Season 10
Golden Globe-nominated actress, platinum-selling recording artist, movie producer and entrepreneur Jennifer Lopez and multiple Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Steven Tyler, the frontman of Aerosmith- the best-selling American rock band of all time - have joined American Idol as judges.
Lopez and Tyler will join returning Idol judge Randy Jackson for the 10th anniversary season.
In addition, Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, co-founder of Beats Audio and one of the world's most successful and prolific music producers, will join American Idol as an in-house mentor.
Throughout the season, Idol will go behind-the-scenes to feature Iovine working with and lending his expertise to the contestants as they compete to become the next American Idol.
There were a number of major changes in season 10, from the judges to the format of the show. Nigel Lythgoe returned as the executive producer, and Ray Chew has been hired as the show's new musical director, replacing Rickey Minor, who left the show along with Dorian Holley to become the musical director of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Before American Idol, Lee DeWyze worked as a paint store clerk in Mt. Prospect, IL. Kris Allen was a college student from Conway, AR. David Cook tended bar in Blue Springs, MO. Chris Daughtry was a service advisor at a car dealership in Greensboro, NC. Carrie Underwood lived on a farm in Checotah, OK. Jennifer Hudson was a cruise ship performer from Chicago, IL. Kelly Clarkson was a waitress from Dallas, TX.
One audition changed the rest of their lives.
American Idol is created and executive produced by Simon Fuller, Founder, 19 Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc.; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; and Nigel Lythgoe, President, BigRed 2 Entertainment.