Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie teamed up to announce the premiere date of American Idol’s upcoming season.
The returning trio of judges continued a running Idol University theme to announce that “classes begin” on Monday, January 26. Underwood invited viewers to “join us for the premiere of American Idol Monday, January 26 on ABC and stream on Hulu.”
The upcoming season is Underwood’s second consecutive one as a judge. She returned to the competition show 20 years after her run as a contestant — and her career-launching victory — in 2005. The “Before He Cheats” superstar joined the show after former judge and pop hitmaker Katy Perry’s departure. Underwood teamed up with Bryan and Richie, and reunited with longtime American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, who crowned Underwood the winner of the show’s fourth season two decades ago.
ABC confirmed that Idol’s ninth season (and 24th overall) will return with a new schedule, airing Mondays, and will bring its iconic Hollywood Week to Nashville for the first time. This year, “Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover will feature one round only as the hopefuls from all musical genres take the stage for a make-or-break performance, facing the biggest Hollywood Week cut in Idol history.”
American Idol kicks off on Monday, January 26. The show will air on ABC and stream on Hulu.
