The twentieth season of American Idol premiered on February 27, 2022, on the ABC television network. Ryan Seacrest returned as host and Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie returned as judges. Bobby Bones did not return this year as the in-house mentor.
Noah Thompson won the season on May 22, 2022. HunterGirl was the runner-up and Leah Marlene finished in third place.
Auditions Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Idol Across America virtual audition program that was launched last season was used again this season. Remote auditions took place from August 5 to October 28, 2021, as well as a number of open-call auditions, and from these, the producers selected the contestants who were then invited to audition in front of the judges.
American Idol introduced the "platinum ticket" during the audition round in celebration of the show's twentieth season. A total of three platinum tickets were awarded, and they gave the recipients the opportunity to advance directly to the second round of Hollywood week as well as choose their partners for that week's duet challenge before the remaining contestants were paired. The platinum ticket recipients were HunterGirl, Kenedi Anderson, and Jay.
+American Idol (season 20) – auditions City Filming date(s) Filming venue Austin, Texas October 4–7, 2021 Lakeway Resort & Spa Los Angeles, California October 17–20, 2021 1 Hotel West Hollywood Nashville, Tennessee November 11–15, 2021 Kimpton Aertson Hotel
Hollywood week Hollywood week was filmed December 6–9, 2021, at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. The format remained similar to last season. In the first round, each contestant chose and performed a song from a selection of musical genres (indie folk, pop, rock, R&B, soul, or country). For the season, contestants were mentored by American Idol alumni: Lauren Alaina (country), David Cook (rock), Lee DeWyze (indie folk), Haley Reinhart (soul), Jordin Sparks (pop), and Ruben Studdard (R&B). Those who impressed the judges advanced to the next round. The contestants were paired up by the judges and performed duets, although the Platinum Ticket winners got to choose their partners before the other contestants were paired up. They were given twelve hours to rehearse, which included consultation with a vocal coach, a stage rehearsal, and advice from one of the judges. Judges could advance either, neither, or both of the contestants to the Showstopper round.
Showstopper round The Showstopper round featured the top 59 contestants performing for the judges and a live audience at the Orpheum Theatre. This round was aired on April 4, but only 33 contestants were aired. The following day, the judges narrowed the number of contestants down 24. Here is a list of the contestants who reached the top 24 and the song they performed. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
+Showstopper round (April 4) Contestant Song Leah Marlene "She's a Self Made Man" Jay "Jar of Hearts" Nicolina "Rolling in the Deep" Emyrson Flora "Honey" Katyrah Love "Sweet Thing" Fritz Hager "Inconsequential Love" Jacob Moran "Is That Alright?" Allegra Miles "Reality" Ava Maybee "Falling" Cameron Whitcomb "It Ain't Me Babe" Sir Blayke "Honesty" Elli Rowe "Fields of Gold" Mike Parker "Second Guessing" Tristen Gressett "Come Together" Christian Guardino "Sex on Fire" Noah Thompson "Stay" Cadence Baker "The Story" HunterGirl "Girl Goin' Nowhere" Danielle Finn "Evergreen" Sage "I Hate This" Kenedi Anderson "Talking to the Moon" Scarlet "You Oughta Know" Lady K "I'd Rather Go Blind" Dan Marshall "Hard Workin' Man"
Top 24 (April 10 & 11) The top 24 contestants were split into two groups of twelve and performed one solo each at the Aulani resort in Kapolei, Hawaii. The first group aired on April 10, and the second group on April 11. Jimmie Allen served as a guest mentor for the first group, and Bebe Rexha for the second group. Two contestants from the first group and one from the second group were eliminated based on the public vote, and the rest advanced to the top 20. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Color key:
+ Group 1 (April 10)ContestantSongResult Jay "I Want You Back" Safe Elli Rowe "Everywhere" Safe Tristen Gressett "With a Little Help from My Friends" Safe Scarlet "Levitating" Eliminated Sage "Jolene" Safe Danielle Finn "Your Song" Eliminated Mike Parker "Best Shot" Safe Emyrson Flora "Angels like You" Safe Dan Marshall "Heaven" Safe Jacob Moran "In My Blood" Safe HunterGirl "Banjo" Safe Nicolina "Elastic Heart" Safe+ Group 2 (April 11)ContestantSongResult Cadence Baker "Something's Got a Hold on Me" Safe Sir Blayke "Breakeven" Eliminated Allegra Miles "Adore You" Safe Kenedi Anderson "Human" Withdrew Lady K "Before He Cheats" Safe Ava Maybee "Tell Me Something Good" Safe Noah Thompson "Blue Side of the Mountain" Safe Leah Marlene "Call Me" Safe Cameron Whitcomb "Bad Moon Rising" Safe Christian Guardino "Leave the Door Open" Safe Katyrah Love "Blame It on the Boogie" Safe Fritz Hager "Waves" Safe
+ Non-competition performance (April 10) Performers Song Jimmie Allen "Down Home"
Top 20 (April 17 & 18) The top 20 performances aired on Sunday, April 17, followed by the live results show on Monday, April 18.
