Season 17

Pre Auditions
Once again, contestants performed across the USA from California to New York, to impress the producers and in hopes of auditioning for the judges.

Judges
The judges from Season 16 returned, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Bobby Bones returned as the mentor and Ryan Seacrest as the host.

Auditions
Contestants who passed the Regional Auditions, got to audition in front of the judges and the judges decided whether they would get a ticket to Hollywood or go home. Auditions took place in Denver, Coeur d’Alene, Louisville, New York City, and Los Angeles.

Hollywood Week
After the Auditions, there were once again 175 contestants who participated in Hollywood Week. Each contestant did 3 performances once again. They performed in Lines of 10, a group performance, and one last solo. At the end of Hollywood Week, there were about 70-75 contestants left. All this was aired in two episodes on March 24th and 25th in the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. At then end, the 70-75 contestants were split into 3 rooms, with 2 advancing to the Showcase Round in Hawaii and 1 room being eliminated.

Showcase/Final Judgement (Top 40)
After the Top 40 were revealed, the Top 40 took to the Aulani Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii in which they performed a solo in front of an audience and the judges on March 31st, 2019. After the night of performances, each contestant sat with the judges and learned whether of they made it to the Top 20, or have been eliminated.

Top 40 Contestant List:

Top 20 Solos & All-Star Duets
After the Hawaii Showcase, the Top 20 took to the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, and performed 2 songs over the course of a week. Each contestant performed a solo in front of the judges and an audience as well. After the Top 20 solos, the 20 were split into two groups of 10, with 10 performing one night and the other 10 performing the next night. At the end, 7 were chosen from one group to advance to the Top 14 and another 7 from the other group.

Top 20 Solos: April 1st, 2019 After the Top 20 Solos, the first group of 10 performed duets with celebrities, which included: Jason Mraz, Brett Young, Shaggy, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Elle King, Cynthia Erivo, Lukas Graham, Julia Michaels, Ben Harper, Lovelytheband and Chris Isaak. Followed by the second group of 10.

Group 1: April 7th, 2019 Group 2: April 8th, 2019 The Top 14 was revealed after the Top 20 All-Star Duets. The Top 14 would move onto the live shows for the first time.

Top 14 Performances (Live Shows Begin)
The Top 14 performed for the first time in the season live, in front of an live audience and the judges. The Top 14 would perform a solo, and then the live audience would vote who would be in the Top 10, and would not. The performances were taped April 12th, 2019 and aired on April 14th, 2019. After the performances, the Top 10 was revealed with the results. The contestants with the Top 7 highest votes, went directly to the Top 10, while the judges chose 3 to advance, leaving 4 eliminated. This went live on April 15th, 2019.

Disney Night (Top 10)
After the tough Wildcard Round, the Top 10 performed Disney Night songs from Disney films, on April 21st, 2019. The Top 8 were revealed after. Rebel Wilson served as mentor for the night. Lea Michele performed, “Part Of Your World”, with the entire Top 10.

Winner and Runner-Up, Maddie Poppe and Caleb Lee Hutchinson, from Season 16, performed “A Whole New World”.

Queen Night & Movie Duets (Top 8)
The Top 8 sang 2 songs for the first time, a song by Queen, and a duet from a famous movie. The Top 6 would be revealed after. Adam Lambert was mentor for the night. Aired on April 28th, 2019 The Top 8 sang “We Will Rock You” at the beginning.

Avett Maness sang “Bohemian Rhapsody” as a guest star.

Woodstock & Showstoppers (Top 6)
The Top 6 sang 2 songs, a song that inspired them from the 1969 Woodstock Festival, and a showstopper. The Top 5 (originally Top 4) would be revealed after. Lauren Daigle was guest mentor for the week. Aired on May 5th, 2019. Season 16 Contestant, Gabby Barrett, sang her original song “I Hope”.

Bobby Bone’s Pick/Elton John/Hero Dedication (Top 5)
The Top 5 performed 3 songs for the first time, a pick from mentor Bobby Bone’s, a song by Elton John, and a dedication to their mother’s or other hero’. The Top 3 would be revealed after, and they would move onto the finale. Aired on May 12th, 2019.

Finale (Top 3 and Top 2)
The Final 3 contestants sang two songs, then voting results eliminated one contestant, making them 3rd place. The last 2 contestants sang 1 more song, then the winner was revealed. Special performances as well. Aired on May 19th, 2019. Special performances included celebrities such as Kane Brown, Yolanda Adams and Nick Jonas. Past contestants came to perform, such as Margie Mays, Shayy, and Alyssa Raghu. Judges Katy, Lionel and Luke also performed.