Nearly a month after it was announced that the singing competition American Idol would shut down production do to COVID-19, ABC has announced that the show must go on — with some important changes. Beginning on Sunday, April 26, the show will go live via remote locations. The competition's 20 finalists will perform live via video, while judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, host Ryan Seacrest and mentor Bobby Bones will appear on the show from their homes.
Variety reports that the Sunday, April 19 episode will be another clip special, "American Idol - This Is Me (Part 2)."
Following the March announcement that American Idol, produced by Fremantle and Industrial Media's 19 Entertainment, was being shut down, pre-taped episodes showing Idol hopefuls' journey to Hollywood aired as scheduled.
In March, People reported that judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie's co-star Katy Perry "seems more cautious since she is pregnant" amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Read More: Alabama Garbage Man Brings 'American Idol' Judges to Tears With Rascal Flatts Song
Another Fremantle production, America's Got Talent, wrapped up auditions in Los Angeles ahead of schedule. Additional television series and films impacted by the coronavirus crisis include The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night With Seth Meyers and other late-night talk shows, such daytime series as The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Wendy Williams Show and potential blockbuster movies, including the release of new James Bond movie No Time, Disney's Mulan, Jurassic World: Dominion and The Batman.
American Idol has always turned country music hopefuls into trending topics, ranging from past winner Carrie Underwood to current Nashville upstart Gabby Barrett.
