American Idol Unveils New Twists for Season 24

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American Idol is freshening its format for the upcoming 24th season.

The popular singing competition is returning for its 24th season on January 26th, and this time, viewers can expect some exciting new surprises.

Fans of Idol will now be able to vote for their favorite contestants using social media, alongside traditional text and phone voting, according to showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick in a recent Deadline interview. This is the first time in the show’s history that social media voting will be available.

We need to connect with viewers on the platforms they’re already using. As producer Michaels Wolflick pointed out, when the show started in 2002, text messaging was cutting-edge. Now, we also need to adapt to current technology. Our goal is to make voting and sharing opinions simple and convenient, allowing people to participate live from their homes using any device.

The show’s creator said they’re still finalizing plans, but the main idea is to attract younger viewers. She explained that getting feedback from Gen Alpha and Gen Z – in a simple way – would be a huge win and could really make a difference.

I’ve been watching Idol since it started back in 2002 with Ryan Seacrest, and I’m so excited to hear it’s shaking things up! They’re moving Hollywood Week to Nashville, which is a surprise considering the show’s name, but I think it’s a great move. This season, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood are the judges, and I can’t wait to see what they bring to the table!

You know, as someone who keeps a close eye on creative hotspots, I’ve always said Nashville is right up there with L.A. when it comes to music. It’s truly a major center for the industry and a place where so many aspiring artists head to chase their dreams. It’s a vibrant and thriving scene!

ABC’s popular show is adding a new segment called the Ohana Round. According to a recent announcement, this round will be filmed at the Aulani Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, during the show’s three-episode Hollywood Week.

Thirty performers will audition for a panel of industry experts who will help the judges select the top 20 contestants. This panel includes social media influencers Kaniyia Brown and Terry McCaskill, music producer Anthony Gargiula, actress Loren Gray, podcast host Evan Ross Katz, vocal coach Cheryl Porter, Grand Ole Opry announcer Kelly Sutton, and Shirley Halperin, a co-editor-in-chief at Rolling Stone magazine.

Michaels Wolflick recently explained that the purpose of Ohana Week is to understand which artists and creators are resonating with both fans and people working in the entertainment industry.

The judges have complete control over who advances, even up to the public vote. I thought it would be helpful to get feedback from focus groups before the public vote, so the judges know who’s resonating with viewers. Each group will get to choose their favorite contestant. For example, in past seasons, Kris Allen likely would have been the public’s choice, while Adam Lambert probably would have been favored by the music industry. I’m really interested to see who the potential Idols themselves will pick, since they won’t be able to vote for themselves.

American Idol isn’t the only show launching in 2026. Here’s a look at other new shows premiering this year.

Fourteen talented drag queens are entering the competition this season, all vying for the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar.” The winner will also receive a makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics and a $200,000 prize sponsored by the video game RuPaul’s Drag Race Match Queen.

Season 36 of Oxygen’s true crime series debuts Jan. 4.

Nathan Fillion returns for season eight of the procedural.

Ramón Rodríguez and team return to solve more cases on season four.

Amy is busy planning her wedding to Brian, and it’s going to be a Halloween event like no other! She’s adding lots of spooky touches, and even had a fun bachelorette party in New Orleans, to make sure her wedding day is truly memorable.

Tammy is starting a fresh, exciting phase of her life. After having surgery to remove excess skin, she’s really stepping up and taking on more responsibility – volunteering at an animal shelter and juggling more at work as she approaches 40. She’s also getting ready to move in with her girlfriend, Andrea, and their relationship is becoming a central focus as Tammy gains more independence and explores new possibilities.

Even with romance blossoming, the sisters are facing more conflict than ever. The show, 1000-Lb Sisters, explores complicated family relationships, jealousy, and each sister’s journey of self-improvement, delivering plenty of drama, heartwarming moments, and laughs.

I’m so excited for the new season! Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is back, and this time, twenty celebrities will be joining him to discover their family histories. It’s amazing to think they’ll trace their roots back hundreds of years, learning about the incredible journeys their ancestors took. I always learn so much from this show!

The show follows Dr. Martin Best (Josh Charles), a highly skilled surgeon who unexpectedly gives up his successful Boston practice to become a small-town doctor in the coastal village where he spent his childhood summers. However, his direct and sometimes harsh manner clashes with the town’s eccentric residents, causing friction despite him being their only doctor. While Martin is capable of handling any medical issue, he secretly just wants to be left alone. He keeps getting pulled into the personal dramas, conflicts, and quirks of the townspeople. Unbeknownst to them, Martin’s gruff exterior hides a new phobia and past trauma that make it difficult for him to connect with others. But the determined and close-knit community might be exactly what he needs.

Season 14 debuts with new mystery celebrities.

This show, a continuation of The Valley, centers on a close group of Persian friends who’ve moved from the glamorous life of Beverly Hills to the suburbs. As they balance marriage, raising kids, and successful careers, tensions and conflicts start to surface in their relationships. With strong cultural values centered around family, friendship, and loyalty, these passionate individuals experience all the ups and downs of life, often letting their emotions guide them.

In season four, luck and chance play a major role as players risk everything within the castle. Every decision they make, every team they form, and every act of backstabbing could completely alter their fate in the game.

Anna, a former news anchor in hot Atlanta, has withdrawn from life, losing touch with friends and her career. When she learns about a murder in her quiet hometown of Dahlonega, she’s driven to investigate. However, Detective Jack Harper becomes wary of her involvement, and she finds herself a suspect in his investigation. The story unfolds from two perspectives, suggesting that someone isn’t telling the truth.

