# American Idol season 23
**American Idol season 23** was the 2025 edition of the American singing competition *American Idol*, its eighth season on ABC, which aired from March 2 to May 18, 2025 and was won by [Jamal Roberts](https://www.edgepedia.org/jamal-roberts), a physical education teacher from [Meridian, Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/meridian-mississippi).[1](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/american-idol/episodes-season-23/1030761754/) • [2](https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/american-idol-crowns-season-23-winner-inspiring-message/story?id=121945808) The season is chiefly notable for the judging change: [Carrie Underwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/carrie-underwood), winner of season 4, replaced Katy Perry on the panel alongside returning judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, with Ryan Seacrest continuing as host.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/backstreet-boys-brian-littrell-choked-up-son-baylees-american-idol-run-love-aj-mcleans-proud-dad-vibes) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s23)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network and season number | 23rd season overall, eighth on ABC; 19 episodes aired[1](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/american-idol/episodes-season-23/1030761754/) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s23) |
| Air dates | Post-Oscars preview special March 2, 2025; season premiere March 9, 2025; finale May 18, 2025[1](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/american-idol/episodes-season-23/1030761754/) • [5](https://abcnews.com/amp/GMA/Culture/carrie-underwood-shares-inspiring-message-new-american-idol/story?id=118792109) • [6](https://americanidol.fandom.com/wiki/Season_23) |
| Judges and host | Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and new judge Carrie Underwood; host Ryan Seacrest[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s23) |
| Judging change | Underwood replaced Katy Perry, becoming the first Idol alum to serve as a full-time judge[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/backstreet-boys-brian-littrell-choked-up-son-baylees-american-idol-run-love-aj-mcleans-proud-dad-vibes) • [7](https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/american-idol-season-23-release-date-judges-and-everything-we-know-about-the-singing-competition) |
| Result | Winner Jamal Roberts; runner-up John Foster; third place Breanna Nix[2](https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/american-idol-crowns-season-23-winner-inspiring-message/story?id=121945808) |
| Artist in residence | Jelly Roll, with Ashanti mentoring the top 24[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s23) |
## Judging panel
The season's defining change was Carrie Underwood joining the panel in place of [Katy Perry](https://www.edgepedia.org/katy-perry), twenty years after Underwood won the show's fourth season in 2005.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/backstreet-boys-brian-littrell-choked-up-son-baylees-american-idol-run-love-aj-mcleans-proud-dad-vibes) Underwood, an eight-time Grammy winner and one of country music's biggest stars, was the first Idol alum to become a full-time judge on the series, having previously returned only as a guest mentor.[7](https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/american-idol-season-23-release-date-judges-and-everything-we-know-about-the-singing-competition) She joined returning judges [Luke Bryan](https://www.edgepedia.org/luke-bryan) and [Lionel Richie](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionel-richie), with Ryan Seacrest continuing as host for the season.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s23)
## Format and broadcast
The season opened with a post-Oscars preview special on March 2, 2025, offering a first look at the new judging panel, followed by the official premiere on March 9.[1](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/american-idol/episodes-season-23/1030761754/) Auditions ran through March 30, with the judges visiting New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville.[8](https://americanidol.fandom.com/wiki/Season_23_Auditions)
