The tenth season of the series premiered on January 19, 2011 on Fox. Many changes were introduced this season, from the format to the personnel of the show. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joined Randy Jackson as judges. Jimmy Iovine, chairman of the Interscope Geffen A&M Records group, the new partner of American Idol, acted as the in-house mentor in place of weekly guest mentors although in later episode special guest mentors such as will.i.am and Lady Gaga were brought in. Nigel Lythgoe returned as executive producer.
Scotty McCreery, season ten winner
Season 10 is the first to include online auditions. Contestants could submit a 40 second video audition via Myspace, between September 15 and October 10, 2010. Karen Rodriguez was one such auditioner and reached the final rounds.
One of the more prominent contestants this year was Chris Medina, whose story of caring for his brain-damaged fiancée received widespread coverage.
Casey Abrams, who suffers from ulcerative colitis, was hospitalized twice and missed the Top 13 result show. He was the lowest vote-getter two weeks later but was saved by the judges, and as a result, the tenth season will be the first season to have eleven finalists go on tour instead of ten.
Pia Toscano, one of the presumed favorites to advance far in the season, was unexpectedly eliminated on April 7, 2011, finishing in 9th place. Her elimination drew criticism from some former Idol contestants, as well as actor Tom Hanks.
The two finalists this year were Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, both teenage country singers. Scotty McCreery won the competition on May 25, 2011, being the youngest male winner and the fourth male in a row to win American Idol. McCreery released his first single, "I Love You This Big", as his coronation song, and Alaina released "Like My Mother Does".
Season 10 is the first to include online auditions. Contestants could submit a 40 second video audition via Myspace, between September 15 and October 10, 2010. Karen Rodriguez was one such auditioner and reached the final rounds.
One of the more prominent contestants this year was Chris Medina, whose story of caring for his brain-damaged fiancée received widespread coverage.
Casey Abrams, who suffers from ulcerative colitis, was hospitalized twice and missed the Top 13 result show. He was the lowest vote-getter two weeks later but was saved by the judges, and as a result, the tenth season will be the first season to have eleven finalists go on tour instead of ten.
Pia Toscano, one of the presumed favorites to advance far in the season, was unexpectedly eliminated on April 7, 2011, finishing in 9th place. Her elimination drew criticism from some former Idol contestants, as well as actor Tom Hanks.
The two finalists this year were Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, both teenage country singers. Scotty McCreery won the competition on May 25, 2011, being the youngest male winner and the fourth male in a row to win American Idol. McCreery released his first single, "I Love You This Big", as his coronation song, and Alaina released "Like My Mother Does".