‘American Idol’ Sees Ratings Plunge in Season 11 Premiere : January 20, 2012

Ratings for the season 11 premiere of  “American Idol” slipped to the lowest levels since the first season of the show premiered back in the summer of 2002. The season...

Jennifer Lopez Signs on for Another Season of American Idol : August 11, 2011

It's official. Jennifer Lopez has signed on and will be returning as a judge for “American Idol”. It will be her second season with the hit television talent...

‘American Idol’ Producer Simon Fuller Sues ‘X Factor’ : July 22, 2011

Simon Fuller, “American Idol” creator, is suing Fox Broadcasting Company. He alleges that they failed to fulfill their promise made in 2005 to pay him “X-Factor” executive producer fees. According...

Should She Stay or Should She Go? JLo Waffles on Idol Return : June 16, 2011

J.Lo, say it isn't so! Jennifer Lopez, after just one lone season with “American Idol,” may be ready to call it quits after the resident diva helped to revamp...

Scott McCreery Wins ‘American Idol’ : May 26, 2011

The judges were wrong. Scotty McCreery, the country crooner from North Carolina, beat Lauren Alaina, the 16 year old from Tennessee, to win the “American Idol” title. According to Ryan Seacrest, host...

Finalists Prove ‘American Idol’ Loves Country : May 21, 2011

It’s a first for ‘American Idol’, two teens from the south battling out to be America’s tenth ‘Idol’ winner, Carolina native Scotty McCreery and Georgia’s best Lauren Alaina. From the audition...

Tyler Says New Aerosmith Album Coming, Band to Perform on American Idol Finale : May 04, 2011

Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith has issued an update on the new album that is set to be released by the group. Tyler indicated that he has been collaborating with...

American Idol Finalize 2011 Tour Dates : May 01, 2011

American Idols Live!, to keep with tradition, is taking to the road this summer to showcase the television show's 10th season Top 11 finalists. The arena tour of North America will...

Katy Perry, Kanye West Perform on ‘American Idol’ : April 22, 2011

Katy Perry, armed with her new single “E.T”, graced the ‘American Idol’ stage Thursday night, but the Queen Alien wasn’t alone, Kanye West escorted her throughout the performance. Donned in a...

Sugarland Takes ‘Stuck Like Glue’ to ‘American Idol’ : March 24, 2011

One of country music’s biggest names today, the dynamic duo Sugarland, just made its ‘American Idol’ debut on Thursday night. They performed their current single out of their chart...

‘American Idol’ Unveils Online Voting : February 27, 2011

The rumors that “American Idol” would be allowing fans to vote online are coming true as the show debuts its Internet-based voting program next week. After the show ends on the...

American Idol’s Casey James Gets Warm-Up Slot for Sugarland : February 02, 2011

Casey James, “American Idol” alum, is joining Sugarland on the road. The season 9 fan favorite whose debut album will be released this spring by BNA Records, is opening for the...

Chris Isaak in Line to Replace Cowell on Idol? : October 14, 2010

With only months before the new season of ‘American Idol’ kicks in, executives of the long-running singing competition are faced with a huge task of finding a suitable replacement for...

Kara DioGuardi Calls it Quits on American Idol : September 04, 2010

The departure of Kara DioGuardi from “American Idol” has been made official by Fox.  Meanwhile the rumor mill over Jennifer Lopez arriving as a judge continues to heat up.  DioGuardi...

Steven Tyler Reported to Be New American Idol Judge : August 18, 2010

Although officially Fox is saying “no comment,” an inside music source has confirmed that the flamboyant singer from Aerosmith late last week finalized negotiations and officially is signed to be...

Ellen Bows Out of Idol While Rumors Swirl of Kara Getting Dumped : August 01, 2010

Ellen DeGeneres just quit American Idol. DeGeneres is the second judge to leave the Fox talent show, just a couple of months following Simon Cowell’s departure after holding on to the...

Weak Sales Caused American Idols Live to Cancel Shows : July 07, 2010

One week after the tour “American Idols Live” was launched, organizers have made changes in the schedule by rescheduling some of the dates and others being canceled. The North American trek...

Carrie Underwood Featured on American Idol Finale : May 26, 2010

The highly anticipated finale for season nine of “American Idol” was on Wednesday, May 26. Everyone was there that night. Why else would Dane Cook, John Oates, Daryl...

Harry Connick Jr Shines as Guest on American Idol : May 05, 2010

When Simon Cowell, the cranky Brit, leaves “American Idol” later this month to go to “The X Factor,” Fox needs to name Harry Connick Jr. as his replacement. Connick...

American Idol Launches Tour This Summer : April 28, 2010

The annual tour “American Idols Live!,” which features this year's 10 finalists from the competitors of “American Idol,” has announced their itinerary for 2010. The long trek will feature “Idol” finalists...

american idol Biography

The singing competition and reality television show “American Idol” started to air on June 11, 2002 on Fox. Simon Fuller created the show and it was produced by 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America. The show is a spin off from Pop Idol, a UK show, and is a part of Idol's franchise. The concept for the show is finding new recording artists. It has become one of American television's most popular shows of all time. For the Nielsen ratings, “American Idol” is the most watched ever television series. It is the only show to be the number one program for six seasons in a row, surpassing “The Cosby Show” and “All in the Family,” which both were number one five seasons in a row.

The program's goal is to discover the country's best singer. The viewers of the show determine the winner through SMS text and telephone voting. Past winners include Lee DeWyze, Kris Allen, David Cook, Jordin Sparks, Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia Barrino, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson.

The contestants performances are critiqued by a judges panel. The three original judges were Randy Jackson, music manager and record producer, Paula Abdul, pop singer and choreographer, and Simon Cowell, music manager and music executive. The judging panel since January 2011, consists of Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, singer, record producer and actress, and Steven Tyler, singer-songwriter and Aerosmith frontman. The host of the show for all of the seasons has been Ryan Seacrest, radio disc jockey.