Color key:
Contestants are listed in the order they performed. +Top 20 (April 17) Contestant Song Result Emyrson Flora "Tell Me You Love Me" Safe Mike Parker "Chasing After You" Wild Card Tristen Gressett "Sacrifice" Wild Card Sage "Rhiannon" Wild Card Jay "You Know I'm No Good" Wild Card Nicolina "Edge of Seventeen" Safe Jacob Moran "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" Wild Card HunterGirl "Heartbreak Down" Safe Elli Rowe "Somewhere Only We Know" Wild Card Dan Marshall "Friends in Low Places" Safe Ava Maybee "Anyone" Safe Allegra Miles "Free Fallin'" Wild Card Noah Thompson "Falling" Safe Leah Marlene "Heal" Safe Christian Guardino "Imagine" Safe Fritz Hager "When the Party's Over" Safe Katyrah Love "Dream" Wild Card Cameron Whitcomb "Changes" Wild Card Cadence Baker "Train Wreck" Wild Card Lady K "Love on the Brain" Safe+ Top 20 (April 18) Contestant Song Result Ava Maybee "Cuz I Love You" Safe Christian Guardino "Creep" Safe Cameron Whitcomb "If It Hadn't Been for Love" Eliminated Allegra Miles "Tainted" Saved by the judges Lady K "Bust Your Windows" Safe HunterGirl "Vice" Safe Katyrah Love "Through the Fire" Eliminated Cadence Baker "I'm Your Baby Tonight" Eliminated Dan Marshall "Stuck on You" Safe Leah Marlene "Wisher to the Well" Safe Nicolina "She Used to Be Mine" Safe Sage "Brown Eyed Lover" Eliminated Jay "Believer" Saved by the judges Noah Thompson "Cover Me Up" Safe Jacob Moran "Rise" Eliminated Elli Rowe "All I Want" Eliminated Emyrson Flora "Love in the Dark" Safe Mike Parker "Bed on Fire" Saved by the judges Fritz Hager "Golden" Safe Tristen Gressett "Are You Gonna Go My Way" Saved by the judges + Non-competition performances Performers Song Chayce Beckham "Doin' It Right" Alejandro Aranda "The Darkness" Phillip Phillips "Love Like That"
Top 14 Color key:
Top 14 – Breakout hits (April 24) Gabby Barrett served as a guest mentor this week. On Sunday, April 24, each contestant performed one breakout hit. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
+ Top 14 (April 24) Contestant Song Result Jay "Just the Way You Are" Safe HunterGirl "Baby Girl" Safe Christian Guardino "Take Me to Church" Safe Dan Marshall "She's Got It All" Eliminated Leah Marlene "Happy Together" Safe Fritz Hager "Let It Go" Safe Tristen Gressett "Whataya Want from Me" Safe Lady K "I Believe" Safe Allegra Miles "Ocean Eyes" Eliminated Ava Maybee "Sign of the Times" Eliminated Mike Parker "Hurricane" Safe Emyrson Flora "drivers license" Safe Noah Thompson "Stand by Me" Safe Nicolina "Hallelujah" Safe
Top 11 – Judges' song contest (April 25) On Monday, April 25, the judges chose songs for each of the contestants to perform. Luke Bryan and Katy Perry tied with the most song choices selected by the contestants, and were able to save one contestant from elimination. Contestants are listed in the order they performed. + Top 11 (April 25)ContestantSong Selected byResult Nicolina "Since U Been Gone" Lionel Richie Safe Mike Parker "Chasin' You" Luke Bryan Safe Fritz Hager "Wonderwall" Safe Christian Guardino "I'm Not the Only One" Katy Perry Safe Noah Thompson "Heartbreak Warfare" Luke Bryan Safe Lady K "traitor" Lionel Richie Saved by the judges HunterGirl "9 to 5" Luke Bryan Safe Leah Marlene "Make You Feel My Love" Katy Perry Safe Tristen Gressett "You Can't Always Get What You Want" Lionel Richie Eliminated Emyrson Flora "Lovely" Katy Perry Safe Jay "Lilac Wine" Safe
Top 10 – Disney (May 1) Derek Hough was a guest mentor for the week. Each contestant performed one song from a Disney film, and are listed in the order they performed.
