if Bryan will be returning. As of the time of the interview, even he didn't know:

As previously mentioned, the country star has been on Idol since the show was revived, but he seems to be having a good time with it; otherwise, he surely wouldn’t continue to do it. While Bryan remains busy with his music and his touring, he revealed how much fun he had last season with his fellow judges despite the reported feud with Richie:

At this point, it’s really anyone’s guess as to who will return. Even though Luke Bryan has a great time on the show, it’s hard to tell if he will be up to returning, as well as Carrie Underwood. There’s no word on Lionel Richie thinking about leaving, so he is probably safe. But as for Bryan, all fans really have to do is wait and see:

Of course, American Idol has switched up the judges’ panel over the course of its entire run, so it wouldn’t be surprising if that were to happen again. But the wait will just have to continue until an official announcement is made.

American Idol already wrapped up its spot on the 2025 TV schedule, with the latest season culminating in a huge victory for winner Jamal Roberts. The long-running reality TV competition made headlines anew this week, but for truly tragic reasons, as the show’s longtime music supervisor Robin Kaye was killed this week as part of what’s being investigated as a double homicide.

As the details continue to surface regarding the events that led up to and followed the alleged gun-inflicted deaths, past American Idol alums from both sides of the camera paid tribute to the music-minded expert.

Robin Kaye And Her Husband Were Both Killed Inside Their Home

On the afternoon of Monday, July 15, LAPD officers were called to the home of Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca, who resided in the Encino area of Los Angeles. The police were requested to perform a welfare check after no one had heard from the couple over a span of multiple days. Inside the home, the officers discovered the bodies of both parties, with each having suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

Both Kaye and Deluca were pronounced dead at the scene, and both were 70 years old at the time of their respective deaths.

The Murder Suspect Was Arrested

The day after Kaye and Deluca were discovered in their home, the LAPD announced that the main suspect in the murders, 22-year-old Encino resident Raymond Boodarian, had been arrested in connection with the deaths, according to Deadline. The investigation is ongoing.

After discovering the bodies, homicide investigators reportedly reached out to speak with friends and family of the deceased, while also poring over video footage from surveillance cameras. It was then discovered that on July 10, a possible burglary suspect had been radioed about in reference to the same residence.

Though no signs of forced entry were evident, the going theory is that the suspect was able to enter the home illegally through an unlocked door or window. It's believed that the victims arrived back home while the suspect was still inside, and that a confrontation went down that resulted in Kaye and Deluca getting shot. Boodarian is suspected to have fled the scene on foot.

American Idol's Former Producers And Past Contestants Paid Tribute To The Longtime Music Supervisor

Robin Kaye's music career in Hollywood was bolstered by a gig as a music consultant for Buffy the Vampire Slayer for its third season, and she landed the music supervisor job on American Idol just a few years later in 2002. She went on to serve those duties in reportedly 288 episodes of the former ratings juggernaut, returning to the show in full from Season 7 up until its most current season.

Kaye also notably handled music supervision for multiple years of Miss America and Miss USA pageants, as well as for Lip Sync Battle. She was remembered fondly by those she'd worked with over her many years on Idol, with longtime executive producer Nigel Lythgoe sring the following thoughts with THR:

Fellow former executive producer Ken Warwick also spoke to Kaye's ability to work under the unenviable pressures of securing tunes for a series that's focused entirely on music. As he put it:

Season 8 winner Kris Allen gave Kaye the credit for securing his victory back in 2009, believing that her efforts to secure his ideal tracks were key to getting the most votes. As he put it:

Season 14 winner Nick Fradiani also gave Robin Kaye a lot of props for being so calm and understanding with everyone despite the high-stress environment, and said he'd felt that she looked after him like a son. Fradiani was especially happy to reconnect with her years after he won, saying:

Season 15's Olivia Rox, who made it into that cycle's Top 10, showered much praise on the music supervisor not just for her abilities and actions while on the job, but for being a wonderful person all around. As she put it:

We at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of Robin Kaye and Tom Deluca during this time of mourning.

Millennials like myself who grew up waiting for *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees to come on TRL and who continue to reach top volume with renditions of “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” got a treat when they tuned into American Idol on the 2025 TV schedule. Baylee Littrell, son of the Backstreet Boys’ Brian, was a contestant on Season 23, and while the proud pop got emotional talking about his son’s journey, I love bandmate AJ McLean’s reaction just as much.

American Idol Season 23 was a big one in the singing competition’s history because it saw Carrie Underwood replacing Katy Perry as a judge 20 years after Underwood’s own victory on the show. Amongst those who auditioned in front of Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and the Season 4 winner was 22-year-old Baylee Littrell. But it turns out that wasn’t the path to fame his dad had originally pictured for him. Brian Littrell told Parade:

It’s easy to understand why Brian Littrell might have been wary of Baylee going on American Idol, especially given the reaction Carnie Wilson’s daughter Lola Bonfiglio received. It sounds like it was ultimately Baylee’s choice though, and he rode the opportunity to the Top 20, where some major cuts were made.

The whole thing still makes Brian tear up, as he said:

There’s no shame in this dad’s game, and it makes me smile to hear just how proud Brian Littrell is of his son. It’s not just Brian, either, but the rest of the Backstreet Boys, who were together long before Baylee came into the world. AJ McLean admitted to “bawling his eyes out” when he watched Baylee on American Idol, saying:

How cool would it be to have the Backstreet Boys as a pack of dads? Baylee Littrell may not have made it to the end of Season 23, but hopefully, American Idol was an experience that he learned from in his budding career.

As for whether or not we’ll see more celebrity kids when the singing competition returns in 2026, only time will tell, and as of now, we don’t even know who the judges will be. Rumors have circulated that Carrie Underwood may be leaving American Idol already, so we may see a new face on that side of the table. If you want to relive Baylee Littrell’s American Idol journey, Season 23 is available to stream with a Hulu subscription.

American Idol Season 23 was huge for the singing competition when it aired on the 2025 TV schedule, because for the first time since it premiered in 2002, its judging panel featured one of the stars it helped to create. Carrie Underwood replaced Katy Perry alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, but after just one season, there’s already speculation that she may already be on her way out. The reason, however, might not be what fans think.

Carrie Underwood’s return to American Idol after winning Season 4 in 2005 was met with mixed reviews, with some fans calling her “bland” (isn’t everyone “bland” in comparison to Katy Perry, though?) and saying she had a tough time making big cuts. While no official decision for the competition’s 24th season has yet been announced, if Underwood is one-and-done, a source for Life&Style alleges it won’t be because she wasn’t a good judge. The insider reports:

The source suggests that being away from husband of 15 years Mike Fisher and their children, 10-year-old Isaiah and 6-year-old Jacob, was a struggle when American Idol was taping. The insider suggests Carrie Underwood is “nowhere near throwing in the towel,” but if this issue affected her so badly in just her first season, how realistically sustainable could this job be for her? They continued:

While many fans loved seeing the “Before He Cheats” artist come full circle on her Idol journey, there were some rumblings of tension. Carrie Underwood drew backlash over her perceived treatment of eventual winner Jamal Roberts. The seemingly tense relationship started in the auditions, with the country music singer calling out Roberts’ lack of stage presence, and that attitude seemed to carry throughout the season into the finale.

There have also been reports that the Season 4 champion took issue with earning just half of the reported $25 million that Katy Perry was making in the position. And while Ryan Seacrest was reportedly taking steps to ensure she would return for multiple seasons, the host allegedly drew Carrie Underwood’s ire when he failed to introduce her during American Idol’s first live show of Season 23.

It would be wild if the American Idol judge exited the show after just one season, forcing producers back into hiring mode, but if the source above is correct, it sounds like the distance from her family may be the biggest issue to overcome. Stay tuned for any news regarding what will go down in Season 24.

American Idol recently finished its 23rd season on the 2025 TV schedule, with Jamal Roberts outsinging the competition to win the big prize in the end. Carrie Underwood returned to the show as a judge this season, and she acknowledged that a lot has changed since the singing competition’s days on Fox. One aspect that’s not included in the current ABC version is the farewell segment, and the executive producer shared her thoughts on whether or not that might ever make a comeback.

In early seasons of American Idol, after host Ryan Seacrest would reveal which contestant had received the fewest votes and was being sent home, America got to spend a few final moments with the outgoing singer, looking back at their journey on the show. Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” famously played over this montage starting in Season 5 (one season after Carrie Underwood’s win), and showrunner and EP Megan Michaels Wolflick was asked by TVLine if they might bring that back. Wolflick said:

It makes complete sense that this was one segment that was lost when American Idol went from two episodes a week down to one. Previously, artists competed on one night, and America had a day to cast their votes, with those results being revealed the next evening.

Now everything takes place in one live two-hour show, so unfortunately the results end up coming in the final seconds with the credits already rolling.

Gone are the days when singers would cry as they watched back this life-changing experience to the poignant lyrics of Daniel Powter. Now they barely have time to register their fate before Ryan Seacrest wishes America a good night. (What happened to “Seacrest out,” anyway?)

Megan Michaels Wolflick did admit she liked the farewell segment, though, saying:

So it sounds like it’s not completely out of the question that we might see a proper sendoff for the runners-up in future seasons. It really does come down to timing and possibly an effort to keep audiences engaged in the outcome until the last possible second. I’ll definitely be interested to see if they make that change.

Speaking of future seasons, fans are wondering what the judges’ table will look like for American Idol Season 24. No official word has come down from ABC about whether or not Carrie Underwood will continue to judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie after replacing Katy Perry on the panel.

Stay tuned for news on that, and if you didn’t get as much time as you wanted with the eliminated Season 23 contestants, episodes are available to stream with a Hulu subscription.

The Season 23 American Idol finale was filled with memorable moments. The 2025 TV release announced Jamal Roberts as the winner, and it featured performances from the judges, Patti LaBelle, and more. However, we can’t forget Jessica Simpson’s performance during the finale, because now she's talking about the long-awaited experience and what she had to keep telling herself throughout it.

At the beginning of Jessica Simpson’s career in the ‘90s, she was known for her bubblegum pop and trying to find success alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. But after leaving Hollywood for Nashville, the singer redefined herself and decided to play music that deeply resonated with her Southern roots.

For the Season 23 finale of American Idol, Jessica Simpson was belting out her new song, “Blame Me,” which is featured on her album, Nashville Canyon, Pt. 1. Introducing audiences to “Jessica Simpson 4.0,” she spoke to ExtraTV about what she had to tell herself to keep her nerves down as well as the unique method she used to keep her feet planted firmly on the ground:

I can definitely relate to Jessica Simpson right there, where you naturally tell yourself not to cry in moments you know you would. In my case, though, saying not to cry would actually trigger me to. In the case of the “Irresistible” singer, you’d never be able to sense her nerves as she still sang with a fierceness and energy that never strayed.

I have to admit, though, I never would have imagined hairspray on your feet being the trick to stay in place. You learn something new every day.

If you can believe it, the American Idol finale was Jessica Simpson’s first TV performance in 15 years. You’d never know seeing her belt out her tunes with the confidence she brought. To that point, the “Take My Breath Away” singer got real about why performing her new Americana single meant a lot to her:

It’s understandable that being your true, authentic self on stage is always nerve-wracking. However, it proves that Jessica Simpson’s choice of Nashville over Hollywood has made her happier, knowing she could be surrounded by music she loves in a place that encourages her to follow her heart.

