‘American Idol’ Is Coming Back This Weekend So Buckle Up
A few days before the 2019 American Idol finale, ABC announced the show's renewal for a third season (18th season overall).
Since first premiering way back in 2002, the competition show has discovered hidden singing talent all across the country. Soon, fans will have a new round of singers to vote for.
Here's the full scoop on American Idol season 3:
When is American Idol coming back for season 3?
American Idol is returning on Sunday, February 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The singing show shared the exciting news in December with a fun video showcasing everyone’s favorite judges:
Are judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie returning?
Yes, and so is in-house mentor Bobby Bones. Even though Variety reported last May that Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie had not yet inked new deals with ABC, it looks like they all ultimately decided to come back to the competition series once again.
“We are delighted to have our judges Katy, Luke and Lionel as well as in-house mentor Bobby back on American Idol," executive producer and showrunner Trish Kinane said in a statement. “They are all credible, hugely successful artists and will bring their expertise, passion, and energy to the search for America’s next superstar."
According to Variety, ABC and series producer FreemantleMedia North America were looking into possible new talent deals with the judges in an effort to cut the show's costs (Katy reportedly had a $25 million a year salary from the show).
Okay, but is Ryan Seacrest going to host?
Yes, you can count on Ryan's return. Ryan signed a new deal to continue on the show last September, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ryan has been on American Idol since the series first started back in 2002.
When and where are American Idol auditions for season 3?
American Idol auditions for the 2020 season took place over the summer and early fall with more than 20 stops throughout the U.S. Idol hopefuls had the chance to audition in-person or online with the requirement of being between 15 to 28 years old. Below are all the places the judges searched for the next big star:
Mobile, AL
Tallahassee, FL
Macon, GA
Santa Barbara, CA
Baton Rouge, LA
Columbia, SC
Las Vegas, NV
Waco, TX
Knoxville, TN
Salt Lake City, UT
Raleigh, NC
Colorado Springs, CO
Washington D.C.
Wichita, KS
San Jose, CA
Pittsburgh, PA
Springfield, IL
Spokane, WA
Detroit, MI
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
How can I watch season 3 of American Idol?
If you aren't able to watch the episodes live on ABC, you can always catch up on ABC.com.
There's also the ABC Go App. If you download the app, you can watch American Idol and countless other ABC shows whenever you want on your iPhone, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and more.
Streaming-wise, Hulu Live is a great option, too. If you're not currently a Hulu user, it's $5.99 per month with limited ads or $11.99 per month for no commercials — that is, after your free week trial.
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