+ Top 10 (May 1) Contestant Song Disney film Result Lady K "How Far I'll Go" Moana Eliminated Noah Thompson "You've Got a Friend in Me" Toy Story Safe Emyrson Flora "Carried Me with You" Onward Eliminated HunterGirl "I See the Light" Tangled Safe Jay "Remember Me" Coco Safe Leah Marlene "When She Loved Me" Toy Story 2 Safe Nicolina "Poor Unfortunate Souls" The Little Mermaid Safe Mike Parker "You'll Be in My Heart" Tarzan Eliminated Christian Guardino "Circle of Life" The Lion King Safe Fritz Hager "Go the Distance" Hercules Safe +Non-competition performancesPerformersSong Top 10with Adassa & Rhenzy Feliz "We Don't Talk About Bruno"(from Encanto)
Top 7 – TikTok & Mother's Day (May 8) will.i.am served as a guest mentor this week. Each contestant performed two songs this week: one that they have posted on TikTok or has gone viral on TikTok, and one in honor of Mother's Day. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
+ Top 7 (May 8)ContestantOrderSongResult Leah Marlene 1 "Electric Love" Safe 10 "Sanctuary" Jay 2 "I Have Nothing" Eliminated 8 "A Song for Mama" Fritz Hager 3 "All My Friends" Safe 9 "The Ocean" Christian Guardino 4 "Lonely" Eliminated 14 "Dear God" HunterGirl 5 "You Broke Me First" Safe 11 "Like My Mother Does" Noah Thompson 6 "Painted Blue" Safe 12 "Landslide" Nicolina 7 "Alone" Safe 13 "Light in the Hallway"
Top 5 – Carrie Underwood (May 15) Carrie Underwood served as a guest mentor this week. Each contestant performed two songs this week: one song from her discography and one song of their choice. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
+ Top 5 (May 15) Contestant Order Song Result HunterGirl 1 "Undo It" Safe 7 "Girl Crush" Leah Marlene 2 "I'll Stand by You" Safe 6 "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" Fritz Hager 3 "I Wanna Remember" Eliminated 8 "Youngblood" Noah Thompson 4 "So Small" Safe 10 "Working Man" Nicolina 5 "Blown Away" Eliminated 9 "All I Ask" +Non-competition performancePerformerSong Finneas "Naked"
Top 3 – Finale (May 22) Each contestant performed two songs this week–one song from the Bruce Springsteen discography and their winner's single–before the contestant who had the fewest votes up to that point was eliminated, thereby finishing in third place. The remaining two contestants performed one last song as voting continued. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
+ Top 3 (May 22) Contestant Order Song Result Leah Marlene 1 "Cover Me" Third place 4 "Flowers" HunterGirl 2 "Dancing in the Dark" Runner-up 6 "Red Bird" 8 "Riot" Noah Thompson 3 "I'm on Fire" Winner 5 "One Day Tonight" 7 "Stay"