The Hunting Party is a crime drama centered around a team of investigators, led by ex-FBI profiler Rebecca “Bex” Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh). Their mission: to recapture extremely dangerous criminals who’ve broken out of “The Pit,” a secret government prison meant to remain hidden. As Bex and her team hunt these fugitives, they uncover a disturbing truth: the prison itself is far more sinister than the criminals it held, and wasn’t simply a place of confinement.

This story is based on the real lives of people struggling to survive in London’s tough East End during the 1880s. A year has passed, and Hezekiah is a broken man, while Sugar Goodson is isolated from his family and turning to alcohol. Just when the area of Wapping seems doomed, Mary Carr returns with her trusted ally, Alice Diamond, determined to rebuild her gang and regain control. Mary always has a scheme, and this one is her most dangerous yet, involving everyone she cares about.

OWN’s new series, Maxxed Out, takes a hard look at the emotional and financial struggles affecting families and friends throughout the United States.

This eight-part series honestly explores how financial issues – and poor money management – can damage even the closest relationships. Each episode looks at the questionable decisions that led to financial hardship and the difficult steps people take to rebuild their finances.

Season three of Tell Me Lies picks up with Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) trying to make their complicated relationship work as they return to Baird College for the spring semester. Despite hoping for a fresh start, old mistakes continue to cause problems, and Lucy unexpectedly finds herself caught up in a scandal. The fallout from the previous year also forces Lucy and Stephen’s friends to confront their own damaging patterns. As secrets spread across campus, serious consequences loom for Lucy and everyone around her.

TLC’s new series documents the experiences of six people who aren’t Amish as they try living within a traditional Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. These individuals are looking for a major life change and are considering joining the Amish, meaning they’ll have to adapt to a very different way of life focused on faith, hard work, simple living, and strong community ties.

This January, Will Smith embarks on an incredible adventure in a new original series from National Geographic. Filmed over five years, the series documents Will’s travels to every continent – from the frozen landscapes of Antarctica and the Arctic, to the lush Amazon rainforest, the towering Himalayas, the African deserts, and the islands of the Pacific.

Oh my gosh, you guys, Fear Factor is BACK! And it’s not just any comeback, it’s Fear Factor: House of Fear hosted by the LEGEND, Johnny Knoxville! I’m seriously losing it! They’re taking a bunch of strangers, sticking them in the middle of nowhere, and making them live together while doing the most insane, terrifying stunts EVER. But it’s not just about the physical challenges, it’s a social game too! They’ll have to figure out who to trust because, honestly, trust is basically nonexistent when you’re dealing with that level of fear! Only one person will be brave enough – or crazy enough – to face everything and win the HUGE grand prize. I CANNOT WAIT!

Five women going through menopause—a teacher, a police officer, a pub owner, a midwife, and a woman known for petty theft—decide to start a punk rock band and enter a local talent show. They quickly realize they have more to express than they initially thought. As they bond, the teacher, Beth, and the freeloader, Kitty, uncover a deeply emotional and unexpected link between them.

Season two debuts.

Season four debuts in its regular time slot.

From the world of Westeros comes an endearing tale centered on the adventures of an unexpected duo. 

Evan Peters plays an FBI agent who teams up with Rebecca Hall to investigate a strange virus. This virus doesn’t just infect people – it transforms them into seemingly perfect physical specimens, but with frightening results. The series, created and written by Ryan Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, is described by Evan Peters as a fast-paced, darkly humorous, and terrifying sci-fi thriller with international scope.

The film also features Ashton Kutcher and Jeremy Pope, with guest appearances by Bella Hadid, Isabella Rossellini, Ben Platt, Jessica Alexander, and Vincent D’Onofrio.

The second season of this international drama follows Camille and Issei as they face their most dangerous mission yet: discovering the source of the world’s most famous wine. This mystery baffled even their father, Alexandre Léger. What starts as a quest to honor their family history quickly turns into a worldwide search for the truth, revealing long-lost stories, secret conflicts, and generations-old secrets. As they travel the globe and confront their own inner demons, Camille and Issei must decide just how far they’re willing to go. The truth could break their sibling relationship—or even destroy them both.

The ninth season of American Idol is coming to ABC, marking the show’s 24th season overall. Fan-favorite judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood are back, along with host Ryan Seacrest. This year, Idol is shaking things up by holding the famous Hollywood Week auditions in Nashville. Called “Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover,” this single-round audition will be the most competitive Hollywood Week in the show’s history, with more hopefuls than ever vying for a spot.

Inspired by the book and critically acclaimed 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer, Memory of a Killer is a suspenseful thriller. Emmy-nominated actor Patrick Dempsey stars as Angelo Doyle, a hitman who lives a double life and harbors a dangerous secret.

Season two of the family reality competition series debuts.

In Shrinking, Jason Segel plays a therapist coping with grief who starts being brutally honest with his patients. He throws caution to the wind, disregarding professional boundaries, and unexpectedly causes major upheaval in their lives – and his own.

Season four centers on Benedict (Luke Thompson), the Bridgerton family’s second son. While his brothers have found happiness in marriage, Benedict isn’t interested in settling down—that is, until he’s captivated by a mysterious woman in silver at a ball hosted by their mother.

The cooking competition series returns for season five.

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2026-01-23 03:23