**Hollywood Week.** About 140 hopefuls reached Hollywood Week, taped at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.[9](https://www.tvinsider.com/1177166/american-idol-premiere-carrie-underwood-lionel-richie-luke-bryan-ryan-seacrest-interview/) The Idol Arena episode aired Monday, March 31, and along with the Showstoppers and Head to Head rounds was filmed at the Orpheum.[6](https://americanidol.fandom.com/wiki/Season_23) Jelly Roll joined as the season's artist in residence, guiding contestants through the Showstopper round.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s23) In the Head to Head round on April 7, the remaining 42 contestants performed in 21 duets for the final spots.[6](https://americanidol.fandom.com/wiki/Season_23) The top 24 then performed at Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawai'i, with Ashanti as mentor and nationwide voting beginning.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s23)
## Finale and result
The season concluded on May 18, 2025, when Jamal Roberts, a 27-year-old physical education teacher and father of three from Meridian, Mississippi, was named the winner out of an initial pool of 24 contestants. In the grand finale he performed a rendition of [Tom Odell](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-odell)'s 2013 song "Heal." John Foster, an 18-year-old college student from Addis, Louisiana, was the runner-up, and Breanna Nix of Denton, Texas finished third.[2](https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/american-idol-crowns-season-23-winner-inspiring-message/story?id=121945808) • [10](https://abcnews.com/amp/GMA/Culture/american-idol-judges-luke-bryan-carrie-underwood-lionel/story?id=124959814) The finale also featured a performance by [Jessica Simpson](https://www.edgepedia.org/jessica-simpson), who returned to the stage after more than a decade away, singing "Blame Me" from her album *Nashville Canyon: Part 1* alongside former contestant Josh King.[2](https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/american-idol-crowns-season-23-winner-inspiring-message/story?id=121945808)
Roberts later released his debut album, *The Journey*, on October 2, 2026, through 19 Recordings under exclusive license to BMG.[11](https://encoreindex.com/seasons/23)
## Aftermath
The season's performance was strong enough for ABC to schedule the judges' return for a 24th season, its ninth on ABC and Hulu.[10](https://abcnews.com/amp/GMA/Culture/american-idol-judges-luke-bryan-carrie-underwood-lionel/story?id=124959814) An earlier episode drew attention off-stage as well: when it emerged that [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://www.edgepedia.org/lin-manuel-miranda) would mentor contestants ahead of the finale, Ric Grenell, the Trump-backed interim president of the Kennedy Center, publicly objected to ABC's inclusion of Miranda, who had declined to perform at the venue after its Trump-led makeover.[12](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-kennedy-center-head-throws-hissy-fit-at-lin-manuel-miranda/)
## References
1. [American Idol Season 23 Episodes, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/american-idol/episodes-season-23/1030761754/)
2. ["American Idol" crowns season 23 winner: See his inspiring message, ABC News](https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/american-idol-crowns-season-23-winner-inspiring-message/story?id=121945808)
3. [Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell Got "Choked Up" Talking About Son Baylee's American Idol Run, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/backstreet-boys-brian-littrell-choked-up-son-baylees-american-idol-run-love-aj-mcleans-proud-dad-vibes)
4. [American Idol: Season 23, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s23)
5. [Carrie Underwood shares inspiring message in new "American Idol" promo, ABC News](https://abcnews.com/amp/GMA/Culture/carrie-underwood-shares-inspiring-message-new-american-idol/story?id=118792109)
6. [Season 23, American Idol Wiki (Fandom)](https://americanidol.fandom.com/wiki/Season_23)
7. [American Idol season 23: everything we know, WhatToWatch](https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/american-idol-season-23-release-date-judges-and-everything-we-know-about-the-singing-competition)
8. [Season 23 Auditions, American Idol Wiki (Fandom)](https://americanidol.fandom.com/wiki/Season_23_Auditions)
9. ["American Idol" Season 23 Preview: Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan Talk New Judges' Panel, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1177166/american-idol-premiere-carrie-underwood-lionel-richie-luke-bryan-ryan-seacrest-interview/)
10. ["American Idol" judges to return for new season, ABC News](https://abcnews.com/amp/GMA/Culture/american-idol-judges-luke-bryan-carrie-underwood-lionel/story?id=124959814)
11. [American Idol season 23 (2025): where are they now?, Encore Index](https://encoreindex.com/seasons/23)
12. [Trump's Kennedy Center Head Throws Fit at Lin-Manuel Miranda and American Idol, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-kennedy-center-head-throws-hissy-fit-at-lin-manuel-miranda/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Screen seasons › Singing and talent competition seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license