By Kayla DeKraker
Ryan Seacrest is back to host hit singing competition show AMERICAN IDOL for Season 24 in 2026.
His return isn’t necessarily surprising as he’s been part of it since the beginning, but fans were concerned that he wasn’t coming back after a promo last month didn’t include him.
He joins judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
Seacrest’s journey with AMERICAN IDOL began in 2002, when he co-hosted alongside Brian Dunkleman. After Dunkleman’s departure, Seacrest continued solo, becoming the face of the franchise. His charismatic presence made him one of the most recognizable personalities on the show.
AMERICAN IDOL auditions are now open nationwide, now through Sept. 22 although some states have already completed auditioning.
Related: Ryan Seacrest Named New Host Of WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Auditions for Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Washington have already taken place.
The rest of the schedule is as follows, per Deadline:
Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia (Sept. 11)
East Coast open call (Sept. 12)
The South open call (Sept. 15)
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin (Sept. 16)
West and Midwest open call (Sept. 18)
Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C. (Sept. 19)
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming (Sept. 22)
Nationwide open call (Sept. 24)
Along with AMERICAN IDOL, Seacrest now hosts WHEEL OF FORTUNE after taking over the role of long-time personality Pat Sajak.
“I’ve looked up to [Sajak] forever,” he shared after taking over the role. “He’s so good at that job, which, you know, is a little bit of pressure here. But he just said, ‘You’re going to have a great time. It’s so much fun. What’s better than giving away money and doing that every single night?’ I can’t wait to meet the contestants and do it.”
In addition to hosting AMERICAN IDOL and WHEEL OF FORTUNE, Seacrest also produces shows, hosts the American Top 40 radio show and more.
So how does he juggle such a busy career? His secret is actually pretty simple.
“I do sleep. Everyone asks me, do I sleep?” Seacrest told PEOPLE at the YES Scholars 25th Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles last week. “It’s like, I go to bed immediately, and I get a good night’s sleep, but it’s pretty jam-packed in between the sleeps.”
He added, “I have a special pillow I travel with. So everywhere I am, I’ve got my own pillow that makes me fall asleep pretty easily.”
Seacrest is also using his platform to give back. He developed the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, a non-profit that “organization dedicated to inspiring pediatric patients through entertainment and education focused initiatives.”
While Seacrest has a lot on his plate, fans are excited that AMERICAN IDOL is still a priority.
Read Next: How Ryan Seacrest Feels About His First Day on WHEEL OF FORTUNE Set
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