Secret Lives of American Idol Contestants: What You Never Knew!

From mere singers to revered idols, there’s a special category for those who’ve graced the stage of ‘American Idol’. Over two decades, this ABC competition series has been instrumental in catapulting artists into stardom, such as Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia Barrino, Katharine McPhee, Jordin Sparks, and the latest champion Abi Carter, among others.

The show maintains a unique charm that resonates with viewers. As Megan Michaels Wolflick, the executive producer, explained to GoldDerby in June, “It is a trusted brand… It’s a show about the finalists. It’s not a show about celebrities. It’s a show about the Cinderella story.”

Now, in its 23rd season, countless hopefuls are yearning to spin their own fairy tales. With a golden (or exceptionally rare platinum) ticket bestowed upon them by judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie, competitors continue their journey through Hollywood Week.

Now we’re heading to the American Idol stage, as host Ryan Seacrest posted on Instagram on March 31, implying that things become serious.

Have you ever pondered about the true experience of being on ‘American Idol’? For instance, how does the audition procedure unfold, do contestants receive compensation, are minors required to attend school while participating, and what transpires when a singer is dismissed from the program?

To discover the answers to these questions and beyond, delve deeper into the stories of musicians who have graced the show.

In a 2020 TikTok post, Margie Mays, who appeared on seasons 17 and 18 of American Idol, revealed that contestants only receive payment once they reach the live rounds. However, she noted that she was compensated for appearing in American Idol commercials and returning for a finale performance following her elimination.

During the competition, expenses such as travel to locations like Hawaii were covered, and a per diem was provided for food while on location. But contestants do not receive payment for participating in the contest itself; this is the sacrifice they make in pursuit of the title.

If a contestant does win, there is a substantial prize: $250,000. However, as season 16 champion Maddie Poppe explained to Business Insider in 2022, the prize money is heavily taxed and is essentially an advance on a record deal. Contestants must recoup this amount from their eventual earnings from the record deal.

Absolutely.

David Cook, the champion from season seven, shared with Business Insider that his initial audition in front of judges like Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson was actually his fifth try.

When it comes to trying out for American Idol, there are several methods such as open calls, live online auditions, or social media submissions. However, singers who receive callbacks during the selection process are expected to organize their own travel arrangements according to the show’s guidelines.

“Once you reach Hollywood Week,” David explained, “they provide accommodation and cover travel expenses. But yes, for the initial city auditions phase, you have to manage it on your own.

Once you secure your golden ticket from the panel of judges, who consist of Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, it’s time to journey to California for the intense Hollywood Week. But do the producers cover the travel costs?

In a 2020 TikTok, Margie explained that “they will arrange your flight to Hollywood Week if you need to fly.” The travel costs are covered, and they also handle booking the flights. Once you land, they’ll transport you from the airport to your hotel, which is complimentary. Your meals during this time are also provided for.

To make it clearer, Margie said, “They won’t give you cash, but they will cover your expenses.

In the initial stages of the competition, each contestant takes care of their own clothing choices. However, once they reach the live rounds (typically Top 14 and onwards), a team consisting of stylists, hair, and makeup artists will be provided to help transform them from everyday individuals into stars. It’s important to note that these teams work within a budget, as was the case in 2013 when the costume designer, Soyon An, revealed contestants were given $400 per episode for their wardrobe. Contestants are building their image or brand, so if a chosen outfit costs more than $400, they have to decide whether to cover the extra cost themselves if they really want to wear it.

After Ryan Seacrest announces the competition results and singers are eliminated, it’s time for them to gather their belongings and depart.

In Hollywood Week, you usually get sent home as soon as they can arrange a flight ticket for you, according to Margie in her 2021 TikTok video. So, immediately after leaving the theater, you are taken to a separate hotel, put on a plane, and sent off right away.

Later in the competition? For Hawaii, you don’t leave the same day. Everyone flies back to L.A. on the same aircraft, regardless of whether they made it to the Top 20 or not. If you live in the apartments and are performing live shows, if you get cut between 20th and 10th place, you might leave soon after. However, if you’re among the Top 10 and get eliminated, there’s a good chance you will stay in the apartments until the finale as they plan to bring you back for the finale performance.

To appear on American Idol, contestants must be at least 15 years old. As a result, some of the singers were juggling their schoolwork along with competing. For instance, Danielle Finn, who was 17 when she reached the Top 24 in season 20, shared that they had to continue their education on set and couldn’t film for more than ten hours per day. If they exceeded this limit, they were kept aside or, during free time, they would have to attend school.

Similarly, Victoria Johnson, who was 16 when she advanced to the Showstopper round in season 22, also had to balance her studies while competing on the show. Although she was on spring break during Hollywood Week, since she was a minor, she had to complete the necessary school hours. She explained that she completed puzzles throughout this time because she had no actual schoolwork to do. Interestingly, she switched to online classes for the current semester due to her Idol commitments, as she was frequently traveling back and forth for filming.

Contestants of American Idol have resided in various accommodations over the years, ranging from apartments to hotels, even luxury mansions. For example, a mansion on season eight boasted a basketball court, bowling alley, cinema room, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Lil Rounds, a contestant from season 8, reflected on her experience in an Instagram post from February 2024, saying “The mansion was amazing, but we barely got any rest.”

Nowadays, it seems that the contestants are lodged in hotels. In fact, roommates Abi Carter, the winner of season 22, and Julia Gagnon, a top seven finalist, stayed together during their time on the show.

In a 2023 interview with West Byrd, season two winner Ruben Studdard recounted his hectic schedule during the competition. This included selecting songs on Thursday, deciding by Friday, taping commercials from Friday to Saturday, finalizing song choices on Sunday, and perfecting the track in the studio on Monday. A dry run of the show was done on Tuesday, and the package for voting was already taped at this point. The actual show took place on Wednesday, followed by eliminations, and the workload increased as the contestants were eliminated and fewer people remained. Season 13 runner-up Jena Irene Asciutto shared a similar experience, stating that as more contestants were eliminated, they were required to fill in more time for each episode, leading to an increase in their workload.

2025-04-06 13:17

Secret Lives of American Idol Contestants: What You Never Knew!

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