Everything to know about "American Idol "season 24, from its new air day to the twist shaking up Hollywood Week Allison DeGrusheJanuary 23, 2026 at 7:30 PM 0 Disney/Gizelle Hernandez Ryan Seacrest, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan on 'American Idol'Key Points Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood return as judges for American Idol season 24. The new season brings big changes, with a new Hollywood Week setup. The season premieres on ABC on Monday, Jan. 26. The stage is set, the judges are primped, and American Idol is ready to find the next music superstar.
- - Everything to know about "American Idol "season 24, from its new air day to the twist shaking up Hollywood Week
Allison DeGrusheJanuary 23, 2026 at 7:30 PM
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Disney/Gizelle Hernandez
Ryan Seacrest, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan on 'American Idol'Key Points -
Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood return as judges for American Idol season 24.
The new season brings big changes, with a new Hollywood Week setup.
The season premieres on ABC on Monday, Jan. 26.
The stage is set, the judges are primped, and American Idol is ready to find the next music superstar. Ryan Seacrest returns as host while aspiring singers from all genres audition for a chance at winning a recording contract and a $250,000 prize.
ABC recently shared some details about season 24 (the ninth season since the show's revival), and we've got the full scoop. Here's everything you , including how to watch, which judges are back, and what's changing this season.
When does American Idol season 24 come out?
Disney/Eric McCandless
Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan on 'American Idol' season 24
American Idol season 24 kicks off on Monday, January 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. New episodes air on Mondays, which is notable since previous seasons aired on Sundays.
Idol is also hitting TV screens sooner than usual. Past seasons tended to start in late February or March.
Who are the judges on American Idol season 24?
Disney/Eric McCandless
Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan on 'American Idol' season 24
Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood will return as judges for season 24. Underwood, who won season 4, joined the judging table last year, taking over for Katy Perry, who exited the show following season 22.
Before sitting behind the judges table, Underwood did some homework. In a 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly, the "Before He Cheats" singer said she reconnected with people from her American Idol season and rewatched old episodes to help cultivate her judging style.
Underwood also revealed that stepping into the Idol world again has been very different, as the show she auditioned for isn't the same one airing today. "It was a different time in the show — in the world in general — and there was a decent chance you might get super-duper humiliated in front of tens of millions of people," she said. "It's changed a lot, and hopefully people can leave with some information that will make them better — no matter how long they are on the show."
Richie told EW that judging on Idol has completely shifted, moving away from the blunt comments and toward a more supportive approach.
"Before, it was a great TV show where you go, 'Boy, you suck. Go home,' you know? 'What the hell?'" he explained. "Now, it's, 'Okay, the kid is, first of all, traumatized from being here. A nervous wreck. How do we calm them down to build them up so they can get the best out of themselves?' If they go through, fantastic, but if they don't go through, we want to build them up enough to where they can go out and go, 'Okay, I gave it my best try, and Lionel and Luke and Carrie said I need to try harder.' And they'll be back."
For Richie, the highlight of judging Idol is seeing contestants go on and achieve success after the show. "Our kids go on to be stars," he said. "It's not a talent show where it's about the judges or it's about the ha-has. They leave out of here and go get recording contracts and they make hit records."
He added, "When you get to that point, you start realizing, this is the greatest A&R manufacturing company we've ever been a part of, right now, because we're curating artists."
What changes are coming to American Idol season 24?
Disney/Eric McCandless
Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan on 'American Idol' season 24
This season, American Idol is changing things up by moving Hollywood Week from Los Angeles to Nashville.
Dubbed "Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover," the event will consist of a single round of competition instead of the usual multiple rounds. It's also going to be a bloodbath, with ABC promising the "biggest Hollywood Week cut in Idol history."
Is there a trailer for American Idol season 24?
American Idol celebrated the new year by offering fans a trip down memory lane at the fictional American Idol University.
In the clip, Bryan, Richie, and Underwood arrive in matching royal blue letterman jackets and stroll through hallways packed with Idol memorabilia. Underwood stops to admire photos of past contestants like Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson. "Look at all of these superstars that have graduated from Idol-U," she says.
The trio also stops at a display titled "American Idol by the Numbers," which highlights the show's awards, platinum records, and other milestones.
Soon, the judges spot what appears to be a wax figure of Clay Aiken. Bryan calls him "one of the greats," and they get a good scare when the season 2 runner-up turns and winks at them.
The preview ends with a quick montage teasing this season's auditions and the judges giving high praise to several aspiring singers.
Where can I watch American Idol?
Disney/Eric McCandless
Lionel Richie, Ryan Seacrest, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan on 'American Idol'
American Idol airs on ABC, with new episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu.
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Published: January 23, 2026 at 04:45PM on Source: ANDY MAG
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