American Idol contestants are no longer headed to Hollywood. The ABC singing competition is relocating from California to Georgia for its 25th season, E! News confirmed on September 15, 2026.
The move means the upcoming live shows, hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featuring returning judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, will be filmed in the Atlanta area, a major change from seasons past. The network has not confirmed the reason for the cross-country relocation.
Auditions for the new season began on August 25 with the return of Idol Across America, the virtual nationwide search that lets hopefuls from all 50 states showcase their talents for Idol producers remotely. Eligible contenders can also try out during open-call audition dates running through September 28.
Season 24 Winner Hannah Harper
American Idol's 24th season ended in May with Seacrest announcing Hannah Harper as the winner during the finale in Hollywood. The country singer, who is from Missouri, beat finalists Jordan McCullough and Keyla Richardson for the title.
Showrunner Reflects on a Milestone Season
Before news of the East Coast move broke, showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick reflected on the show's nearly 25-year history in an interview with Georgia's local station WJCL this month.
"It feels really special," Wolflick said. "It's a quarter-century of discovering superstars. It's a landmark season for us, and we're going to make it very, very big."
Asked what producers and judges look for during auditions, Wolflick said, "It's that person you can't wait to walk into the room. You can't wait for their next song, and you can't wait to see them perform. It's that special magic stardust." She encouraged aspiring contestants to "just be yourself, because that's what America will connect with."
Carrie Underwood on Idol's Legacy
Underwood, who joined the judges' panel in season 23, praised the show earlier this year for changing fans' lives, including her own. "American Idol is the ultimate real-life Cinderella story," the season four winner told Good Morning America in an interview published May 8. "I learned so much on the show that set me up for everything that would follow."
American Idol returns next year.
Where Past Idol Winners Are Now
- Kelly Clarkson, the season one winner in 2002, has three Grammys, three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, has judged on The Voice and is now hosting the final season of The Kelly Clarkson Show. She is a mom to River and Remy.
- Clay Aiken, the season two runner-up, came out publicly in 2008 after the birth of his son Parker with producer Jaymes Foster, ran for Congress in 2016 and toured with Ruben Studdard in 2023 and 2024.
- Ruben Studdard, the season two winner, earned a Grammy nomination, competed on The Biggest Loser in 2013 and welcomed a second child with wife Kristin in 2024.
- Fantasia Barrino, season three's champion, welcomed daughter Keziah with husband Kendall Taylor in 2021 and received a Golden Globe nomination for The Color Purple remake.
- Jennifer Hudson, also from season three, won an Oscar for Dreamgirls, a Grammy for The Color Purple musical adaptation, judged on The Voice and now hosts her own talk show.
- Bo Bice, season four's runner-up, is married with three boys and a girl and has released multiple albums despite serious health problems in 2006.
- Constantine Maroulis, also from season four, earned a Tony nomination for Rock of Ages and starred in 2023's Rock & Roll Man.
- Taylor Hicks, the season five winner, went platinum, starred in Broadway's Grease and hosted the show State-Plate in 2016.
- Katharine McPhee, season five's runner-up, starred in Smash and Scorpion, married David Foster in 2019 and is mom to son Rennie.
- Elliott Yamin, also from season five, worked with former judge Kara DioGuardi in Angola for Malaria No More and shares daughter Camilla with Karen Cruz.
- Kellie Pickler, who finished sixth in season five, starred in Hallmark's Christmas in Graceland; her husband Kyle Jacobs died by suicide in February 2023.
- Jordin Sparks, season six's champion and the youngest female winner, took her Battlefield tour to 35 cities, debuted on Broadway in In the Heights and welcomed her first son with Dana Isaiah in May 2018.
- David Cook, the season seven winner, visited Ethiopia for the United Nations in 2010 and married Racheal Stump in 2015.
- David Archuleta, season seven's runner-up, completed a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile and came out as LGBTQ+ in June 2021.
- Kris Allen, the season eight winner, had his second album debut at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and has three children with wife Katy O'Connell.
- Adam Lambert, season eight's runner-up, toured as frontman for Queen, starred in Fox's Rocky Horror Picture Show remake and performed at the 2019 Oscars.
- Danny Gokey, also from season eight, married Leyicet Peralta in 2012, has four children and released the Christian album Jesus People in 2021.
- Lee DeWyze, the season nine winner, married Jonna Walsh in 2012 and has had songs featured on The Walking Dead.
- Crystal Bowersox, season nine's runner-up, released Farmer's Daughter in 2010 and made her acting debut on Body of Proof.
- Scotty McCreery, the season 10 winner, had his debut album hit No. 1, married Gabi Dugal in 2018 and welcomed son Avery in 2022.
- Lauren Alaina, season 10's runner-up, earned a 2017 CMA Best New Artist nomination and married Cam Arnold in February 2024.
- Casey Abrams, who finished sixth in season 10, signed with jazz label Concord and released albums in 2012, 2018 and 2019.
- Jimmie Allen, also from season 10, won the 2021 CMA New Artist of the Year award; he and wife Alexis Allen announced a third child and the end of their marriage in April 2023 before welcoming son Cohen Ace James and later working to repair their relationship.
- Phillip Phillips, the season 11 winner, scored the hit "Home," which served as NBC's 2012 Summer Olympics theme, and welcomed son Patch with wife Hannah Blackwell in 2019.
- Maddie Poppe, the season 16 winner, released her album Whirlwind in 2019.
- Caleb Lee Hutchinson, season 16's runner-up, released Southern Galactic in October 2023.
- Gabby Barrett, who finished third in season 16, welcomed daughter Baylah and son Augustine with fellow alum Cade Foehner, followed by a third child in February 2024.
