Country music superstar and season four winner of American Idol, Carrie Underwood is joining the eight season of ABC’s hit reality singing competition series as a judge.
Music industry icons Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie will return for their eighth consecutive season as judges, and longtime host Ryan Seacrest also returns when the show premieres in spring 2025 for the franchise’s 23rd overall season.
Since it began airing on ABC, “American Idol” has been a top unscripted series on ABC in Total Viewers. Season to date, “American Idol” ranks as the No. 1 most social entertainment series on broadcast or cable with over 63 million total social interactions.
Season eight auditions will kick off Monday, Aug. 12, with the return of “Idol Across America,” the live virtual nationwide search for the next superstar, taking place across all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.
Those auditioning will be given the opportunity to showcase their talents face-to-face with an “American Idol” producer, from anywhere in America, across any official audition date for a chance to proceed to the judge auditions. Contenders will also be allowed to audition during open call dates, and auditions will be open worldwide to all those eligible.
“Idol Across America” auditions will be held as follows (subject to change):
- Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi (Aug 12)
- Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas (Aug 14)
- Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina (Aug 16)
- Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington (Aug 19)
- Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (Aug 21)
- Nationwide open call (Aug 23)
- Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming (Aug 26)
- Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin (Aug 28)
- Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia (Aug 29)
- West and Midwest open call (Sep 4)
- Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Tennessee (Sep 6)
- Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington D.C. (Sep 9)
- Nationwide open call (Sep 11)
- The South open call (Sep 13)
- East Coast open call (Sep 17)
For information on how to sign up for “Idol Across America” and to register to virtually audition in front of an “American Idol” producer, please visit www.americanidol.com/auditions.