My favorite part of Jessica Simpson’s American Idol performance was when she sang “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” with Top 8 contestant Josh King. The singer said she hasn’t sung that song in 20 years since she sang the Nancy Sinatra rendition for the TV-based film adaptation of The Dukes of Hazzard. Simpson even said she felt so inspired by King’s harmonica playing that she may want to give it a whirl herself!

According to Jessica Simpson, the trick to calming your nerves and tears involves self-talk and hairspray on your feet. Sometimes, confidence really does come from the most unexpected tactics.

You can watch Simpson’s performance and many other talented artists in American Idol’s grand finale episode with a Hulu subscription.

It’s possible that when an American Idol fan thinks of people associated with the show, their mind may go to Ryan Seacrest or any of the various judges who’ve participated over the years. One person that might not be thought of by some members of the general public is Simon Fuller. The 64-year-old British businessman created the long-running series, which is nearing the end of its 23rd season amid the 2025 TV schedule. Fuller’s made millions from the show, and those assets may or may not come into play now that he’s getting a divorce.

Since 2008, Simon Fuller has been married to Natalie Swinston, with whom he shares three children. It was reported at the end of the week that Swinston formally filed for divorce de per DailyMail.com, her filing comes three weeks before what would be the couple’s 17th wedding anniversary. As of this writing, neither spouse has issued a formal statement on this legal development. However, recently obtained documents do shed light on some of the details involved in the filing.

First off, according to a report from TMZ, Natalie Swinston opted to file for divorce due to "irreconcilable differences.” It would also appear that the couple had a prenuptial agreement in place. However, Swinston reportedly wants spousal support from and has requested that the court bar her soon-to-be-ex-husband from receiving any kind of alimony. She’s also seeking joint legal custody of their kids – a 14-year-old daughter named Grace and two 9-year-old twins.

Simon Fuller’s resume is incredibly impressive, as he’s helped oversee the rises of some of the most iconic musical performers in history. He rose to prominence in the ‘90s, at which point he began managing the Spice Girls. Since then, Fuller has had a star-studded roster of clients including SGs alum Victoria Beckham, Steven Tyler and Amy Winehouse as well as two of the most famous American Idol contestants, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. (Underwood is also now a judge on Idol.) Fuller has also taken on clients within the world of sports, including David Beckham and Lewis Hamilton.

In 2020, The Sunday Times (via The Argus) estimated the 64-year-old music manager and producer’s wealth to be £445 million, which equates to over $592 million. Needless to say, the Primetime Emmy nominee has amassed quite a bit of wealth over the years, and that’s also in great part due to the TV productions he’s been a part of. Of course, the crowning jewel of his illustrious career is arguably American Idol.

An offshoot of Simon Fuller’s Pop Idol, American Idol (which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription) quickly became a global phenomenon after it premiered on Fox in the U.S. back in 2002. Countless people have tuned in for Idol, which moved to ABC for its 16th season, since it first hit the airwaves. Overall, it’s become a valuable IP, and it’s solidified its position as a TV staple within the pop culture zeitgeist. As for Fuller’s role, he doesn’t seem to have a hand in the series’ day-to-day activities, though he remains credited as a producer.

The XIX Entertainment employee’s divorce is only just beginning, so it’s hard to say whether or not the proceedings will be amicable or contentious. We can only wait and see how the situation will play out.

For those in the entertainment industry, dealing with fans has got to be one of the strangest parts of the job. We’ve heard about women following Kelly Clarkson into the bathroom and people quotingThe Office wrong to Rainn Wilson, and I’d imagine there are some overall pretty strange requests that get made. To prove that, again, Simon Cowell said there’s one thing he’s commonly asked to do, but the prize has to go to the couple who asked him to critique their sex life.

Simon Cowell Reveals A Common Fan Request

Simon Cowell came up in the music business as a record producer, but let’s be real — we all know him for judging competition shows. In fact, he’ll be behind the Golden Buzzer again when America’s Got Talent Season 20 hits the 2025 TV schedule later this month.

Before AGT, though, he was notorious for being mean to American Idol’s early-season contestants, and that’s undoubtedly the inspiration behind one common request. Cowell opened up about this too on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, saying:

The talent scout describes himself as shy, and anyone who’s watched him shed a tear on America’s Got Talent knows that his rude American Idol persona was faked for TV. It must be so weird to have strangers walking up to you, asking you to insult them. What a world.

However, Simon Cowell’s been in more unique circumstances than that, as he described some fans who had a more intimate proposal.

The AGT Judge Recalls A Couple Who Asked Him To Critique Their Bedroom Activities

Following the revelation about how many Americans are begging to be insulted by the harshest of American Idol’s ex-judges, Simon Cowell regaled the podcast host with another tale.

He recalled being in a restaurant one time — “This is a true story,” he says — and a man came over to say he loved Cowell’s show and asked if he’d take a picture with him. He then introduced the record exec to his wife and, as Cowell explains it, the man asked:

I can see how the TV personality might have been caught off-guard by the direction that conversation took, but hey, you can’t blame a guy for shooting his shot. Closed mouths don’t get fed, right? It's not like they were asking him to provide his services for free!

So exactly how much did the reality competition judge turn down?

I’m kind of intrigued by the terms of this request. Were the fans asking Cowell to insult them American Idol-style (“That was bloody awful! And why are you wearing that?”), or give more uplifting AGT-esque praise (“I didn’t like it. … I LOVED it!”)? Did they want live play-by-play commentary, or — in competition show tradition — for the judge to deliver his opinion after the performance was over?

These are questions that will never be answered because the judge apparently passed on the opportunity, but I can totally see why this fan interaction would stick out as one of the weirdest requests he’s gotten.

You can see more of Simon Cowell when America’s Got Talent premieres at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, May 27, on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

American Idol is continuing to search for the next winner on the 2025 TV schedule, with someone joining the long legacy of singers very soon. Some of the most famous American Idol contestants include Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert, and Carrie Underwood, who has returned to the series this season to judge. While Underwood won Season 4 20 years ago and has gone on to win multiple Grammys, she nearly quit before her life changed forever.

Underwood auditioned for American Idol back in 2004, and she still has a memento from the audition to remember how far she’s come. But that was almost the only thing she took from her experience, rather than the win. The “Cry Pretty” singer looked back at her Idol journey in a new video, and even read from her journal from that period. And young Underwood was not very confident that she’d go all the way. At least, not at first:

It’s unknown when during her time on American Idol Underwood thought about going home, but it seems like even while writing in her journal, she was hyping herself up and talking herself out of it. It’s a good thing she did, too, or else things would have been very different. Of course, it’s not surprising that she would have those thoughts, since it can be very intimidating being on a show like American Idol, but she was right. The judges certainly thought she was good enough to be there, and pretty soon after, much of the country thought so, too.

After reading through the journal entry, Underwood reflected on that time and how she was able to talk herself into staying. But she never really got into the mindset of winning until she kept getting closer and closer. The singer revealed just how she was feeling every time she got through, and even at one point, she thought about how much easier it would be for her to ease into a job when she did eventually go home. As she explained:

It’s hard to imagine just what exactly goes through the minds of contestants on shows like American Idol and The Voice, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Carrie Underwood’s journal entry perfectly matched most of them. It makes the fact that she wound up winning even better, especially now that she’s on the other side of it as a judge.

As for American Idol present, many cuts have been made, and there are still a few more episodes left until fans find out who wins this season. At this point, there’s no telling who could take home the win, but it should still be entertaining to watch the performances on Sundays and Mondays on ABC.

Ryan Seacrest’s list of hosting jobs has expanded quite a bit over the course of his career, from American Idol to E! News to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and now Wheel of Fortune among many other projects. He also hosted Live! with Kelly and Ryan from 2017 to 2023, until it became too hard for him to travel from LA to New York so much. Seacrest still keeps in touch with his former co-host, though, and there’s even a reunion coming up very soon.

When Seacrest bowed out of Live, it was certainly an emotional time, especially given how close he became with Kelly Ripa. Although he’s been busy, juggling American Idol and Wheel of Fortune, that isn’t stopping him from reuniting with Ripa. Seacrest told E! News that he’s going to be appearing on Live! with Kelly and Mark in the near future, and I love hearing how close he still is with the couple:

With Idol's latest season nearing its conclusion on the 2025 TV schedule, it makes sense for Ryan Seacrest to appear on the talk show. He'll likely promote the singing competition series while he's there. I love when things work out, and I'm pleased that he'll have an opportunity to chop it up with his former co-star on his old stomping grounds. Thankfully, "a couple weeks" isn't a long time to wait, so fans will get to see Seacrest and Ripa share the screen soon!

Of course, this won't be the first time Seacrest will have appeared on his former talk show since his exit. Last October, he and his sister, Meredith Seacrest-Leach, were guests on Live! with Kelly and Mark and were there to promote their new children’s book. Ripa came with the Wheel of Fortune jokes and absolutely roasted her former co-host. Those playful barbs further illustrated the close relationship the two media personalities have.

This season of American Idol also marks a reunion for Ryan Seacrest. Carrie Underwood returned to the show this season to judge, replacing Katy Perry. Unfortunately, Seacrest made a gaffe for the first time in the show's history when he failed to introduce Underwood in a recent episode after introducing fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. It's hard to say what exactly prompted that snafu. Underwood, who is one of the most famous Idol contestants, didn't appear all that happy, but we definitely can't say for sure that there's any kind of animosity there.

As for Live! with Kelly and Mark, I'd imagine that viewers will tune in to see Seacrest's latest appearance. I still miss seeing him host with Ripa on a regular basis, but I'm happy that the two are still close.

I’m here to come clean: I’ve never watched a full episode of American Idol on the 2025 TV schedule, or at any other time. I’m old enough to clearly remember the hype when it started, and was obviously aware of the show’s incredible popularity, especially in the early years of the 21st century.

I’m also not saying that I have no working knowledge of how the show works or what the singing competition is all about. I’ve seen clips here and there over the last couple of decades, and I know through cultural osmosis how it all works. But until Sunday, I’d never sat down and watched a show from start to finish, and let me say, I had a lot of WTF thoughts and questions.

I Wasn’t Actually Watching For The Competition, Which Leads To My First Question

Full confession: I was watching this week's show to see the announcement of the 2025 inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I have to say, I was pretty disappointed in how little time they spent on that. Host Carson Daly announced the seven honorees and that was that. There wasn’t a montage of the artists and barely any photos of them. It wasn't anything other than Daly reading their names with one accompanying photo and moving on to the next part of the show. They didn’t even mention the other nominees who missed out or talk about the fan vote (which seems ironic for a show like American Idol).

I get that the show wasn’t supposed to be about the inductees, but they did advertise that the theme was “The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Show,” and that the artists earning a spot in the hall would be announced. So I guess I expected a least a little bit more than just a rote reading of the names. Maybe it’s just that they didn’t think any of the seven honorees, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, OutKast, and Joe Cocker would appeal much to American Idol fans. I don’t know, but it was annoying.

What Was Carrie Underwood Wearing?

The show opened with Carrie Underwood performing Heart’s classic “Alone,” which apparently was a big part of her season when she won 20 years ago. As an aside, has it really been that long since Underwood broke out? Wow. I have to say, the performance was actually pretty electric and ended up being the biggest highlight of the show for me. Her outfit for her performance was great, but what was she wearing for the rest of the show as a judge (her first season as one)?

