American Idol 2020 Hollywood Week Kicks Off in Los Angeles

It’s that time of year AGAIN! After American Idol judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan auditioned American Idol hopefuls nationwide, it’s time for HOLLYWOOD WEEK!

American Idol announced the kickoff this week. Check out photos below. “Hollywood Week is on a whole other level this year, just you wait,” posted to the American Idol twitter account. (I’m hearing that the round finished today).

Typically, the first two days of “Hell Week” begins with line auditions. The producers line singers up 10 in a row for short auditions. The judges cut at least half the singers at this time. The next round is groups, where the judges test the singers’ ability to think on their feet and handle pressure. That segment is followed by solo rounds. The singers are gathered in rooms, where the judges cut singers in big groups. The remaining 40+ move on to a showcase round and Final Judgement. 24/20 are usually left standing in the end.

BUT WHO KNOWS! The producers could totally shake up the format. It wouldn’t be the first time. There have been Hollywood Weeks without group rounds and room cuts. For season 12, the producers made the bizarre decision to split up guys and girls for nearly the entire round! So….stay tuned!

Judges handed out golden tickets to Hollywood in Savannah on Sept 30 followed by Washington DC, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles The audition tour ended in Sunriver, Oregon on Nov 7.

On the Dancing with the Stars finale, Lionel Richie handed American Idol 2018 Top 24 contestant Layla Spring a Golden Ticket to Hollywood. This, after America voted her though based on audition clips filmed at the Whiskey a-go-go in Los Angeles and featured on the CMA Awards. She beat out 2019 Top 20 contestants Logan Johnson and Shawn Robinson.

American Idol season 18, the third on ABC, will premiere on Sunday February 16, two weeks earlier than the 2019 kickoff and three weeks earlier than 2018’s start.

NOTE: ABC has not officially announced Monday shows for American Idol. If ABC does schedule Monday episodes, they won’t begin until The Bachelor ends. In 2019, The Bachelor 2019 finale aired Monday March 11 and Tuesday March 12.

Hollywood Week is on a whole other level this year, just you wait. ??? pic.twitter.com/RXGid9qV3E

— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) December 5, 2019

Host Ryan Seacrest is in the house, as well as mentor Bobby Bones. “Idol boot camp is in session. Welcome to Hollywood Week!” writes Ryan on social media