American Idol | |
---|---|
Season 18 | |
Hosted by | Ryan Seacrest |
Judges | |
Winner | Just Sam |
Runner-up | Arthur Gunn |
No. of episodes | 16 |
Release | |
Original network | ABC |
Original release | February 16 May 17, 2020 | –
Season chronology | |
The eighteenth season of American Idol premiered on February 16, 2020, on the ABC television network.[1][2][3] Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie returned as judges,[4] while Ryan Seacrest continued as host.[5] Bobby Bones returned as the in-house mentor.
Taping was suspended after the top 19 were revealed and the contestants were sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The show resumed production in late April, with the on-air talent and contestants filming from their homes.[7] The stay-at-home and social-distancing mandates, according to Billboard, compelled producers "to get very, very creative this time around to keep season 18 afloat amid the most challenging conditions in show history."[7] Up to forty-five remote sites were used and each contestant was treated equally, with access to similar equipment and resources.[7] Segments were usually taped a day in advance, except for the judges' critiques and voting results, which aired live.[7]
On May 17, 2020, Just Sam was crowned as the winner, with Arthur Gunn finishing as the runner-up.[8]