With the theme of the show ostensibly being “rock and roll,” it seems like Underwood decided to hit up a Spirit Halloween store and buy a costume called “1980s Rock Singer.” She was wearing a bandana and an outfit that vaguely recalled Axl Rose in Guns ‘N Roses' heyday. The other two judges, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, were dressed normally, and that made the weird wardrobe choice stand out even more.

Why Is This Show So Sparkly?

About halfway through the two-hour show, I really took notice of how sparkly everything on the show was. Almost every costume was glittery and filled with sequins, even Carrie Underwood’s microphone was bedazzled. Then I noticed that all the lights on the set were sparkling like the midnight sky. It was almost too much, and I love sparkles.

Everything about American Idol is over-the-top. It’s a complete overload in some respects, and the shininess of everything really brought that home. I think one thing that has always turned me off of the whole show is that slickness. It has a sheen that makes it seem inauthentic to me. The singers and the contestants are fabulous singers and performers, but the presentation feels too fake to me.

Does Lionel Richie Talk Over Everyone All The Time?

Let me say first, I adore Lionel Richie. When I was a kid, Richie was in the prime of his solo career, and I love his music, going back to The Commodores. I love that he’s found a cultural relevance with an entirely new generation because he deserves it. That said, why does he constantly make comments over the other judges throughout the show?

Does he do it all the time? Are people afraid to tell him to stop? Every time Luke Bryan or Carrie Underwood made comments, there was Richie in the background saying “yes!” or “mmmhmmmm” or other annoying peanut gallery-like comments. I like that none of the judges are jerks, like they used to be, but the comments from Richie were distracting.

Finally, Why Is All The Music Kind Of The Same?

It seems especially noticeable in a show about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that all of the music on American Idol is kinda the same. It basically falls into two categories: big showtune-like numbers with lots of vocal acrobatics, and country crooning. Why isn’t there more diversity in styles?

The Hall of Fame inductees announced show just how diverse things can be. Why not more hip hop, for example? Or music like The White Stripes or Soundgarden? Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell had a legendarily amazing voice, but there isn’t anyone like him on the show, and to my (admittedly limited) knowledge, there never has been. Has there ever been a rapper? It’s not The Voice, why must it all be the same kind of singers?

All that aside, one thing I was struck by was just how talented the band is. I spent a lot of time thinking about how hard the backing musicians and singers must work. They have to learn and rehearse a tremendous amount of material for a season of American Idol and work with a huge number of different singers, pulling together the music to complement each one. They deserve a lot of praise (and to be paid well) and I hope that they get some, though something tells me they don’t get enough.

Ultimately, I don't think the show won me over, but I do have a greater appreciation for why it's is so popular. There is no question that there is talent oozing from every corner of the show, from the judges to the band to the contestants. Just lay off the bedazzler.

When American Idol airs live Sunday on the 2025 TV schedule, we’ll kick off the finals of its 23rd season, with the Top 14 taking the stage to honor the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. It was not an easy road to pare the 144 contestants who made it past auditions down to just 14, and it sounds like Katy Perry’s replacement, Carrie Underwood, may have struggled more than her counterparts when it came to sending artists home.

On the April 21 episode — which included a huge Ryan Seacrest gaffe that might have already had Carrie Underwood upset — the field was cut from 20 singers down to 14. Fan votes determined the first 10, then Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan were tasked with picking the last four. That meant crushing six artists’ dreams all at once, which the Season 4 champion said was nearly too much for her. Underwood told USA TODAY:

Coming back to American Idol as a judge 20 years after she won the show has been quite the nostalgia kick for Carrie Underwood, and you have to imagine she’s recalling how it felt for her fate to be in the hands of the three people on the other side of that table. It’s absolutely no surprise that she would find this first big elimination tough, especially on live TV.

While she appeared to downplay the drama, saying they were “pretty much aligned,” and ultimately happy with the singers they chose to move forward, Lionel Richie painted a slightly more hectic picture of the decision that had to be made in the time of one commercial break. He said:

Luke Bryan agreed that quick decisions had to be (and were) made. He said there were two contestants who they all agreed on to advance, but choosing the other two out of the eight remaining hopefuls proved to be pretty difficult.

In the end, considering their "whole body of work" up to that point in the show, Josh King, Ché Chesterman, Desmond Roberts and Amanda Barise got the judges’ nods. The six less-fortunate singers included Baylee Littrell (son of Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell) and Zaylie Windsor, who Carrie Underwood had compared to Taylor Swift during her audition.

I’m sure the eliminations aren’t going to get easier from here on out, but we’ll have to see how Carrie Underwood handles it all. The finals kick off at 8 p.m. ET April 27 and continue Monday, April 28, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

She's been one of the biggest pop stars for two decades as well as the O.G. American Idol winner — even though she sometimes hilariously forgets that fact — with one of the best singing voices in the business to boot. But for how famous and successful the Grammy and Emmy winner is, Kelly Clarkson is also one of the most relatable figures in pop culture, regularly offering up humorous and heartfelt anecdotes in press interviews, from the concert stage and as a talk-show host on her own The Kelly Clarkson Show. Here are 32 of the superstar's most down-to-earth quotes.

"I Had Something Happen On Tour – My Skirt, The Clip Broke, And It Dropped And I Dropped. … Here’s Why. Long Story Short, I Was Commando. It Was A Long Skirt, And Something Happened To Where It Was Like, ‘Oh, OK.’ It’s TMI For America, So I’m Not Gonna Tell You All The [Details]. And I Was Like, ‘The One Night That I Don’t Have…?!’ And I Dropped To The Floor Like, So Fast, Picked It Up. Somebody Had To Run Out… It’s During A Show. … It Was Really Unfortunate."

During an April 2025 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show (which you can catch up on with a Peacock subscription), the titular host revealed an embarrassing but oh-so-relatable wardrobe malfunction she suffered due to a faulty skirt and undergarments (or lack thereof) during one of her concert tours. Thankfully, guest Nick Jonas was close by with his own mortifying pants-ripping yarn.

"Josh Was Actually My Quarterback For My Fantasy Football Team, And He Killed It For Me. So You Tell Him, 'Thank You!"

Yes, Kelly Clarkson participates in fantasy football, a fun fact that she revealed during an April 2025 interview on her talk-show with guest Hailee Steinfeld, who is engaged to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. She also revealed that, though the Texas-born country girl usually roots for the Cowboys, moving to New York to film her daytime talk show now has her rooting for the Buffalo-based team.

"For Me, It’s Different. For All Of Us, In That First Season, We Literally Didn’t… I Didn’t Even Know It Was A TV Show Until My Third Audition. Like, We Were Literally Trying To Pay Our Bills, Y’all. Just To Be, ‘Oh, This Might Work. I Might Meet Someone’ Or Whatever. Nobody Knew It Was Gonna Amount To Anything, You Know?"

Winning a pop-culture sensation like American Idol is certainly a big deal, but at the time, Kelly Clarkson didn't realize the impact that being crowned the victor back in season one would have on her life. While appearing on the podcast Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, the singer confessed her real reason for auditioning for the hit singing competition was simply to make money to pay her bills.

"You Will Applaud Because You Love It. You Are So Excited! But Have Fun."

The Kelly Clarkson Show celebrated its milestone 1,000th episode on March 20, 2025, a momentous occasion that fans were understandably excited about — so much so that Clarkson poked fun at her enthusiastic studio audience. According to Deadline, the host faux-scolded the crowd during taping, much to their amusement. You don't have to fake the love that people clearly have for the show!

"Oh My God, I Was Terrified. I Have To Apologize To That Cast And Crew, I Was Terrified. The Rookie, They Invited Me, And Here’s The Thing — I’m A Huge, Like, I’ve Been A Fan Of Nathan Fillion Since Castle. I Already Get Nervous On Sets, But Then He Made Me More Nervous Than I Have Ever Been On A Set... I Was An Idiot On That Set."

Along with being a world-class singer, Kelly Clarkson has dabbled in acting over the years (Remember From Justin to Kelly? The actress clearly wishes she didn't!) However, a 2023 guest spot on the ABC series The Rookie was reportedly a rocky acting gig for her because she was starstruck by series lead Nathan Fillion, which she sweetly shared during a fan Q&A for The Kelly Clarkson Show.

"They’re Young, So It’s Hard To Picture Their Mom With Someone Else Other Than Their Dad, So That’s Kind Of A Thing Too. But I Have Expressed, Like, ‘Hey, I Love You Guys, But Mommy Needs Lovins Too!’"

After her heavily publicized divorce from Brandon Blackstock, it's understandable that Kelly Clarkson is wary about dipping a toe into the romance pool yet again. And though she's said numerous times that she’s not ready to date, she did reveal during an interview with KOST 103.5 that, like any warm-blooded human, she is in need of some "lovins" outside of her relationship with her two young children.

"I Am Still In The Stage Of Really Enjoying Me, So I’m Not There."

Given how arduous and annoying it is to date these days, we definitely don't blame Kelly for not wanting to focus on anything but her own peace in the wake of her divorce from ex Brandon Blackstock. In a conversation with Shannen Doherty on her talk show, Clarkson shared that, in the midst of focusing on her own health and happiness, she’s not ready to rejoin the dating world. You do you, girl!

"I Literally Ask My Kids Every Night When We’re Snuggling And I Put Them In Bed, I’m Like, ‘Are You Happy? And If You’re Not, Like, What Could Make You Happier?’ Sometimes They’ll Say, Especially In The Past Two Years, And It Kills Me — And I Want Them To Be Honest, So I Don’t Ever Say, ‘Oh God, Don’t Tell Me That,’ You Know? — But A Lot Of Times, It Would Be Like, ‘I’m Just Really Sad. I Wish Mommy And Daddy Were In The Same House.’ And They’re Really Honest About It. I’m Raising That Kind Of Individual. I Want You To Be Honest With Me."

Dealing with a divorce is difficult for anyone, but especially show when you've got a spotlight on you and your relationship. Despite that, Clarkson has been refreshingly candid over the years about navigating her marital split. For example, during a March 2023 appearance on the Angie Martinez IRL podcast, she got real about how her kids are dealing with their break-up.

"I Don't Even Need To Wear Spanx Anymore, I Just Wear Them For Warmth Like Thermals. But Let's Just Give A High Five, I Don't Have To Wear Spanx Anymore If I Don't Want To. Whatever, Life Is Good."

We love it when stars get real about all of the behind-the-scenes faff that goes into making them look unrealistically perfect and glamorous. Case in point, that waist-snatching marvel Spanx, a favorite of everyone from pop icon Katy Perry to action star Chris Pratt. Following her weight loss, though, Clarkson joked on a December 2023 ep of The Kelly Clarkson Show that she no longer feels the need to reach for the name-brand shapewear. "Life is good!" she quipped.

"I Might Be More Of Like A Coffee Person, To Be Like, ‘I Don't Know If I'm Willing To Invest In An Evening With You Yet.’ . . . I'll Be Single Forever."

When it comes to first dates, we totally get why Kelly wouldn't want to waste a whole cocktail-filled evening on a person that she doesn't yet know if she wants to get serious about. Chatting about her dating style during an interview with Andy Cohen on The Kelly Clarkson Show in December 2021, the "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" belter admitted that coffee dates were more her thing.

