American Idol is keeping fans on their toes in Season 24 with major format changes and a brand-new competition structure.
This year, all auditions were held at Belmont University in Franklin, Tennessee, while the show’s traditional Hollywood Week was replaced with Nashville Week. By the end of that round, the competition was narrowed down to 30 contestants who advanced to the newly introduced Ohana Round.
The Top 20 were filmed last week on Thursday and Friday, January 29 and 30, at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. Contestants performed in front of judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood, with Ryan Seacrest returning as host
Adding a new twist, a group of “Industry Tastemakers” joined the judging process, offering professional insight alongside the panel. Platinum Tickets also remain in play this season, with three awarded by a focus group of these tastemakers after watching the Top 30 perform in Hawaii.
The Ohana Round Explained
The Ohana Round will unfold over three weeks and will feature country superstar Brad Paisley as a guest mentor for the Top 20. Photos from ABC’s media site also show Dancing With the Stars pro Sasha Farber in Hawaii during filming.
Week one, titled Ohana Round, will showcase performances from the Top 30 in front of the Industry Tastemakers, fellow contestants, and a small audience of family and friends. After the judges select the Top 20, contestants will perform across two additional nights—airing in weeks two and three—presumably for America’s vote.
According to The Futon Critic, the Ohana Round episodes will air as follows:
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Monday, March 9 – Ohana Round (Top 30)
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Monday, March 16 – Top 20, Part 1
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Monday, March 23 – Top 20, Part 2
Once again, trusted sources have provided spoilers for both the Top 30 and Top 20. While not officially confirmed and subject to change, most of the reported names are believed to be accurate.
Song spoilers remain incomplete, so fans will want to stay tuned as American Idol Season 24 continues to unfold.