Audition costs
It costs nothing to audition for American Idol, provided hopefuls meet the show’s eligibility requirements, and cover their own costs of travel and accommodation.
You must be between 15 and 28 years old at your audition time and you must also be a legal US resident and not have competed in the Top 10 of a previous season.
American Idol audition process, continued
There are both open auditions and, according to that performer, invite-only auditions.
According to Cinema Blend, open audition contestants are asked to prepare a few songs, and when they arrive, they sing either alone or with one to two other possible contestants for a few “rounds.”
Potential contestants perform for all sorts of people involved with the show during this process.
Barnum said his first audition was with a casting team member.
American Idol audition process
According to a singer/songwriter who auditioned for the show in 2017, Michael Barnum, there is a long process to the American Idol auditions before the taped “first” audition that viewers are familiar with.
“They didn’t just show up that day and immediately sang for the judges,” the performer wrote in a Medium blog post.
“It’s a process and there are many hoops you have to go through before any of that happens, including a 500 questionnaire psych evaluation.”
American Idol scandals: A controversial kiss
The current judges, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan have proved less contentious and controversial than past panels.
However, in 2018, Katy kissed a contestant on the show and they didn’t like it, which caused backlash from fans.
Benjamin Glaze auditioned for the show and told the judging panel that he had never been kissed before.
Katy beckoned Benjamin over for a kiss on the cheek, but then turned her head and kissed him on the lips.
Even though the contestant told The New York Times that the kiss made him “a bit uncomfortable,” he did not think he was sexually harassed by Katy.
He clarified on Instagram: “I am not complaining about the kiss from Katy Perry at all, doing a few news reports and being interviewed by many different reporters has caused some major questions.”
American Idol scandals: Brittany Kerr and Jason Aldean
Season 11 contestant Brittany Kerr allegedly kissed country singer Jason Aldean when he was married.
TMZ obtained photos of Jason and the former contestant talking on a crowded bar patio area on The Sunset Strip in 2012.
They appeared to get very flirty with each other – hugging, touching, and kissing each other.
At the time, Jason was married to his high school sweetheart, Jessica Ussery.
Brittany and Jason ended up getting married and now have four children together.
American Idol scandals: The infamous Carey-Minaj feud
One of the most memorable and controversial panels of American Idol was Randy Jackson, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, and Nicki Minaj.
Mariah and Nicki butted heads so much on the show that it led fans to wonder if their feud was real.
TMZ obtained videos before the season started of Nicki and Mariah arguing, with Nicki claiming that she wanted to “shoot Mariah.”
Nicki denied the claims.
During live shows, Nicki even told Mariah to “clean her ears out” after critiquing a contestant’s performance.
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