Season 14
Featuring host Ryan Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., the fun starts when American Idol launches its search for America's next superstar with auditions from Kansas City, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York and San Francisco.
The fun begins when host Ryan Seacrest and returning judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., travel to Nashville, TN, to discover the city's best talent.
This season promises to deliver the most talented group of singers yet and, as always, it's up to the viewers to root and vote for their favorite contestants, ultimately crowning the next American Idol.
With Randy Jackson having left the show at the end of last season, his position was filled by Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group, who joined the show as mentor to help shape the career of the competition's winner.
Borchetta's relationship with the winner extends past the show's finale; his Big Machine Records will partner with 19 Entertainment and Universal Music Group to oversee the launch of his/her recording career.
The winner will join Borchetta's record label roster of talent, including Taylor Swift, whom he discovered at the age of 14, as well as Tim McGraw, Reba, Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line and The Band Perry.
The Season XIV mentor role was re-imagined and stepped up to provide Borchetta's perspective from early on in the competition - through the live shows, to the final winning moment and beyond.
Borchetta joined Idol during Hollywood Week, when he watched the performances in advance of offering his expertise to the contestants who continue in the competition.
This year, for the first time ever, the show allowed fans to choose one hopeful who receives a coveted ticket to Hollywood via an online vote.
Idol once again combed the country to discover the best breakout talent, but America could choose between a number of contenders were given an opportunity to advance to Hollywood Week.
American Idol is produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group. The series was created by Simon Fuller.