American Idol is once again defying expectations about the decline of long-running reality competition shows, riding a wave of renewed momentum after a standout recent season. Following the success of Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, Idol proved its own staying power when its Season 23 finale drew a record-breaking 26 million votes—more than doubling the previous year’s total and marking the highest vote count in the show’s history on ABC.
Buoyed by that surge in audience engagement, the iconic talent competition is preparing to roll out a bold new change: social media voting. The move is part of a broader strategy to modernize the show and deepen fan participation, especially among younger viewers. Text and phone voting will remain in place for now, but producers see social platforms as the future of real-time audience interaction.
Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick says the idea has been in the works for years. Her goal is to meet viewers where they already are—on their phones, scrolling and engaging live. With Gen Z and Gen Alpha increasingly shaping pop culture trends, making voting easier and more immediate could fundamentally shift how outcomes are decided.
The upcoming season will also bring major format changes. American Idol is moving to a new night on ABC, premiering on Monday, January 26, rather than its traditional Sunday slot. The decision sidesteps competition from major awards shows and sporting events, giving the series room to breathe at the start of the year.
Geographically, the show is making a statement as well. Auditions were held exclusively in Nashville at Belmont University, a departure from the multi-city approach of past seasons. Hollywood Week has also relocated to Music City, reinforcing Nashville’s status as a modern music capital. To replace the familiar “fish out of water” Hollywood experience, the show introduces a new Hawai‘i-based phase called the Ohana Round, filmed at Disney’s Aulani resort.
During this three-episode arc, the top 30 contestants will perform for a mix of industry insiders, social media influencers, fellow contestants, and family members. Feedback from these groups will help inform the judges before America officially votes, with standout performers earning platinum tickets and advancing more quickly in the competition.
At the center of it all is a judging panel that blends consistency with evolution. Ryan Seacrest continues as host, joined by long-standing judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Carrie Underwood, an Idol winner herself, brings a uniquely authentic perspective to the panel. Her presence marks the first time a former champion has served as a judge across the global Idol franchise, adding emotional depth and firsthand insight to the judging process.
With record-breaking engagement, ambitious format changes, and a willingness to take creative risks, American Idol is proving that reinvention—not nostalgia—is the key to staying relevant in modern television.