Utah singers are having a moment on “American Idol.”
At least six singers from Utah competed during the show’s most recent season, with one of those singers reaching the top 24 and another reaching the top 12 before unexpectedly dropping out.
Now, “American Idol” is again turning to Utah in the search for the next superstar.
‘American Idol’ is holding Zoom auditions
The show recently announced it is holding Zoom auditions — a format “Idol” developed last year during the pandemic, when traveling across the country and having people wait in massive lines for a chance to audition became less feasible.
Aspiring pop stars in Utah can audition for “Idol” producers via Zoom on Aug. 31, according to a news release sent to the Deseret News. Although Zoom audition dates are organized by state, aspiring contestants can choose any day that works best for their schedule, according to the show’s website.
“It has made it more convenient and accessible for anybody and everybody,” Melissa Elfar, an “American Idol” producer, told the Deseret News last year. “It’s never been easier to audition. You literally can be on your phone in your bedroom auditioning. You can be in the bathroom, in the kitchen, wherever you want to be.”
That was the case for the several Utahns who auditioned for “Idol” last year.
Ammon and Liahona Olayan, a brother-sister duo from Vineyard, tried out for “Idol” from the comfort of their home, surrounded by their entire family.
Springville’s Abby LeBaron, meanwhile, auditioned from her parents’ basement. Not wanting to make a big scene about it, she asked her parents not to come downstairs for a couple of hours (she later discovered her dad had snuck downstairs and had been listening to her audition the whole time).
Wyatt Pike, a singer from Park City who was a fan favorite on “Idol,” appreciated how the Zoom audition process made an inherently nerve-wracking process less stressful.
“It might not be the most efficient way to judge how great a singer someone is or anything like that, but it is also kind of special for me because I’m not in line somewhere, nervous, and around 20 people also nervous who are making me more nervous,” Pike told the Deseret News earlier this year. “I can just show up and do my thing and take some deep breaths before.”
To audition, singers must have been born between June 2, 1992, and Sept. 15, 2006, according to the show’s eligibility requirements.
When does the new season of ‘American Idol’ premiere?
Earlier this month, “American Idol” announced that judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie would return for the new season, Deadline reported.
The show returns in spring 2022, according to Deadline.