Can 'American Idol' Still Mint a Superstar in 2026?

Twenty-four seasons in, American Idol is still chasing the magic that once made it the most dominant force in music television. But as the ABC show rolls through its latest run, a fundamental question looms larger than ever: can the franchise still create an instant star?

Rolling Stone co-editor-in-chief Shirley Halperin got a firsthand look at the machine when she joined an "industry" panel during a taping in Hawaii for the show's current season. Writing about the experience, Halperin was candid — despite decades of covering the music business, she found judging raw talent harder than expected. She also admitted she hadn't been watching as closely as she once did, back when the show averaged 31 million weekly viewers at its 2006 peak.

That peak feels like a different era entirely. The music industry has been reshaped by streaming algorithms, viral TikTok moments, and self-releasing artists who never needed a TV co-sign. Idol's cultural footprint has undeniably shrunk, even as it continues to draw respectable ratings for network television.

Still, Season 24 is making a case for relevance. Monday night's episode delivered a genuinely affecting moment when contestant Keyla Richardson, a 29-year-old singer from Pensacola, Florida, performed Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years" during the show's Ohana Round. Her young son Drew watched from the audience, mouthing every lyric — a scene that visibly moved judge Carrie Underwood to tears.

“Several panelists brought massive social media followings, a nod to where audience attention actually lives now.”

Underwood, of course, is the show's greatest success story, the Season 4 winner who became a bona fide country superstar. Her presence on the panel is both a selling point and a reminder of what Idol used to produce with regularity. The show hasn't launched a comparable career in years, though it continues to serve as a launchpad for solid working artists.

The industry panel concept — which also featured Grand Ole Opry's first female host Kelly Sutton and Broadway vocal coach Cheryl Porter — signals a show trying to bridge old-school credibility with new-school influence. Several panelists brought massive social media followings, a nod to where audience attention actually lives now.

Whether that's enough to manufacture the next Underwood remains an open question. The infrastructure that once turned Idol winners into household names overnight — radio gatekeepers, CD sales, appointment television — has largely dissolved. What's left is a legacy brand betting that great performances and emotional storytelling can still cut through the noise.

Season 24 continues Mondays on ABC.