From Miss Americana to Miss American Idol.
During Monday night’s (April 20) new episode, American Idol revealed that it will host a Taylor Swift Night next week, which will find the top seven contestants celebrating the pop superstar’s “chart-topping hits and defining eras.”
The April 27 episode — which will feature guest judge Nikki Glaser, a loud-and-proud Swiftie — will be the first night entirely dedicated to Swift’s music in the show’s 24 seasons.
Idol debuted on Fox in 2002, four years before Swift released her self-titled debut album, and ran for 15 seasons on the network until 2016. It then picked back up on ABC in 2018 for its 16th season and is currently airing season 24 live on Monday nights.
Though Swift has never appeared on Idol as a performer or guest judge, her music has definitely had a presence on the show — including just this season, when Bryant Thomas covered “Champagne Problems” from her 2020 album Evermore during Hollywood Week back in February. Other notable Swift moments include McKenna Breinholt singing 2020 Folklore lead single “Cardigan” and eventual winner Abi Carter covering the 2012 Red fan favorite “All Too Well,” both in season 22.
On Monday night’s episode, the season 24 top nine performed for Disney Night, in which they each performed a song from a Disney movie, with Idol alum Jennifer Hudson returning as a guest mentor and guest judge. Hudson — who now hosts the daily talk show The Jennifer Hudson Show and has become an EGOT winner — finished in seventh place on the third season of the talent competition show.
Next week, the nine contestants will be whittled down to the top seven during Taylor Swift Night.
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