'American Idol' Adds a New Twist for Hollywood Week
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Abi Carter, Odell Bunton Jr., Julia Gagnon
American Idol is making changes for Hollywood Week 2024 adding a new element—Idol Arena—that will catch the singers off guard as the 143 contestants who received a Golden Ticket will sit in the same arena facing each other and will be called to the stage at random to perform.
It will be a true test of their nerves with this addition of the element of surprise as this performance will be their one and only chance to make it through the cut, which will be the biggest in Idol history with more than half of them going home, and they won't know when they will be called to the stage.
Related: American Idol Judges Award the Second Platinum Ticket to the 'Best Thing We've Ever Heard'
After all the performances, coaches Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will winnow down the talent pool down to just 56 people.
And as if they didn’t have enough to worry about with the competition seated next to them, the three Platinum Ticket winners opened the night with a powerhouse performance of “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & the Papas.
The Platinum Ticket winners didn’t have to perform the first night of Hollywood Week—that is one of the perks of winning a Platinum Ticket—but they wanted to.
Related: American Idol Judges Give Out the First Platinum Ticket to the ‘Best Soul Singer of the Season'
The first Platinum Ticket of the season was issued to 28-year-old soul singer Odell Bunton Jr. from Arlington, Texas for his performance of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me.”
The second went to Abi Carter, 21, from Indio, California for her rendition of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For.”
The third and final Platinum Ticket was issued to 21-year-old Julia Gagnon from Cumberland, Maine for her performance of Aretha Franklin's 'Ain't No Way.”
Related: American Idol Saved the Best for Last—Watch!
Then on Tuesday, April 1—Idol is adding an extra night this week—for the “Showstopper/Final Judgement” episode, the judges will further narrow down the contestants to the Top 24 singers, whose will then be voted on by America going forward.
Hollywood week will begin in American Idol’s regular timeslot of Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, but part two will air Monday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
