American Idol is a singing competition television show in the United States. It has attracted some of the biggest audiences in television history. The show first aired in 2002.
“American Idol” discovers new singing talent through a series of auditions and televised performances. Auditions are held in a number of cities for each season of the program. Tens of thousands of people have auditioned. The show’s producers narrow down the contestants to a group that audition for the show’s judges. The judges select a group of semifinalists who travel to Hollywood, California, to perform before the show’s studio audience and television viewers. The judges comment on each contestant’s performance. The viewers determine which contestants will advance to the next round of the competition. Viewers vote by calling a special telephone number or by text messaging after each performance show. The results are announced during the following night’s broadcast. After several weeks of performances and voting, the competition eventually is narrowed down to two finalists. The winner receives a recording contract and the title of American Idol.
The show has featured many celebrity judges. These have included the American musicians Paula Abdul, Luke Bryan , Mariah Carey , Harry Connick, Jr., Jennifer Lopez , Nicki Minaj , Katy Perry , Lionel Richie, and Steven Tyler . Some other notable judges have included the British music executive Simon Cowell, American comedian Ellen DeGeneres , and Australian musician Keith Urban . The show is hosted by Ryan Seacrest. “American Idol” also has featured famous guest performers who have coached and advised the contestants.
“American Idol” originally was based on a popular British program called “Pop Idol” and started out with the name “American Idol: The Search for a Superstar.” Versions of “American Idol” also have been created in dozens of other countries, including Australia, Canada, and India.
