American Idol is taking center stage for a 24th season.
ABC’s singing competition show is returning in January, months after Jamal Roberts was crowned the newest American Idol. Ahead of his May 2025 win, Roberts revealed to Billboard that he had auditioned for the show two times before.
“I didn’t get defeated. I never gave up,” he told the outlet in April 2025 of not getting the greenlight from the signing competition. “I took the no. I’ve always been able to take constructive criticism and use it for my gain and try again. This has always been me.”
Roberts went on to share some of the best advice judge Lionel Richie gave him. “He said, ‘When you are on stage and get to doing what you’re doing, you’re exploding. I hate to see you leave.’ That stuck with me. It means I’m doing something right,” Roberts explained. “I’ve learned to stay true to yourself. Don’t second-guess yourself. Oh man, second-guessing can cause a lot of stress. Go with your first mind. Anything that you do, do your best.”
Scroll down to read everything to know about American Idol season 24:
What Is American Idol’s Season 24 Twist?
American Idol is introducing a new ‘Ohana Round, which is filmed in Hawai’i. The three-episode arc “follows the iconic Hollywood Week, with the brand-new ’Ohana Round featured as one of those episodes, offering hopefuls a distinct moment in the competition,” a press release noted.
“Designed as the ultimate focus group, the ’Ohana Round blends peer respect, emotional support and professional insight before the competition moves on to America’s Vote.”
In the new round, the top 30 hopefuls will perform for industry stars including social media’s Kaniyia Brown & Terry McCaskill, artist and music creator Anthony Gargiula, singer and actress Loren Gray, co-editor-in-chief of Rolling Stone Shirley Halperin, writer Evan Ross Katz, singer Cheryl Porter and country music personality Kelly Sutton. At the end of the ‘Ohana Round, only 20 contestants will advance.
Who Are the American Idol Season 24 Judges?
Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan will return as the judges of season 24. While this marks Underwood’s second season as a judge after replacing Katy Perry in 2024, Richie and Bryan have held their roles on the show since 2018.
When Does American Idol Season 24 Premiere?
The new season premieres on Monday, January 26, on ABC and next day on Hulu.
Has There Been a 1st Look of American Idol’s Season 24 Premiere?
In Us Weekly’s exclusive clip from the premiere, Jesse Findling explained how he got his start with singing, saying, “I am 19 years old. I’m a college student right now, but I’ve been singing ever since I was little with my brother and sister. We would just sing with each other, and since then, I did choirs in school.”
Findling explained that singing helped him with his speech disorder. “I have had a stutter ever since I was little. It’s something that I’ve struggled with since elementary school. That was something embarrassing for me — something that I really had a hard time with,” he recalled. “I wouldn’t raise my hand in school and it was just something that made me feel alone.”
Findling shared that he felt like he “had to hide” his stutter from others.
“It was definitely hard. Singing has always felt freeing for me because when I sing, I don’t stutter,” he said. “When I sing, it is a way for me to express myself in a way where I don’t have to worry about being embarrassed at what people would think or that somebody would laugh.”
Findling, who shared that walking out with a golden ticket would mean that “everything that I’ve struggled with in the past has all led me here,” went on to sing Benson Boone’s “In the Stars.” He received praise from all the judges, and eventually received a golden ticket.
“When I was singing that song, I was thinking of younger me, who wouldn’t speak in class, who was scared of what people thought of him and the fact that I got this is just proof that everything’s working out how it should,” he shared in a confessional. “I’m going to Hollywood Week.”