"I Think, Too, That There’s A Lot To Learn About Yourself In A Relationship And How You Are In A Relationship. I Think I Need A Little More Work On That End Of It. I Need A Little More Work On Me In A Relationship And How To Make Sure To Take Care Of Myself At The Same Time As Somebody Else."

"The trouble with love is / it can tear you up inside / make your heart believe a lie / it's stronger than your pride," Clarkson croons in her ballad "The Trouble with Love Is." But, despite the melodrama of those lyrics, Kelly displayed a relatably clear-eyed and emotionally healthy approach to relationships during a December 2023 interview with Shannon Doherty on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

"I Was Miserable, Like Inside And Out, For Four Years Of My Life. But No One Cared Because Aesthetically You Make Sense. It Was A Very Dark Time For Me. I Thought The Only Way Out Was Quitting. I Like Wrecked My Knees And My Feet Because All I Would Do Is Put In Headphones And Run. I Was At The Gym All The Time."

Given how image-obsessed the entertainment industry is, it's always a breath of fresh air when a celebrity gets honest about how hard it is to deal with that seemingly unending pressure. In a 2017 interview with Attitude magazine, the singer discussed the unhealthy mental space she was in while she was physically at her thinnest.

"I Pee Almost Every Time In The Shower! No, Listen, You Can’t Help It. It Goes Back To That Childhood Sleepover; They Put Your Hand In The Hot Water. Sometimes You Pee! ‘Cause It’s Hot Water, The Hot Water Hits Your Body And [You Have To Go]. Not Every Time. But Like, If I Gotta Go…"

Some celebrity hygienic habits are, uh, strange, but during a December 2023 interview with Kenan Thompson on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the titular talk-show host copped up to doing what many people likely do in the privacy of their own bathrooms: peeing while showering. After Thompson admitted that he's done it, too, Clarkson humorously proclaimed that it makes her feel "productive."

"Full Disclosure, I Put On A Smile A Lot Of Those Times Because I Was Struggling A Lot In My Personal Life. I've Learned A Lot About What I'm Capable Of Handling And Also What You Should Not Handle. That Was Me Saying 'Bye' To The Voice And Having This Big Move. I Love That Family, But I Was Like, 'I'm Struggling. I Can't Smile Anymore. I Don't Feel Like Smiling.’"

Not every day at the office is going to be a happy one, even for famous folks like Kelly Clarkson. The singer was navigating a painful divorce while serving as a coach on The Voice, the NBC singing competition she was on from season 14 through 22, a balance that became difficult to manage. She got candid about those struggles and why she chose to ultimately leave The Voice during a chat with USA Today.

"Not At All! Girl, I Don’t Look Like This — (Motions To Made-Up Face) — This Is Not How I Woke Up! (Laughs) I Usually Am In A Mom Bun, Or A Hat And I Get Away With It. It’s Only When I Speak — As Soon As I Open My Mouth To Speak Is When People Will Go, ‘What?’ And Then That’s What Gives Me Away. I Have A Very Talented (Hair And Makeup) Team Named Harry And Potter — That’s What I Call Them (Laughs) — And I’m Very Lucky. I Realize That."

Speaking with the Associated Press in September 2024, Kelly Clarkson was asked if rumors were true about her being a frequent subway rider in New York City, and whether she gets recognized on board. The star joked that nobody bothers her when she takes the train because they probably can't recognize her without the professional hair and makeup that she usually sports on her TV show and live performances.

"I’ve Had Someone Literally Come In, Like While I’m In The Stall, And Just Slide Paper And Pen Under [The Door]. Look, I’m Gonna Be Real, I Wasn’t Just Peeing. Like I’m Just Gonna Break It Down, I Was Like, ‘There’s A Situation Going Down In Here. I’d Actually Back Away, Ma’am.’ Like, I Don’t Know. I Don’t Know, This Is A Bold Move."

Someone asking for your autograph isn't the most relatable thing in the world, but dealing with a very human bodily function during said encounter certainly is. During the Q&A segment of The Kelly Clarkson Show, an audience member inquired about the star's craziest fan stories, and Kelly delivered, sharing a hilarious anecdote about a poorly timed bathroom run-in when she really had to go.

"I Am Also Bad At Time Management. I Know I Have To Be Early Or I’ll Be Late. On-Time Never Happens."

Thankfully, it's not just us who aren't always great at being on time — even major celebrities like Kelly Clarkson and Zendaya also run late occasionally, a bad habit that the two stars bonded over during an April 2024 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Kelly even admitted to having her manager lie to her about what time work starts so that she gets there early.

"The Best Friend You Can Ever Have Is Someone Being Honest With You, Even If They Don’t Agree, But Just Being Honest With You And Being Supportive. Now Granted, I Was One Of The Ones You Were Never Mean To, So I’m Still Waiting."

Who wouldn't want to be BFFs with Kelly Clarkson? The pop star gave some approachable insights into what she wants out of a friendship during her 2018 speech honoring Simon Cowell for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. According to Country Living, she praised the frank honesty of her real-life pal and also acknowledged that his "mean" public persona was all faked for TV.

"It Turns Out I’m [More Appealing] In New York! I Was Just Making A Joke Because Everyone’s Talking About It… I’m Like, Turns Out I Was A Dog In LA."

Kelly Clarkson is a gorgeous gal no matter the locale, but she joked that her move from the famously superficial Los Angeles to the more forgiving New York City has left her feeling more confident in her looks. She has also said that walking around Manhattan has been a great workout to keep her feeling healthy and in shape.

"That Can Be Really Hard On Kids In General, But Especially Kids With Parents In The Public Eye. So I Have Informed Them They’re Not Allowed To, Under My Roof, Ever Have [It]."

In a tech-obsessed society like ours, one of the ongoing battles for parents is to not have their kiddos be so dependent on screen time. And it's a concern for even world-famous moms, too, as Kelly Clarkson revealed to People in January 2024. The star has firmly said that she won't let her youngins Remy and River have social media until they're 18 years old.

"I Love Finding Out How People Overcome Their Circumstances, How They Get To Where They Are, Especially At This Level. I Love The Human Story."

Another reason we love Kelly Clarkson? She's just as obsessed with the Olympics as we are. During the 2024 Summer Olympics, the NBC star got to cover the legendary event alongside fellow celebs like Jimmy Fallon, Peyton Manning and Snoop Dogg, and she shared her very understandable excitement over getting to experience the games firsthand during an interview with Variety.

"I Was Just Crying, Like, A Lot. … It’s A Big Decision, Right? Ending A Relationship, You Know, That’s Gone On For Years. You Have Children. It’s So Involved. There Are So Many Layers To It. … I Just Wrote A Bunch Of Music, Like Two And A Half To Three Years Ago. … I Mean, There Are Definitely Ones On There Where 'Mommy Was Angry.' But Mommies Get Angry, And That’s Healthy, That Happens. I Don’t Polish My Life And Show It To My Children. They See It As A Whole, Which I Think Is Healthier."

Break-ups are the worst, especially when there are kids involved, a reality that Kelly Clarkson has been very vocal about in the years since her split from her ex-husband. During an interview with Nancy O’Dell for Talk Shop Live, the musician revealed that many of the songs on her studio album Chemistry revolved around her past relationship and that the tunes helped show her kids that it's healthy to deal with angry feelings.

"And Just A Personal Thank You And Shout Out To Jake For Just Simply Killing It 😂😂😂😂 I Have Never Laughed So Hard!! We All Love You, Jake Ha!"

Kelly Clarkson is a remarkably busy person, what with her daytime talk show airing five new episodes per week. So it makes total sense that she doesn't always have time to manage her own social media accounts and instead gives pictures and captions to her team to post for her. But when a staff member named Jake accidentally had a posting snafu on her Instagram, Kelly gave him a good-natured shout-out on her page.

"You Know What? There’s A Whole Record About It. It Was Bad. It Was Not Great."

The best part of healing is finding humor even in your darkest moments, as Clarkson certainly displayed during an appearance on Drunken Axehole with her old The Voice buddy, Blake Shelton. While the two crooners hurled axes at a target, Clarkson joked about how her divorce had given her all of the fury she needed to be a good axe thrower.

"I Did Something Stupid. She Came On The Voice, And We Were Working Together. And I Just Sometimes Say Everything That’s In My Brain, And I Shouldn’t Do That. ... I Was Like, ‘Oh My God, Well, I Know All Your Songs.’ I’m A Huge Fan Of Her. People Don’t Realize She Wrote All Of That – Not Just Sang It. She Wrote Everything. And She Was Like, ‘Well, We Should Write Together.’ And Then In My Head, I Was Just Like, ‘Oh Yeah, I Don’t Really Write… I Can’t Be That Vulnerable In A Room. I Usually Just Write On My [Own.]’ And Then I Walked Away, And My Friends Were Like, ‘Do You Realize You Just Told Mariah Carey No?"

We also would be completely tongue-tied in the iconic presence of Mariah Carey, so it's natural that Kelly Clarkson, who is a noted fan of Mariah's, having covered numerous songs from the former singer throughout her own career, would be similarly starstruck. Though she sweetly detailed her blunder with Carey during an appearance on The Tonight Show, we're still holding out hope that the two pop icons will come together for a collaboration in the future!

"We Saw This Photo Of Sam In New York That I Really Wanted To Show Everybody, Because, I Mean, Are You Trying To Pick Up Every Woman In New York? Was That The Goal? Because I’m Just Saying. What Do You Keep In The Bag?"

If we had a chance to flirt with Outlander hunk Sam Heughan, we'd take it — as Kelly hilariously did during a fall 2023 edition of her talk show, during which she made the hot Scot blush by showing off a picture of him in a traditional kilt to her cheering studio audience.

"That’s What I Didn’t See Coming. Honestly, I Did Not Think The TV Show Was Going To Do Anything. I Did Not Think Anything. I Literally Just Made A Deal With NBC Because I Loved Doing The Voice And I Literally Didn’t Think It Was Going To Be What It Is."

Everybody deals with impostor syndrome sometimes, and it seems like an award-winning mega-star like Kelly Clarkson isn't exempt from those feelings of inadequacy. When speaking about her success on The Howard Stern Show, Clarkson said she initially was dubious about going into daytime television and found it "odd" that The Kelly Clarkson Show was doing so well. Give yourself credit, lady!

"People Are Saying, ‘Are You Going On Tour?’ Here’s The Thing. ...I Don’t Know If Y’all Know This, But I Have, Like, A 9-To-5er. Like, I Have A Job. It’s A Lot Of Work And Takes Time. I Also Have Kids, You Know? They’re In School. So, I Get Really Tied Down To Those Things, Obviously. We Are Trying To Figure Out What The Possibilities Are In Certain Parts Of Our Calendar. We Are Trying To Do That."

Going on tour might sound super glamorous and exciting to us laypeople, but for hardworking stars like Kelly Clarkson, it's just part of the job. In support of her album Chemistry, the 43-year-old singer-songwriter relatably revealed that she would be forgoing a big international tour à la Taylor Swift in favor of a much more doable 10-date Las Vegas residency to better accommodate her schedule and her children.

"I've Never Really Liked Living In L.A. L.A. Is Beautiful, It Has Lots Of Things To Offer That Are Awesome. It’s Just Never Been My Thing, In 20 Years. I Never Wanted To Live There In The First Place. It Also Has Pointed Out, Especially Getting Divorced, It Was Just Me And My Kids All The Way On That Coast. All My Family Lives On This Coast. So It Just Got Lonely."

