Live Virtual Audition Tour ‘Idol Across America’ Begins Tuesday, Aug. 26
Watch a Special Judge Announcement Video Here
HI-RES IMAGE HERE
Following their celebrated debut as a judge trio last season in television’s most widely recognized music competition series “American Idol,” music superstars Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood will help discover America’s next singing sensation in its ninth season on ABC and Hulu, 24th overall, when it returns in 2026. “American Idol” has ranked as a top unscripted series during its eight seasons on ABC, ending on a high note with last season’s finale ranking No. 1 on the night, No. 1 for the week in primetime, and earning the best Total Viewer audience in two years. The series continues to dominate on social media as the No. 1 Most Social Reality Series across TV so far in 2025, collecting 1.65-plus billion social video views this year. Season eight winner Jamal Roberts’ first single “Heal” also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Gospel chart in May 2025.
Luke Bryan: “Class is back in session.”
Carrie Underwood: “And this year we’re majoring in music as we help launch your dreams.”
Lionel Richie: “Hello, I’m your professor of positivity.”
LB: “Professor of fun here. Serious, but fun.”
CU: “Sign up for my class. You’ll be blown away.”
LR: “The three judges are back for another amazing season of Idol University. The only thing that’s missing is you.”
LB: “You.”
CU: “You!”
LB: “Alright, I’m late for the football game. See y’all!”
Season nine auditions kick off Tuesday, Aug. 26, 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):
- “First 900” VIP Event (Aug. 26)
- Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi (Aug. 27)
- Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas (Aug. 28)
- Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina (Sept. 2)
- Nationwide open call (Sept. 3)
- Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (Sept. 4)
- Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Tennessee (Sept. 8)
- Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington (Sept. 9)
- Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia (Sept. 11)
- East Coast open call (Sept. 12)
- The South open call (Sept. 15)
- Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin (Sept. 16)
- West and Midwest open call (Sept. 18)
- Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C. (Sept. 19)
- Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming (Sept. 22)
- Nationwide open call (Sept. 24)
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 americanidol.com/auditions. Contenders may audition on any “Idol Across America” date, regardless of location. For full eligibility requirements, details on specific dates, submission forms, and terms and conditions, please visit the website.
“American Idol” is produced by Fremantle and 19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television. Executive producers include Megan Wolflick, also serving as showrunner with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman serving as executive producers for 19 Entertainment. Fremantle distributes the series worldwide.
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About Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood is a true multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television, film, and as a bestselling author and successful entrepreneur. She has sold more than 85 million records worldwide, recorded 29 #1 singles (14 of which she co-wrote), is the most-awarded female country artist for singles in RIAA history, and has seven albums that are certified Multi-Platinum or Platinum by the RIAA, with over 72 million total RIAA certifications to date, all while continuing to sell out arena tours across North America and the UK. All 10 of her albums (including nine studio albums and her 2014 Greatest Hits: Decade #1) – three of which she co-produced – have debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 chart for all genres, beginning with her 9x platinum debut album, Some Hearts, which was released in 2005. She has won over 100 major awards including 8 GRAMMY® Awards, 16 ACM Awards including three for Entertainer of the Year (the first female in history to win twice and the only female ever to win three times), 25 CMT Music Awards (holding the record for the most award wins ever for the show), 17 American Music Awards, 10 People’s Choice Awards, and 7 CMA Awards. She has been a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2008 and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018. She has also built a successful business portfolio inspired by her passion for health and wellness, as she founded and created the fitness and lifestyle brand, CALIA by Carrie Underwood, and her first book, FIND YOUR PATHwas an instant New York Times bestseller in 2020 when she also launched her popular fitness app, fit52. Carrie launched her exclusive year-round SiriusXM channel, CARRIE’S COUNTRY, in 2023, and created two additional channels, CARR-DIO by CARRIE’S COUNTRY and SAVIOR SUNDAY DAILY by CARRIE’S COUNTRY, both of which stream exclusively on the SiriusXM app. She became the first artist to perform at the Resorts World Theatre in 2021, where her REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency played to packed houses through April 2025, and is the longest-running Las Vegas residency of any solo female country artist. Her concert special, “CARRIE UNDERWOOD: REFLECTION,” is now streaming worldwide on Hulu and Disney+. She has starred in the show open for primetime television’s #1 program, NBC’s Sunday Night Football, for 14 consecutive seasons, and marked the 20th anniversary of winning “American Idol” by joining the judges panel of the hit show, alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on ABC and Hulu.
About Fremantle
Fremantle is a leading global creator, producer and distributor of some of the world’s most successful content across Entertainment, Drama & Film, and Documentaries. Amplifying local stories on a global scale, Fremantle produces and delivers premium, multi-genre IP across the 27 territories it operates in. Fremantle is a proudly independent group of content creators, and home to some of the biggest entertainment formats, compelling international dramas, award-winning films and high-quality documentaries. From Got Talent to Sullivan’s Crossing, Family Feud to Queer, Fellow Travelers to Queens, The Floor to Big Mood, Deadliest Catch to Idols, and Match Game to The Zelensky Story, our focus is simple – Fremantle creates and delivers irresistible entertainment. Fremantle also represents world-leading digital and branded entertainment, with more than 550 million fans and 360 billion views for its standout content across all platforms. Fremantle’s Global Channels unit consists of more than 20 FAST channels worldwide, including Buzzr, Rig TV, and Baywatch. Fremantle is part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, streaming, content and digital, itself a division of the international media, services, and education company Bertelsmann.
For more information, please visit www.fremantle.com, follow Fremantle on Twitter @FremantleHQ and Instagram @fremantle or visit Fremantle’s LinkedIn page.
About 19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television, is led by executive producers Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman. In addition to its global hit “American Idol” for ABC, 19 Recordings has launched the music careers of platinum artists, including Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, Fantasia, Phillip Phillips, Lauren Alaina, and more recently, Gabby Barrett, Chayce Beckham, Iam Tongi, and Jamal Roberts
Media Contacts:
ABC Media Relations
Sarah Castellvi – sarah.castellvi@disney.com
Brett Levine – brett.levine@disney.com
Philip Galicia – philip.galicia@disney.com
Fremantle Publicity
Emma Harvey – emma.harvey@fremantle.com
19 Entertainment
Hans-Dieter Kopal – hans@pcommgroup.com
For Carrie Underwood
Brad Cafarelli – Brad.Cafarelli@fullcov.com
— ABC —
