“American Idol” has officially crossed a major milestone, with viewers casting over 1 billion votes since the show relaunched on ABC in 2018. This historic moment was celebrated during Monday’s episode, where host Ryan Seacrest revealed that the tally surpassed the 10-digit mark following the special Easter episode on Sunday, April 8, 2025.
The episode, a three-hour special, introduced the Top 20 contestants of Season 23 and eliminated four performers, including Grayson Torrence, Kyana Fanene, Penny Samar, and MKY.
“American Idol” fans, who can cast up to 10 votes per voting method, played a vital role in propelling the show to this remarkable achievement.
As the remaining 20 contestants prepared for the next round, Seacrest took a moment to thank viewers for their dedicated support, saying, “After your vote, we hit a historic milestone. You sent it over one billion votes since we started here on ABC.”
Season 23 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive, with a vocal lineup like never before. This Sunday, the Top 14 will take center stage for a special “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” themed episode, featuring music from legendary artists like Lionel Richie, who was inducted in 2022.
And as an added treat, the iconic James Taylor, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, will serve as a guest mentor. Taylor, a Boston-born legend, will guide contestants as they prepare to perform songs by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.
The remaining contestants will battle it out to secure their spot in the Top 12, with the competition intensifying every week. Fans will get to vote again after the performances, helping determine who stays and who goes. Additionally, “Idol” viewers will also learn about this year’s newest Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees.
The Top 14 contestants include Kolbi Jordan, Thunderstorm Artis, Filo, John Foster, Mattie Pruitt, Canaan James Hill, Breanna Nix, Jamal Roberts, Slater Nalley, Gabby Samone, Desmond Roberts, Josh King, Ché, and Amanda Barise, who were spared by the judges and have another chance to win the crowd’s favor.
‘American Idol’ 2025 episode schedule
Here’s the episode schedule for Season 23 of “American Idol,” which is almost halfway over.
“Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” episode airs April 27
“Iconic Idol Moments” episodes airs April 28
“Ladies’ Night” episode airs May 4
TBA episode airs May 5
TBA episode airs May 11
Season 23 finale airs May 18
How to watch ‘American Idol’ Season 23
“American Idol” airs Sunday and Monday nights on ABC, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the next day.
Viewers may also catch the show live on the ABC app or website, along with live-streaming sites that allow viewers to watch in real-time.
