American Idol season 11

American Idol
Season 11
Hosted byRyan Seacrest
Judges
WinnerPhillip Phillips
Runner-upJessica Sanchez
Finals venueNokia Theatre L.A. Live
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseJanuary 18 (2012-01-18) –
May 23, 2012 (2012-05-23)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 10
Next →
Season 12
List of episodes

The eleventh season of American Idol premiered on Fox on January 18, 2012, and concluded on May 23, 2012. Ryan Seacrest returned as host,[1] while Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez,[2] and Steven Tyler[3] all returned as judges. Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine, a songwriter and producer, also returned as an in-house mentor to work with the contestants on a weekly basis.[4] This season followed the same format as the tenth season. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler both announced that they would be leaving the show two months after the finale,[5][6] although Lopez later returned as a judge for the show's thirteenth season.[7]

The season set a record when 132 million votes were received for the finale. On May 23, 2012, Phillip Phillips became the winner of the eleventh season of American Idol, beating Jessica Sanchez, who was the runner-up.[8]

  1. ^ "Ryan Seacrest Confirms He Will Return To Host 'Idol' in 2012 on 'Leno' [VIDEO]". Ryan Seacrest.com. May 18, 2011. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  2. ^ "Fox says Jennifer Lopez back for 'American Idol'". Reuters. August 17, 2011. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  3. ^ "They're Back! Two American Idol Judges Sign On to Return—So Who's the Lone Holdout?". E!. June 29, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  4. ^ Nigel Lythgoe Says No Big Changes Planned for 'American Idol' (VIDEO) Archived September 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Aoltv.com. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  5. ^ Anna Chan (July 12, 2012). "Steven Tyler quits 'American Idol'". MSNBC. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  6. ^ Erin Strecker (July 13, 2012). "Jennifer Lopez leaving 'American Idol': 'The time has come'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  7. ^ Official: J. Lo and Harry Connick Jr. join 'American Idol' Archived September 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved September 22, 2013
  8. ^ "American Idol season 11 Winner is Phillip Phillips!". BeautyMania.Biz. May 23, 2012. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.