It’s a landmark year for American Idol fans as the hit reality singing competition is celebrating its 20th season. After one episode, we can already tell that this season is going to be a wild ride.
Listen to music from American Idol alumni and other standout reality TV contestants on Audacy’s TV’s Top Talent
The debut episode of American Idol took place this past Sunday, February 27 as the 20th season saw the introduction of a new ticket that’ll fast track a contestant right past Hollywood Week.
In the early rounds of Idol, contestants will be battling it out to score a Platinum ticket. Unlike the Golden ticket, which gets a contestant to Hollywood week, the Platinum ticket will allow contestants to bypass the first round of Hollywood Week. “There are only three of these for the entire season, and if the judges vote unanimously for you to get this as a contestant,” host Ryan Seacrest told contestants. “I mean, it’s a game changer.”
Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry returned as judges for their fifth year together as the trio was in high form from the get go. Before we get into the thick of what happened, we have to warn you that spoilers are ahead. If you don’t want to find out what happened, we suggest checking out TV’s Top Talent, our station celebrating the musicians we fell in love with on shows like American Idol and more.
Huntergirl, real name Hunter Wolkonowski, was the star of the debut episode as she was awarded the first Platinum ticket of Season 20. The 23-year-old is a music therapist that works with veterans and blew judges away with her version of the Rascal Flatts song “Riot.” Bryan in particular was impressed as he called her the “new age Miranda Lambert.”
24-year-old Tyler Allen brought Perry to tears as he revealed that his audition paid tribute to his sister and one-year-old nephew, who were both killed after an 18-wheeler struck their vehicle. Allen gave a gorgeous rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Believe in You and Me,” a song he used to sing while rocking his nephew to sleep.
19-year-old Noah Thompson never planned on auditioning for Idol, but thanks to a friend that signed him up for the show, he’s now going to Hollywood.
One of the bigger surprises of the night was the 29-year-old Normandy, who shocked judges with a complete vocal transformation. With a high-pitched speaking voice, she surprised us all with her deep singing voice as the judges voted to send her along to Hollywood.
Also of note from the season debut was 15-year-old Grace Franklin, who is the granddaughter of the late Aretha Franklin. Franklin didn’t end up making it on to the next round, but Richie offered her words of encouragement and told her to “put in the work” and come back to audition again.
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