Having family nearby is important to Clarkson — in fact, the star revealed per NBC News/Today that distance from her loved ones was one of the major reasons she decided to relocate her and her two children from Los Angeles back to the East Coast to be closer to her extended fam.

"I Will Never Leave Them Like You Left Me. They Never Have To Wonder Their Worth Because Unlike You, I'm Gonna Put Them First. I Never Walk Away. I Never Break Their Hearts. I Take Care Of Things When You Leave Scars. Piece By Piece I Restored My Faith That A Heart Can Still Beat Even When It Breaks."

Following her divorce from Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson took to changing up lyrics in songs of her own, as well as ones she covered during her famed "Kellyoke" talk-show segments, to more directly shade her ex. One such instance saw the protective mom switch up the words of her heartbreaking ballad "Piece by Piece" so that they were less focused on her former spouse and more on her beloved children.

“I Love Healthy Stuff And Junk An Equal Amount. Whatever I'm Craving, I Go For It. I'm Never Trying To Lose Weight - Or Gain It. I'm Just Being."

Clarkson has been open about her weight fluctuations over the years, and though she's stepped out in a notably slim figure as of late, she's always allowed herself balance in her diet, as she revealed to SELF magazine in 2008.

"I Have A Lot Of Mom Guilt. If You’re A Mom, You Want To Be With Your Kid Every Day. You Don’t Want To Miss A Moment, You Want Her To Need You And Want You And Not Want Somebody Else. But I Think It’s Really Important Not Only For My Little Girl And Our 15-Year-Old Girl And Our Boys To See That A Woman Is Capable Of Kicking [Butt] While Also Being A Kick [Butt] Mom. I’m Not Gonna BS You, That’s Hard.”

Like any working mom, Kelly Clarkson has expressed struggling to "have it all" when it comes to her successful career and her children at home. In a 2016 Redbook interview, she admitted to having days where she would cry due to "mom guilt," but also that all of that effort is "awesome and it's worth it."

As American Idol Season 23 continues on the 2025 TV schedule, more and more contestants are getting cut each week, making the competition all the more brutal. However, it seems some brutal moments mayve taken place off-screen ater Ryan Seacrest made a specific Idol gaffe for what may be the first time ever. And first-time judge Carrie Underwood, one of the most famous American Idol contestants of all time, did not look happy.

Monday’s first live show of the season was pretty exciting, as fans were able to see the contestants performing live after all the auditions and pre-taped rounds, meaning they're one step closer to finding out who will be this season’s American Idol. In all the excitement, though, longtime host Seacrest actually failed to mention Underwood after introducing Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Although Underwood’s reaction was not shown, an insider told The U.S. Sun that the new judge was allegedly furious:

It’s unknown whether there’s anything going on between Seacrest and Underwood, but it’s possible that either he just forgot in the moment to mention the singer, or that his microphone just simply didn’t pick it up. Whatever the case may be, it appears she was not happy one bit over it, and she even apparently even commented on it to Luke Bryan as well. What I would give to be a fly on the wall for that brief conversation, which apparently went like this:

Even though it’s Carrie Underwood’s first season as a judge, she has proven that she has what it takes, especially when it comes to some big decisions she has to make. While things may be going well for her on-screen, there is no telling what is going on behind the scenes. Underwood and Seacrest go way back to when the Grammy winner was on American Idol’s fourth season, and it’s been great seeing them together again this season. But it’s hard to tell what this slip-up will do to their friendship and work relationship, whether intentional or not.

Meanwhile, American Idol is not the only job that has been giving Ryan Seacrest a hard time. He’s been hosting Wheel of Fortune since last fall following Pat Sajak’s retirement, and fans had strong opinions about his hosting gig. It also doesn’t help that Seacrest has made some fumbles, with people comparing him to how Sajak did things. It’s not so surprising, though, considering Sajak hosted Wheel for multiple decades, and it’s not easy to get used to a new host. For Vanna White, it's been an adjustment, and despite some bumps in the road, it seems she and Seacrest are doing well.

Ryan Seacrest has done a lot of hosting over the course of his career on top of American Idol and Wheel of Fortune, and even then, it would be expected for him to make a mistake or two. It’s hard to tell what really happened, and it should be interesting to see what vibes are like in these remaining episodes.

As American Idol’s 23rd season continues on the 2025 TV schedule, more information has come out about a past contestant whose life came to a tragic end in March. Season 18 alum Doug Kiker, better known to fans as the “Singing Garbage Man,” died from an opioid overdose at age 32, and his ex-fiancée Valerie Cook has opened up about the struggles he faced.

Back in 2020, Doug Kiker took the country by storm when he brought former American Idol judge Katy Perry to tears with his audition. Fans immediately loved the Singing Garbage Man’s story, but off camera, he allegedly struggled with addiction. Valerie Cook told US Weekly:

Doug Kiker died March 10. Valerie Cook was informed by an investigator that he died of a drug-induced heart attack, with the latest reports ruling it an accidental overdose due to the effects of fentanyl, methadone, amphetamines and recent cocaine use.

The former couple broke up in 2021, and despite sharing two daughters, they were not in touch. Valerie Cook moved to Florida after the split, and Doug Kiker lived in Colorado. She said:

The singer made headlines unrelated to American Idol in 2021, when Doug Kiker was arrested for domestic violence in Alabama, where he lived with Valerie Cook before their split. The charge was categorized as harassment. Authorities had responded to a 911 call from an unidentified woman, and there was allegedly probable cause to arrest the singer.

It’s a sad ending for a young man who won over the hearts of America. Doug Kiker had no formal musical training, and while American Idol did the Singing Garbage Man kind of dirty in the Hollywood rounds where he was eliminated, he’d made such a strong impression on fans that the show invited him to appear on the Season 18 finale, where he sang “Bless the Broken Road” with Rascal Flatts.

His former fiancée said he enjoyed the nickname bestowed on him during his 15 minutes of reality TV fame, making his untimely death all the more tragic. Valerie Cook said:

Doug Kiker is only the latest of several American Idol alumni gone too soon. In 2023, Season 14 contestant CJ Harris died of a heart attack at 31. A year earlier, Season 19 runner-up Willie Spence died in a car wreck at age 23, and more recently, Season 5’s Mandisa was found dead in her home in 2024 at the age of 47.

It’s so terrible to add another young singer to the list of American Idol contestants we’ve lost, and our thoughts are with Doug Kiker’s loved ones as they continue to process his passing.

You’re likely aware that history was made earlier this week when six women, including pop singer Katy Perry, traveled into space for 11 minutes on one of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin flights. American Idol judge Luke Bryan admitted he, too, got sucked into the coverage that aired on the 2025 TV schedule (and streamed live with a Paramount+ subscription). Now, as many jokes have been made about the mission, Bryan couldn’t help but take his own hilarious jab at his former colleague after hearing her post-flight comments.

The 11-minute trip beyond the Kármán line on April 14 was historic in that it was the first all-female crew to travel into space since 1963. And while the passengers described a life-changing voyage, we back on Earth found plenty of humor in the situation, including CBS journalist Gayle King’s face ahead of the launch.

Katy Perry drew some smirks too, as she kissed the ground upon her return, and when she was asked how she felt after the flight, she replied:

Luke Bryan — a judge on American Idol who worked with Katy Perry until she left the show after last season — seemed to find her comments quite funny, saying in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!:

Katy Perry has never been one to shy away from speaking about her emotions, so it’s no surprise, really, that this experience brought out her poetic side. This is something Luke Bryan (as well as the American Idol audience) has seen time and again, and the country music singer continued:

Luke Bryan actually sounded interested in taking his own trip outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, although he said he’d get a “resounding no” from his family. Either way, he ended up watching all of the coverage of Katy Perry’s adventure because he wanted to make sure everything turned out OK for the crew. Or, as Bryan so eloquently put it:

Thankfully, the mission was completed successfully, and Luke Bryan certainly didn’t blame Katy Perry for kissing the ground when she returned to our planet’s soil. He said that would have been his first move as well.

Luke Bryan can currently be found judging American Idol alongside Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood, who replaced Katy Perry on the panel 20 years after winning the show herself in Season 4. Tune in at 8 p.m. ET Sundays and Mondays on ABC and stream the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Just about all of us can likely reflect on moments in our lives in which we felt embarrassed for one reason or another. In some cases, those situations can be spurred by wardrobe malfunctions, which can happen to anyone. When you’re a celebrity, though, those can happen on a massive stage. Kelly Clarkson is such a star who’s experienced that, as she just recalled having a massive malfunction while touring years ago. It’s a wild story – and one that I didn’t expect to be even more cringeworthy than Katy Perry’s on-screen debacle.

What Happened To Kelly Clarkson When She Went On Tour?

Amid the 2025 TV schedule, Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show to discuss their Broadway show, The Last Five Years. It was during the interview that Jonas spoke about ripping his pants during a rehearsal for the production. That’s what led Clarkson to discuss her own attire-related snafu and, as she explained (in the video shared to YouTube), the whole ordeal involved a skirt:

The amount of second-hand embarrassment I’m getting by just hearing this story is staggering. I can’t even imagine actually being in such a position – in part because I don’t actually wear skirts but also because I’m not a world-renowned singer. That’s actually not the only time that Kelly Clarkson has ever faced such a situation either. In 2023, Clarkson had a wardrobe mishap amid a concert, as the top of her ensemble was a bit revealing. With that, she stopped the band in order to fix her attire before she continued singing.

Considering that, I’d say the Grammy winner handled that boob-related situation like a pro, and it also sounds like she did the best she could with the skirt, given the circumstances. For me, it’s also crazy to think that the scenario managed to top Katy Perry’s.

How Did Katy Perry’s Wardrobe Issue Play Out On American Idol?

While Katy Perry has since exited Idol, she had a number of notable moments on the show that are still hard to forget. One of them occurred during Season 20, when Perry broke out into an impromptu performance of her hit song “Teenage Dream.” While bending down, she split the back of her red, leather pants. Fellow judge Luke Bryan and others quickly provided assistance by supplying some yellow tape. Check out the televised moment down below:

That may indeed be one of the cringiest situations to ever play out on American Idol (which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription). It’s also a bit ironic that such a faux pas would occur while the songstress is performing a song that contains lyrics about “skin-tight jeans.” Nevertheless, she seemed to handle the situation in stride, and she and Luke Bryan had a fun exchange about it on social media after the fact.

Wardrobe malfunctions definitely vary and, as a result, stars handle them in a myriad of ways. There are actually plenty of singers that handle them with extreme care and grace. In 2022, Jennifer Lopez went viral when a hole formed in her bodysuit mid-performance, and she kept singing. Also, in 2024, Taylor Swift had an issue with her in-ears that caused her to have to take off part of her dress during a concert, and a crew member ultimately assisted her. Leave it to Swift to create a sweet interactive moment like that during a show.

These clothes-related situations may not be fun, but kudos to Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry and more for handling them like professionals. Also, if anything, such incidents provide Clarkson and her peers with funny anecdotes they can share later on.

Two of the most popular places in the world to go on vacation are Walt Disney World and Hawaii. As somebody who is a fan of both places (having been to both multiple times), one spot that I have yet to visit, but certainly plan to one day is Aulani. That's Disney’s Resort on the island of Ohahu. It always looks quite incredible, and I have to admit Ryan Seacrest is making me want to book a trip right now.

