‘American Idol’ Kicks Off 2025 Season in Hollywood: Details & Images Leaked by Attendees
Though season 23 of “American Idol” won’t premiere on ABC until March 9, 2025, filming is well underway with dozens of contestants, host Ryan Seacrest, longtime judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, and first-time judge Carrie Underwood.
On January 27, 2025, contestants who earned golden tickets from the judges during auditions last fall performed for a live audience as part of the Showstopper round of Hollywood Week. Contestants, audience members, and show staff at the January 27 event shared glimpses on social media of the scene at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, ABC also released a new season 23 promo featuring some of the new season’s hopefuls and an emotional Underwood wiping away tears as she talked to one of them.
Hollywood Week Photos Shared by Attendees & ‘American Idol’ Staff
“American Idol’s” iconic Hollywood Week has traditionally happened in December. But the show’s ticket coordinator, On Camera Audiences, announced online and via email that tickets were available on January 27 for fans to “be the first to see the top contestants perform in front of a live audience for the iconic Hollywood week.” On Camera Audiences said the performances would mark the start of season 23.
Though the show’s stars have stayed mum about Hollywood Week, some of the people in attendance shared photos on January 27, including Richie’s longtime love Lisa Parigi, who posted a picture of the Orpheum’s marquee in her Instagram Stories.
“Office today,” she wrote over the image, showing signage that said “Showstoppers” and a tour bus parked outside the theater.
Among the audience members who shared peeks from the venue, teacher Shane Twamley shared a carousel of photos on Instagram featuring fans who helped raise $1,000 for victims of the recent Los Angeles wildfires by attending. He included pics from inside the theater, including some of the judges, and said 62 contestants performed.
Other attendees who leaked pics from the event included a fan who tweeted a selfie while waiting in line to get into the Orpheum. Another audience member shared Facebook photos of Underwood in a metallic, purple mini dress sitting at the judging table with Bryan and Richie.
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Among those working behind the scenes, longtime “Idol” casting producer and talent coordinator Nancy Yearing shared photos in her Instagram Stories of the stage, and casting producer Audrey Pine Wright shared a photo in her Stories of “Idol” warmup host Josh Randall getting the crowd pumped up.
Season 23 ‘American Idol’ Contestants Posted Behind-the-Scenes Pics, Too
Though it’s not known how they’ve done during Hollywood Week, “Idol” has already revealed two of its platinum ticket winners, chosen by the judges as contestants who impressed them so much that, if the rules follow past years, they would have been able to skip the first round of competition during Hollywood Week.
In November, the “Idol” cast surprised a contestant named Coby with her platinum ticket at the NFL matchup between the Tennessee Titans and the New England Patriots, bringing her to tears. On New Year’s Eve, before Seacrest and Underwood led the countdown in New York’s Times Square, they surprised an R&B singer named Filo with a platinum ticket, too.
As Hollywood Week came to a close, some contestants shared on social media that they’re part of season 23, including college student Julia Gergis. She posted an Instagram photo of herself (above) outside doors labeled with the “American Idol” logo and wrote, “So beyond blessed and excited to have the opportunity to audition in front of @lionelrichie @carrieunderwood @lukebryan for @americanidol Season 23!! Tune in March 9th to see if I make the cut 😉💫🎤”
Rock singer Danny Youngelman shared photos of himself on January 26 with the “Idol” logo over a fireplace behind him and captioned his post, “Surprise!!! I auditioned for @americanidol 😭 Tune in March 9th on ABC or streaming on Hulu to see Danny Boy LIGHT IT UP 🔥”
Folk rock singer Shane Dan Turner, who regularly busks in the New York subway system, posted a similar update to other contestants on Instagram, with a photo of himself in a waiting area with the “Idol” logo in the background.
One contestant who also posted from behind the scenes, Gabby Samone, already has some serious support behind her. On January 27, Samone posted her photos with the caption, “Soo I did a thing… 🤭 Tune in March 9th! ❤️” and among the followers cheering her on was “Idol” alum and EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, who commented, “Yaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!!”
Next up, the contestants who make it through Hollywood Week will head to Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii, where filming is expected to take place from February 6 – 13, according to Reel News Hawaii. The fall auditions and tapings from January and February will be featured during the first few weeks of season 23, before ABC moves to live shows with viewer voting.
