‘American Idol’ Contestant Just Sam Shocks Judges With Selena Performance

Season 17 American Idol winner, Laine Hardy, opened up to HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY about Katy Perry’s pregnancy. Katy was a judge on American Idol when Laine won the show, so he’s certainly gotten to know her pretty well, and he had nothing but great things to say about her future as a mother.

Even a global pandemic will not stop Ryan Seacrest from finding the next American Idol. The singing competition will move forward with the newest season using remote performances from its final 20 contestants, TV Guide has learned.

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – The search for a superstar must continue. After taking some time to make the decision on how to proceed with “American Idol” as it heads into what should have been its live, shiny floor studio portion of the season, ABC has confirmed that it will continue via remote performances.

American Idol season 18 will continue, pandemic or no pandemic.  ABC announced today that the show will continue to film, while following all stay at home guidelines, with the top 20 performing from their own homes while the judges judge from their own homes, with viewers voting from—you guessed it—their homes. Allow judge Katy Perry to explain: "How will American Idol continue? I'll be judging from California, Lionel Richie from LA, Luke Bryan & Bobby Bones in Nashville.

On with the show! 

American Idol is moving ahead with its live shows, with contestants, judges and host Ryan Seacrest all filming from their homes.The live rounds will begin April 26 on ABC with the top 20 contestants. Seacrest will host from his home in Los Angeles, and judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan and in-house mentor Bobby Bones will also conference in remotely.

“American Idol” contestant Trevor Holmes is making the jump from one reality show to another.

Katy Perry spoke directly to her fans on Sunday, going live on Facebook minutes ahead of the new episode of

The unthinkable happened on the Monday (March 23) episode of American Idol, when contestant Makayla Brownlee suffered a medical emergency during her performance.

American Idol judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie rushed to the aid of contestant Makayla Brownlee after she abruptly walked off stage and fell to the ground backstage during her Hollywood Week audition.

It seems Dillon James did enough to impress the “American Idol” judges.

What began as an “American Idol” contestant’s medical emergency turned into an emotional performance that brought judge Katy Perry to tears. During Monday’s episode of the reality singing competition, 17-year-old contestant Makayla Brownlee took the stage to sing a cover of Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow” when it quickly became apparent that something was wrong.The Wellington, Kansas, woman’s speech seemed to be labored while she was introducing the song.

The American Idol judges were faced with a scary situation on the Monday, March 23, episode when a 17-year-old contestant suffered a seizure on stage.

As Hollywood Week came to a close on “American Idol”, and the show narrowed down its field of hopefuls to their Top 40, tensions ran high and the stress led to an unusually scary moment for one contestant.

As Hollywood Week came to a close on, and the show narrowed down its field of hopefuls to their Top 40, tensions ran high and the stress led to an unusually scary moment for one contestant.