Last night’s episode of American Idol took place from Disney’s Aulani Resort, as will tonight’s, and host Ryan Seacrest posted several shots to Instagram ahead of the night of music, showing off himself having a blast at Disney’s destination. It’s not quite Disney World, but the Disney vibes certainly permeate the place as Seacrest shows off while sporting his island-themed ears and hanging out with "the boss," Mickey Mouse.

Aulani opened back in 2011, designed by Walt Disney Imagineering's Joe Rhode. And over the years it has become a major destination among Disney Resorts. People will save up to have the perfect Disney vacation at Aulani the same way they will save up to have that once-in-a-lifetime Disney World vacation.

While Disney’s theme park resorts are its best-known properties, there are actually several other locations around the U.S. that are owned by Disney where you can vacation, including Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney's Vero Beach Resort. Being in such a popular vacation destination as Hawaii, Aulani is among the most popular among guests.

There are certainly ways to get the island vibe at other Disney locations. Disney World's Polynesian resort was one of its first two hotels and is still one of its most popular. Still, there's nothing quite like visitng the actual islands that inspired the resort.

During the recent Disney Shareholders' Meeting, Bob Iger was asked about the possibility of more Disney resorts similar to Aulani. There are certainly many vacation destinations around the world where Disney cannot currently be found, but a major resort without the expensive theme park could be located. However, Iger indicated there are no plans to expand the Aulani concept, making it a unique destination.

Aulani tends to have more in common with other Hawaii resorts than it does a Disney theme park, but the location does include character experiences not unlike those you’ll find at Disneyland or Walt Disney World. If you’re a serious Disney fan and you want to plan a vacation in Hawaii, there’s little reason to go anywhere else.

And, of course, Disney, never being too shy to feed the synergy machine, makes a point to be sure to incorporate its other business ventures during its popular TV shows. A lot of TV viewers certainly won’t be as familiar with Aulani as they are with Disney’s theme parks, but if it looks like a beautiful place to visit while Ryan Seacrest is showing it off, perhaps more people will consider it for their next island getaway.

On top of Carrie Underwood replacing Katy Perry as judge, there are lots of new additions in Season 23 of American Idol. As part of your 2025 TV schedule, a common trend I’m seeing this season is the children of famous performers coming into the legendary audition room. Contestant Lola Bonfiglio experienced complaints from fans when she auditioned on the reality TV competition series with Wilson Phillips, and her mom, Carnie Wilson, reacted.

It’s not unusual for the kids of celebrities to audition for American Idol. We saw that in the past when Jim Carrey’s daughter, Jane, auditioned in Season 11, as well as Alex Preston on Season 13. Preston is the cousin of country singer Jo Dee Messina. Of course, we can’t forget that one of the most famous American Idol contestants, Jordin Sparks, is the daughter of former football player Phillippi Sparks.

On the March 23 episode of the ABC series, Lola Bonfiglio revealed herself to be the daughter of Wilson Phillips singer Carnie Wilson during her audition. The pop vocal group reunited on TV by singing “One More Day” (which you may remember as one of the best movie musical moments in Bridesmaids) with the 19-year-old contestant and her father, Rob Bonfiglio, accompanying them on guitar. However, Wilson got real at ‘90s Con (via EW) about the internet being “so cruel” about the band singing with Bonfiglio at her audition:

This brings me back to the nepo baby debate. Actress Lily-Rose Depp made the same argument, asserting that she’s not a nepo baby any more than if someone wanted to be a doctor who happened to come from a line of doctors. Sure, Lola Bonfiglio has connections to talented performers like Carnie Wilson, her aunt Wendy Wilson, and her grandfather Brian Wilson of Beach Boys fame. It just suggestst that her singing talent runs in the family and she wants to make great use of it.

Lola Bonfiglio not only sang with her relatives, but did a rendition of Kacey Musgraves’ tune “Rainbow” by herself. So, we saw that the young contestant could perform well on her own. The judges' yeses were unanimous, and she got to go to Hollywood for the next round of auditions. Carnie Wilson continued to talk about what the American Idol experience was like for everyone that happy day:

I could tell watching the audition how proud Carnie Wilson was of her daughter. She didn’t hold back those tears of joy, seeing her daughter sing her heart out. It’s a real shame that despite the musical family having a great day seeing Lola Bonfiglio advance to the next round, internet haters were spreading their negativity toward them. The American singer brought something to light that every social media user should keep in mind:

All the people who audition on American Idol have “hearts and souls.” Whether a contestant gets to go to Hollywood or doesn’t, it takes a lot of courage to audition in front of judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan and know there’s a chance it’ll air on TV. After all, Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell’s son, Baylee, is part of the Hollywood rounds too and has advanced to the Top 24.

The internet may have given its criticism to Lola Bonfiglio auditioning with Wilson Phillips, but you have to admit that she gave it her all. While the college student was eliminated in the first week of Hollywood rounds, I can’t wait to see her continue to make a name for herself in the music industry. New episodes of American Idol premiere Sundays and Mondays at 8/7c on ABC as well as on your Hulu subscription.

Carrie Underwood’s first season as judge on American Idol continues to be a highlight of the 2025 TV schedule. As one of the most famous American Idol contestants, winning Season 4 in 2005, she’s returned to her old stomping grounds 20 years later to help find the next Idol winner. Since the episodes currently airing are still pre-taped, with live shows yet to come, Underwood has been watching every week, and she shared a solid routine to get through it that earned a stamp of approval from Candace Cameron Bure.

It's not always easy for a performer to watch themselves or hear themselves, but Underwood takes it in stride. The Grammy winner took to Instagram to share how she prepares herself to watch new episodes of American Idol with a fresh boule and glass of vino, and it’s certainly the perfect way:

Whether this is a weekly routine for Underwood or done just for this week’s episode is unknown, but it’s certainly a good idea for anyone who has to watch themselves. Or simply celebrating another great singer. Many fans took to the comments but not to share their thoughts on Underwood’s routine. Plenty shared how much they loved her natural look, and Bure couldn’t help but share her praise, too:

I certainly did not expect Bure to comment, but now it’s like they’re a duo I never knew I needed. Plus, if anyone knows what it’s like to watch themselves on TV, it would be her. She’s been watching Full House for the first time in ages, and she recently realized why the show hasn’t been off the air in 35 years. It also wouldn’t be surprising if their paths have crossed once or twice, considering how long they both have been in the industry.

Even though Bure has been on The Masked Singer, she probably won’t be going to American Idol any time soon to serve as a guest judge, so for now, fans will probably have to settle with social media interactions between Bure and Underwood. But it would be fun to see those two together. Perhaps Underwood can join Bure in a movie on GAF, since the latter is proving to be quite the staple on the network since leaving Hallmark Channel.

Meanwhile, it was announced in July that Carrie Underwood would be replacing Katy Perry as judge since Perry wanted to step back to focus on her music. It’s been a nostalgia-filled trip, especially for those who watched Underwood on Idol back in the day. Seeing her glow-up now is certainly incredible, but she still keeps a memento from her auditions, which is nice since she’s blown up since those days.

Carrie Underwood is officially back on American Idol 20 years after she won the show. Of course, now — as Season 23 airs on the 2025 TV schedule — she’s on the other side of things, judging up-and-comers alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. If the March 30 episode is any indication, she’s doing a pretty good job, as she may have found the next Taylor Swift. Underwood compared one auditioner to the Eras Tour artist, and the similarities are kind of unbelievable.

On the final day of auditions, 18-year-old Zaylie Windsor stood before the judges to sing an original song she called “The Used” while strumming her own guitar. The veteran judges were split, with Lionel Richie voting yes and Luke Bryan saying the teen wasn’t quite ready. That left Carrie Underwood as the tie-breaker, and she said:

Carrie Underwood seemed to be struggling to make her decision, or maybe she was just choosing her words carefully. American Idol has evolved a lot over two decades, and the country music star said coming into this gig that her judging philosophy was to be constructive and not just critical.

In the end, Zaylie Williams had an undeniable vibe that Carrie Underwood just couldn’t ignore. She told the singer:

Yes, I couldn’t agree more that there is something about this artist. Zaylie Williams has such strong Taylor Swift vibes that she may as well have walked out and announced it was time for her acoustic set before breaking into some surprise songs.

Not only does the artist have the look — blonde hair with bangs — but she writes her own music, penning her audition song “The Used” when she was just 14. As previously mentioned, she also plays guitar, as does Taylor Swift, and the American Idol contestant showed some of that Swiftie hustle by immediately volunteering to play something different when Luke Bryan questioned the maturity of her songwriting.

As if that all wasn’t enough, Zaylie Williams had one other quality that people often associate with The Tortured Poets Department’s chairman — her subject matter. Of “The Used,” the 18-year-old said:

I mean, tell me you’re a Swiftie without telling me you’re a Swiftie. You can see the whole audition for yourself below:

Carrie Underwood went with her instincts and sent Zaylie Williams through to Hollywood, so we’ll have to see if she can thrive in American Idol’s competitive environment. We won’t have to wait long, either, as Hollywood Week starts immediately.

Tune in as American Idol adds Monday nights to its schedule, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET March 31 on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription. Friendship bracelets are optional.

Kelly Clarkson is no stranger to speaking out, and she has been honest about a variety of topics, such as her career, her body and her divorce. She is not one to hold back. However, there are certainly times when she may have gone a bit too far with being honest. And her latest American Idol confession might be one of those times.

As the first-ever winner of American Idol, Clarkson's experience on the series was a tad different from most. While she’s now one of the most famous Idol contestants, it took a long time for that to happen, especially since she wasn’t even sure what she was getting herself into when she auditioned for the show.

While appearing on the podcast Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, the singer looked back at that first season and how truly different it was. She admitted her real reason for auditioning and revealed that she didn't even know she was on a TV show at first, saying:

It's shocking to think she didn't realize she was on TV at first because these days, American Idol auditions are well-known for being artists' first on-screen introduction.

However, I can see where she's coming from, and I totally get why she went on the show in the first place, as she explained:

She's right, they were so young and so was American Idol, so it makes sense that she didn't know what she was getting into. Plus, Clarkson joked that the reason it was so easy to win in early seasons was because not as many people were watching it. Of course, she wound up being one of, if not the, best vocalist to come out of American Idol.

It's unknown how much contestants made in the show’s early days, however, we know they were paid enough for Clarkson to cover her bills. However, as of 2016, American Idol contestants were paid anywhere between $910 and $1,571 per episode, depending on the length of the show. That has likely changed as the years have gone by and the series switched from Fox to ABC.

Meanwhile, American Idol is continuing to find new aspiring singers on the 2025 TV schedule, with fellow former contestant Carrie Underwood is now judging. Her first season as a judge has been a fun one already, especially since she certainly knows what it’s like to be on the other side of the table. Whether Clarkson could become a judge in the future is unknown, but she’s been a coach on The Voice before, so at least she’s had the chance to advise other aspiring singers.

It is hard to imagine how things would have been if Kelly Clarkson hadn’t needed to pay the bills and hadn’t ended up auditioning for American Idol. It could have set off a whole butterfly effect and changed quite a lot, but luckily, fans don’t have to wonder.

As part of your 2025 TV premiere schedule, American Idol made its return on March 9th, along with longtime judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. However, a new addition to the competition series was beloved Idol winner, Carrie Underwood, who replaced Katy Perry this year as judge. Before the season 23 premiere, showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick got real about one big “decision” the country singer previously made.

