‘American Idol’ Season 9 Welcomes Back Lionel, Luke and Carrie

Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan return to ‘American Idol’ (Photo: Christopher Willard © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc)

ABC confirmed American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood are returning for season nine. The announcement came a day ahead of the new season’s “Idol Across America,” a live virtual nationwide search kicking off on August 26, 2025. 

Jamal Roberts, winner of season eight, released his first single, “Heal,” in May 2025. The single debuted in the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Gospel chart. Season nine, which is actually the 24th season if you include its original run on Fox, is expected to air in 2026. 

 ABC offered the following details on the upcoming “Idol Across America” auditions:

“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.”

For additional information and to register for a virtual audition, visit americanidol.com/auditions. 

• “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)

Megan Wolflick is the season nine showrunner and serves as executive producer along with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman. The series is produced by Fremantle and 19 Entertainment.

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