American Idol has been a staple of American television since its debut in 2002. The show has captivated audiences for more than two decades while showcasing contestants from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds, who want to take home the American Idol prize while also launching their music careers.
With Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie as judges, Season 22 of the show will discover new voices across America. With every season, there are new twists and turns, including changes in filming locations.
Since 2018, American Idol has aired on ABC, meaning that the brand is also part of Disney. And, of course, the company doesn’t waste any time when trying to highlight their other products. Here’s what we know about the historic and current filming locations.
Season 22: Where are the auditions of American Idol filmed?
For Season 22, American Idol visited the hometowns of the judges to find new talent and auditions took place inLeesburg, Georgia, where Luke Bryan comes from; Tuskegee, Alabama, home of Lionel Richie; and Santa Barbara, California, Katy Perry’s hometown.
Two auditions also took place in Los Angeles and Nashville. In its 21st season, auditions were held in Las Vegas, Nevada, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Nashville, Tennessee. In an interview with Deadline, showrunner Megan Michaels said that they were able to go “to the biggest music cities in America” for this season.
American Idol: Where do the live concerts take place?
From 2002 to 2014, the live concerts took place at the CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. The place opened back in 1952, and has been the filming location for a variety of talk shows, game shows, soap operas, and scripted series.
However, in 2014, the show started to film the live concerts at the iconic Dolby Theatre, which is also located in Hollywood. The prestigious venue is known for hosting several events, such as the Academy Awards.
American Idol: Other locations
Other filming locations have included in the past: Orpheum Theatre (Los Angeles), Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, the Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, California or Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, located in Hawaii.