Back in January, before American Idol’s 23rd season premiered, Carrie Underwood performed “America the Beautiful” at Donald Trump’s inauguration. Despite her beautiful rendition of the patriotic tune, her decision to perform at the inauguration came with some fan backlash. However, showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick weighed in with The Wrap on Underwood’s big “decision” to sing at the then-president-elect’s inauguration, and here’s what she said:

Megan Michaels Wolflick also pointed out that Carrie Underwood “handled very well” the technical difficulties her inauguration performance faced. After her backing music was glitching, the “Before He Cheats” singer continued to sing her song in acapella. Michaels Wolflick continued to say how she believed Underwood's American Idol roots possibly played a big role in how she was able to handle herself at the inauguration:

It’s true that whenever you perform on live TV, you have to be mentally prepared to manage any unexpected mishaps. Through Carrie Underwood’s quick thinking and calmness, you’d completely forget there were ever any backing track glitches.

Just when you thought Carrie Underwood and Katy Perry couldn’t have more in common with each other. After all, the two are top-selling artists, they’ve both had Las Vegas residencies, and now both have American Idol and inauguration connections. It proves that Perry handed the torch to the best person who can take her place on the judge’s panel.

The Teenage Dream singer did, indeed, sing “Firework” triumphantly during Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021. Not to mention Jennifer Lopez, who was a recurring judge on American Idol until the show’s FOX cancellation, also sang at Biden’s inauguration tunes like “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.” The tradition of American Idol judges performing at presidential inaugurations highlights artists taking the stage to be a part of historic moments.

Just as American Idol’s new season begins, its showrunner, Megan Michaels Wolflick, clearly respects Carrie Underwood’s big “decision” to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration. From choosing to be an American Idol contestant to later becoming a judge on the same show, the “Jesus, Take the Wheel” singer indeed isn’t afraid to embrace opportunities made available for her. New episodes of American Idol premiere every Sunday at 8/7c as well as streaming on your Hulu subscription.

The new season of American Idol has arrived on ABC in the 2025 TV schedule , and Katy Perry’s replacement, Carrie Underwood, joined judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan to decide who was on their way to Hollywood. As Richie and Bryan have been on the reality competition series for the past seven seasons, they reveal which audition songs they’re tired of hearing (and same here).

I can imagine it being very frustrating to hear the same audition songs over and over again. It reminds me of the mid-2000s when musical theater students would frequently audition with Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” to show off their vocal range. In terms of American Idol, judge Lionel Richie got real with EW on which song he’d love to get through an audition without hearing, and I don’t blame him:

Don’t get me wrong – James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” can get anyone in their feels. It’s a powerful, emotionally charged number that can draw in audiences as well as the singers performing the song. But I can see how the mighty effect the song is supposed to have can easily wear off after hearing it so many times. We’ve heard the R&B song before on the popular TV show during Clark Beckham’s audition in Season 15 and during a performance by the American Idol/The Voice contestant Adanna Duru.

It’s true that if you’re going to hear the same audition song repeatedly, you want to make sure that the contestant can make it their own. It would show off a singer’s originality and true depth at knowing full well the message the song conveys. Fortunately, Lionel Richie had good news about the James Brown song making its appearance this season:

Lionel Richie is proving once again that he’s got a real ear for when a song is a hit. So far, we only heard “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” played once during the Season 23 premiere, and it was by the talented Amanda Barise. The 26-year-old contestant wowed the judges when she provided such deep soul and belted those notes with genuine strength. It was an example of a performance where the judges didn’t have to think twice. She was on her way to Hollywood! Now, I’m curious what the second rendition of the James Brown hit will sound like this season.

It turns out that James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” isn’t the only song that irks the judges. Luke Bryan has his own idea of a song he’s tired of hearing, and I really can’t blame him for this one:

As Harry Styles’s chart-topper has such a repetitive chorus, it’s easy for a song like “Watermelon Sugar” to get stuck in your head after so many renditions. In fact, Katy Perry herself said in Season 19 that she humorously wanted to put a ban on the pop song, considering how many times she heard it. But during the Hollywood Duets, Anthony Guzman and Adriel Carrion sang the popular tune. Their engaging harmony and the way they brought fresh energy to the overused song impressed Perry enough to advance them to the next round.

It’s understandable how tiring it is to hear the same audition songs on repeat. While it’s nice to pick a popular tune that will hit well with judges and viewers, a true standout contestant will use their moment to wow judges with something fresh. But like Amanda Barise and Season 19’s successful duet singers proved, even an overused song can still have a unique spin if you’re the right artist to find it. New episodes of American Idol premiere on ABC Sundays at 8/7c as well as streaming on your Hulu subscription.

Since 2002, American Idol has been giving singing hopefuls the chance to shine and show the country what they’re capable of. Now in its 23^rd season on the 2025 TV schedule, the series continues to do so. With Carrie Underwood returning to her old stomping grounds to help find the next American Idol, she revealed the sweet memento she’s had since her first run on Idol, and I absolutely love it.

Underwood competed in Season 4 back in 2005 and has gone on to be one of the most famous contestants from the singing competition. Before becoming a judge on the current season, she’s returned to the show a few times to perform or help contestants. Despite her eight Grammys, the “Cry Pretty” singer has never forgotten where she came from, and it helps that she even has a piece of her audition always with her. While appearing on The Tonight Show with her fellow judges, Underwood shared the memento she’s had for 20 years, and it’s everything:

The fact that Underwood had kept the sticker from her audition and probably tucked it away someplace throughout her time on American Idol is one thing, but keeping it after all these years, knowing how much has changed since then, is pretty incredible. For Underwood when looking back at that time, whether it’s looking through the photo book she has or watching back when she won, it’s still hard for her to comprehend:

It seems fitting that Underwood is returning to American Idol as a judge 20 years after she won. There really is no one better to help find the next winner than someone who has been through it and came out on top. It’s why it was so great seeing Idol’s first winner, Kelly Clarkson, being a coach on The Voice, as she more than a few times brought up the fact that she “navigated” a similar competition.

Of course, returning to American Idol is nostalgic for Carrie Underwood, especially when it comes to returning to venues where she did American Idol. That being said, being a judge is not all it’s cracked up to be since Underwood is now the one judging rather than being judged and really has to put in her two cents. But if anyone knows what it takes to be on Idol, it’s definitely her, but at least she can provide an interesting perspective for the contestants.

As American Idol continues Season 23, there will surely be more nostalgic moments for Underwood and for longtime fans. Perhaps some contestants will even keep their own mementos to look back on 20 years from now because you never know what could happen on American Idol. It should be fun seeing who is the next winner in a few months. New episodes air on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

American Idol fans got their first real glimpse of Carrie Underwood as Katy Perry’s replacement during the American Idol audition special that aired on the 2025 TV schedule after the Academy Award winners were announced Sunday night, and wow, things certainly have changed. The Season 4 winner will officially make her debut as the new judge when Season 23 kicks off March 9, but it’s already obvious to her (and Lionel Richie) how much things have changed.

It’s been 20 years since Carrie Underwood stood in front of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson in the audition that would lead to her being named the winner of American Idol Season 4. Back then the show (which aired on Fox for its first 15 seasons) sprinkled in some bad auditions among its uber-talented hopefuls, basically just to embarrass them for the audience’s entertainment. Underwood told EW:

Gone are the days where people like William Hung were encouraged to sing in front of the judges for the sole purpose of being laughed at and insulted (although he did get the last laugh, becoming one of Idol’s most famous contestants). Removing that aspect was a big change made when American Idol was rebooted on ABC for Season 16, and Underwood noted that they want to give the singers feedback that can help them grow.

Lionel Richie, who continues his role as a judge alongside Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, added that while the old way may have been more entertaining for a TV audience, today they give artists more grace. He said:

I love that regardless of if the artists make it through to Hollywood week, this current trio of judges wants everyone to be able to take something away from their audition.

In Carrie Underwood’s time, Simon Cowell was known for being especially harsh — though it’s been said that rudeness might have been faked for TV — as he criticized everything from contestants’ song choice to wardrobe and even their weight.

While many of us agree American Idol is better without such personal insults, Randy Jackson thinks American Idol has gotten too nice. He has said the music industry is a mean business, and if someone is terrible, it’s better that they know that. Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken said he liked the judges’ criticism, because it allowed him and other artists to grow, and it made for better television because you could see the singers’ improvement over the course of a season.

Theoretically, though, both things are possible, and we’ll have to tune in to see how Carrie Underwood’s judging philosophy contributes to the overall goal of developing music idols while not humiliating anyone who puts themselves out there. Tune in for the American Idol Season 23 premiere at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9, on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

We’re mere days away from our first look at Carrie Underwood’s big comeback to American Idol as the show’s first winner to return as a judge. An audition special will air March 2 after the 2025 Academy Awards are handed out, and I’m betting those Oscar winners won’t be the only ones feeling the emotion. Underwood opened up a little about what she experienced, saying the nostalgia hit was real, and fellow Idol judge Lionel Richie said something else hit her pretty hard as well.

When American Idol Season 23 premieres on the 2025 TV schedule, it will be 20 years since Carrie Underwood was named the Season 4 champion. If that’s not enough of a blast from the past, this season's Hollywood Week was filmed at Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre — a venue familiar to the new judge, who remarked to TV Insider:

Bo Bice was the Season 4 contestant who came in second to Carrie Underwood, so that’s no small praise for whoever inspires that comparison!

The auditions and Hollywood Week taped in the fall, so Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan have already gotten to see what the former contestant is like as a judge. She may have experience on the other side of the table that they don’t, but Richie said one part of the job hit her as hard as any of them. He said:

Who could blame her? It seems like it might be even harder for Carrie Underwood to turn people away because she knows exactly what the auditioners are feeling. The “Blown Away” singer, however, comes from those early American Idol days when contestants endured the possibly faked-for-TV rudeness of Simon Cowell, so she likely knows that honest feedback is actually what’s best for the artists, even if it is hard for them to hear.

She said as much when breaking down her judging philosophy. She said she’s well aware that she becomes a part of these singers’ stories as soon as they take the stage, no matter where they end up, and that’s not something her or her fellow judges seem to take lightly.

It’s going to be fun to see Carrie Underwood complete that circle, and I’m sure we’ll witness some of those emotional, nostalgic moments with her along the way.

American Idol’s Season 23 Post-Oscars Audition Special is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET Sunday, March 2, on ABC, but if the awards run too late for you to wait up, you can stream it the next day with a Hulu subscription. The official start to Carrie Underwood’s reign kicks off at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9, on ABC.

When American Idol returns to the 2025 TV schedule, a new and yet familiar face will be amongst the judges. Carrie Underwood will make her debut on the panel on Season 23 — 20 years after standing on that stage as the winner of Season 4. That means it’ll be a reunion of sorts for her and Ryan Seacrest, who’s been the host for all 23 seasons, and there’s a good reason he’s determined to make this a big success for her.

Ryan Seacrest has reportedly taken Carrie Underwood “under his wing,” a source for OK! magazine said, as she prepares for her big full-circle moment on American Idol, and he’s apparently asked her fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie to do the same. The insider said:

Ryan Seacrest can clearly see how big of a win it was to nail down one of American Idol’s most successful contestants, and the longer she sticks around, the better. Honestly, there aren’t many bigger names they could have chosen, with Kelly Clarkson or Jennifer Hudson (two former coaches of The Voice) being among the few comparable alumni that immediately come to mind.

Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan know how big a deal it is to have a former winner sitting beside them, as they’ve both expressed that one of the biggest contributions Carrie Underwood brings is having first-hand knowledge of what the artists are experiencing. It makes sense that Ryan Seacrest — and all involved in American Idol’s production — would want to keep her around for as many seasons as possible.

Not only does Carrie Underwood have the experience and success that should inspire the contestants, but it sounds like she’s got what it takes to do the job, too. Katy Perry was hoping her replacement wouldn’t mince their words when giving feedback, and Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken agreed that the criticism contestants like himself got in earlier seasons of the show was helpful.

The “Before He Cheats” singer is likely to bring a good mix of old and new, as she has said she wants to be honest but constructive with the contestants.

It’s not just Ryan Seacrest and the current judges who have Carrie Underwood’s back. Former panelists Keith Urban, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell have all had glowing things to say about the incoming judge, with the latter downplaying how difficult the job is. Jackson, meanwhile, who was a judge on Underwood’s season along with Cowell and Paula Abdul, remembers the artist as one of his favorite auditions of all time.

It’ll be fun to see Carrie Underwood find her own favorite auditions and hopefully help mold singers to the same kind of success that she has found. American Idol Season 23 kicks off at 10:30 p.m. ET Sunday, March 2, on ABC with a post-Oscars audition special before debuting in its regular timeslot at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9. Episodes will be available to stream with a Hulu subscription the next day.

After crowning Abi Carter the winner of American Idol Season 22 and bidding Katy Perry adieu, fans are excited to see another season kick off in March on the 2025 TV schedule. Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood is returning as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie to help shine a spotlight on undiscovered talent. Dozens of contestants will put their lives and jobs on hold for this opportunity, and that begs the question: Do American Idol contestants get paid to appear on the ABC singing competition?

The short answer is yes, contestants who make it to a certain point in the season are paid for their time. There are reportedly other perks along the way but also some expenses. Let’s break it all down.

American Idol Pays Its Top 24 Contestants Per Episode

Most of what is known about how much American Idol artists make on the show comes from the 2011 book American Idol: The Untold Story by Richard Rushfield, who covered the show as an entertainment web editor for the LA Times. Rushfield reports (via Fox Business) that American Idol begins paying its contestants once they reach the Top 24.

However, in order to earn a performance fee, they must first join the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which costs $1,600. After that they’re paid by episode, with the length of the episode determining how much they earn. As of 2016, musicians earned $1,571 for two-hour shows, $1,303 for one-hour shows and $910 for half-hour episodes.

With this source material coming out over a decade ago, it seems likely that these numbers may have changed — especially since the show has moved from Fox to ABC since then — but contestants’ contracts may keep them from divulging such financial details publicly.

Idol Contestants Earn Additional Stipend If They Make It To Top 12

The longer you last on the show, the better the benefits, apparently, as Richard Rushfield also said that once the artists reach the Top 12, they’re given a stipend of $450 per week. That apparently means clothes for many of the singers, and the author wrote:

At least they get to keep the clothes! However, I can see how that wouldn’t be a lot of money if they’re not provided a wardrobe from the show. One thing they are provided, however, is room and board. The Top 12 contestants no longer have to pay for lodging, which seems like it could be a huge expense for the Top 24 up to that point.

How nice the digs are depends on the season. Richard Rushfield points out that on seasons where the living quarters are shown on the air, contestants have stayed in mansions, while otherwise they’re put up in apartments that are “nothing fancy, but it’s not squalor.”

Families Must Pay Their Own Way To Attend Tapings

It sounds like having friends and family attend tapings to support the contestants could prove a bit tricky for those who live far away from Los Angeles. American Idol allegedly does not pay for travel or hotel accommodations for its contestants’ loved ones.

The American Idol Tour Was Pretty Lucrative

Another big perk of making it to the Top 10 or 12 of an American Idol season used to be the spot it earned you on the live tour. The artists reportedly pulled in around $150,000 to travel for the show post-season. However, the final tour ended in 2015 ahead of Fox’s cancellation of the show. The tour was not resumed when ABC revived it in 2018.

How Much Does The American Idol Winner Earn?

Early winners of American Idol like Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard walked away with an impressive $1 million on top of a record deal. The dollar amount has gone down since then, per American Songwriter, which reported in 2024 that Idol winners get a cash prize of $125,000. Upon completion of their first album, the artist will receive another $100,000. The site reports that artists are then given an advance of $300,000 for their second album, which is required to be paid back against future earnings.

In 2019, The Blast reported a different breakdown after seeing Season 17 third-place finisher Madison VanDenburg’s contract. The then-17-year-old’s paperwork said that season’s winner would walk away with $250,000 but would be responsible for many of the costs of producing their album.

The winner (who ended up being Laine Hardy) would sign with Hollywood Records, where they would receive $125,000 in advance of their debut album and another $125,000 upon completion. The winner would also reportedly make $1,000 a week during recording and another $1,000 per master recording turned in, receiving a 15% royalty rate for their first three albums.

The runner-up for that season (Alejandro Aranda) was potentially eligible for $87,500 to start an album and another $87,000 when it was finished, if Hollywood Records chose to sign them too. All three finalists recorded three original tracks while competing on American Idol, which were allegedly allowed to be used however the Top 3 wished.

Getting On Television And Making Connections Is A Valuable Part Of Being On American Idol

While many of the contestants will reportedly be compensated for their appearances on the popular singing competition, no one there (except maybe the finalists) is getting rich from their time on American Idol alone. Artists go on the show for the opportunity for national exposure, and that likely remains the most valuable thing they can get from the competition.

Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood and Fantasia Barrino are a few early-season singers who found their fame on the show, but 22 seasons later, American Idol continues to produce popular musicians. Two alumni were even nominated for awards at the 2025 Grammy Awards in Benson Boone (Season 19) — who made headlines for adjusting himself during his performance as a Best New Artist nominee — and Lucky Daye, who competed under his real name, David Brown, on Season 4.

It’s also a good idea for artists to make connections during their time on the show that could lead to relationships and opportunities afterward. Just one example of that is Season 20 winner Noah Thompson teaming up with runner-up HunterGirl to co-headline a tour following their time on the show in 2022.

Artists often have to sacrifice for the opportunity to join American Idol, and while we don’t have much current information on what they earn, it does appear that the contestants do receive some sort of payment once they reach a specific level of the competition.

Tune in to see who will be making the big bucks when American Idol Season 23 premieres at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9, on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

It’s mind-blowing that it’s been 20 years since Carrie Underwood first auditioned and won American Idol. Now, the famed country singer will come back to the reality competition series audition room as a new replacement judge for Katy Perry. As Underwood’s “then” and “now” post would have it as we get ready for the 2025 TV premiere, the “Before He Cheats” singer’s got a major glow-up going on, and dang girl!

It’s a real bummer that Katy Perry will be leaving American Idol after six seasons. But when one door closes, another opens with Carrie Underwood taking on those big shoes for season 23. With its March 9th season premiere approaching, the Grammy Award-winner posted on her Instagram a “then” and “now” post that shows off her major glow-up and she's looking radiant:

I love that Carrie Underwood is making her introduction as a judge wearing her audition power color of pink. She also proves she can still rock the wavy hair. At the graceful age of 41, Underwood looks so beautiful with joy and confidence on her face like she’s ready to take on her new American Idol role. Once you look at her “now” picture, it feels incredibly heartwarming to see the best-selling artist return to her singing competition roots and show that she can still be pretty in pink like she did 20 years ago.

I’m getting a lot of nostalgic feels looking at Carrie Underwood’s “then” picture of when she first auditioned for American Idol. At only 21 years old, Underwood was just your average Northeastern State University student who was a flag football captain and quarterback of her Greek Week team. But once she belted out Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” to judges Simon, Paula, and Randy, a star was born. One of the most famous American Idol contestants became a winner of season four singing “Inside Your Heaven,” “Independence Day,” and “Angels Brought Me Here” during the finale.

It’s truly perfect that Carrie Underwood is season 23’s new American Idol. As the chart-topping singer knows what it’s like to be a contestant on the ABC series, she’ll be able to sympathize with contestants feeling a little jittery in the audition room and know star power when she sees it. Idol’s showrunner Megan Wolflick said her reasoning for picking Underwood as a replacement was to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the “Blown Away” singer’s audition and to have an Idol alum join the judges panel for the first time. Based on the American Music Award winner’s judging philosophy of offering criticism blended with kindness, I believe she’s got her new position in the bag.

Based on Carrie Underwood’s “then” and “now” post, she’s had a true glow-up since her American Idol audition 20 years ago. She’s had a musical journey so many fans dream of having from a small-town singer, a platinum recording artist, to now a judge on the very TV show that was the jumpstart to her success. Don’t forget to watch Underwood’s debut as an American Idol judge coming to ABC on March 9th following your Hulu subscription the next day.

Katy Perry served as a judge on American Idol since ABC rebooted the canceled Fox series in 2018. But, after six seasons of bringing her playful personality to the judging panel, a creative two truths and a lie post led to the pop singer revealing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that Season 22 would be her last. Perry has since been replaced by Carrie Underwood. Ahead of Season 23's premiere amid the 2025 TV schedule, the “Teenage Dream” singer talks about being succeeded by Underwood.

The ABC-era American Idol judges have brought a balance of honest critiques mixed in with fun and humorous takes. When it coms to the upcoming Season 23, Carrie Underwood should shake things up alongside current judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. Katy Perry -- who left the show to focus on her new music and other endeavors -- leaves big shoes to fill. However, as Perry explained to People, she's not all that worried about how Underwood will do:

The “Firework” singer is absolutely right. If you look back on Carrie Underwood’s American Idol audition from Season 4, you can tell she was meant for the show. There's a reason she's still one of the Idol's most famous contestants, who, years ago, was fresh-faced 21-year-old and wowed the judge. She memorably booked her trip to Hollywood once she sang her beautiful rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” which showcased her powerful vocals.

As Katy Perry pointed out, the “Before He Cheats” singer knows how it feels to be a contestant, which would allow her to empathize with any nervous contestants going through the process. I have a feeling Carrie Underwood will be able to recognize star talent in the same way that Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson saw something in her. Perry also said this:

While she expressed her hope that rapper Jelly Roll would replace her, Katy Perry also listed the ideal qualities her replacement should have. She noted that said person should be “fearless,” honest, and “a little polarizing.” I'd say that the "Jesus, Take The Wheel" singer ticks all of those boxes and more.

The veteran pop star isn’t the only one who's given their blessing. Lionel Richie understood the decision to have Carrie Underwood on board, especially given her background on the reality competition series. Richie also mentioned that Underwood is “not someone we have to get used to.” Former judge Keith Urban gave a “heck yes” to Underwood joining, and American Idol veteran Simon Cowell weighed in with positive thoughts as well. When it comes to question of whether Idol stars are happy with Underwood's hiring, it would seem the ayes have it.

With Katy Perry happily passing the judge's torch to Carrie Underwood, I can’t wait to see what she'll bring to the table. With the new judge’s philosophy being centered around the importance of blending kindness with honesty, I have a feeling the long-running series will be in good hands. Don’t miss the award-winning singer’s debut on the judges panel for American Idol’s 23rd season, which premieres on March 9th at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and will streamable with Hulu subscription the next day.