This Hit Singing Competition Is Dropping on Disney+ in March

Published: February 6, 2026

By Shawn Smith

Want to find out who the next AMERICAN IDOL champion is?

Starting March 30, there will be more than one way to find out in real time, when Disney+ starts live streaming the hit show.

IDOL, which returned with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan for its 24th season on Jan. 26, will still air live on ABC and stream on Hulu the next day.

Fans can get more behind-the-scenes scoops on each episode with the upcoming launch of the AMERICAN IDOL Official podcast

“Each week, the podcast will dive deeper into America’s most iconic music competition series, exploring the performances everyone’s talking about, and offering exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes insights, and expert analysis of th judges’ critiques,” the podcast logline reads.

This season has not disappointed with its memorable performances and heartwarming stories.

One such story was of Jesse Findling, who struggled with a stutter since elementary school.

“Singing has always felt freeing for me because when I sing I don’t stutter,” Findling told the judges. “When I sing, it was a way for me to express myself in a way where I didn’t have to worry about what people think or if somebody would laugh. It was an outlet for me when I was little and it’s still an outlet for me now.”

He received a standing ovation from the three judges and a golden ticket to the next round of the competition with his rendition of Benson Boone’s “In the Stars.”

“I don’t think I blinked one time,” Bryan told the 19-year-old singer. “I mean, wow, you’re a real singer. Man I’m really proud of you. I love this show because we get to meet kids like you.”

Hannah Harper, 25, brought Underwood to tears with her song she wrote about her battle with postpartum depression called “String Cheese”

“I was just having a pity party, praying that the Lord would calm my spirit, and my son kept coming up to me. He said, ‘Mom, open this. Open my cheese,’” she said, explaining the story behind the song. “I’m like, ‘Leave me alone with the doggone cheese.’”

Then Harper “realized God had put me in that place. And that, where I was in my house, was the biggest ministry I could ever have in being a mom.”

Underwood, who is a mom of two boys, told the Missouri native her song was the “most relatable song I think I’ve ever heard,” giving her a yes, along with Richie and Bryan giving their yeses to the next round.

South Carolina vocalist Tianna brought gospel to the show with the hymn “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” that earned her a spot in the next round.

The long-running show is not slowing down with its most-watched premiere since 202, and landing No.1 in broadcast and cable with 7.23 million viewers tuning in for the season’s opening episode.

The remaining season will certainly bring more strong performances and hopefully more faith-inspiring moments.

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