American Idol Judges Visit Savannah for Auditions

Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood were spotted in Savannah as the show prepares for its upcoming season.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Country

Bold vector editorial illustration featuring a historic wrought-iron facade and a vintage microphone, representing television production in Savannah. — American Idol judges visited Savannah this week as the television show transitions production from Los Angeles to Georgia for its milestone anniversary season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe moving major TV production to your area benefits the local community?

American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood were recently spotted on Broughton Street in Savannah. The trio visited the city as the long-running television show prepares for its 25th anniversary season.

Why it matters

The show is shifting its primary production base from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area to prepare for the milestone season. Savannah was chosen as a site for upcoming auditions during this production transition.

Carrie Underwood previously won the 4th season of the competition in 2005. The show is now entering its 25th season.

The players

Luke Bryan

He is a country music star who serves as a long-time judge on the singing competition series.

Lionel Richie

He is a legendary singer-songwriter and record producer currently serving as a judge on the show.

Carrie Underwood

She is a global country music artist who launched her career by winning the fourth season of the program in 2005.

The details

Production for the program is moving from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area for the new season. The judges were seen at Broughton Street and the Kehoe Iron Works while visiting the city for scheduled auditions.

Carrie Underwood won the fourth season of American Idol in 2005.
Judges were spotted in Savannah on October 28, 2026.
The 25th season of American Idol is expected to premiere in 2027.

Industry Dynamics

The production shift from Los Angeles to the Atlanta area reflects broader efforts by entertainment companies to utilize new filming incentives. This move marks a departure from the show's long-standing California roots as it prepares for its 25th season.

Fans in the area may have the chance to attend regional auditions as production moves to the state. The show continues its run leading into the anticipated premiere in 2027.

The takeaway

The show is significantly updating its production footprint as it reaches its 25th season. Interested viewers should stay tuned for local audition announcements as the program establishes a new base in the region.