American Idol is trading Hollywood for Music City. For Season 24, the show’s iconic Hollywood Week will be filmed at Belmont University in Nashville — a nod to Carrie

Underwood and Luke Bryan’s roots in the city. “Hollywood Week in Music City” promises a fresh backdrop for contestants while honoring the country star who first

rose to fame on the Idol stage. Curious how Nashville is about to shake up a cherished tradition?

For more than two decades, American Idol has been synonymous with one thing: Hollywood. The golden ticket, the walk down the iconic hallway, the bright California lights — it all became part of

pop culture history. But this year, for the first time in its storied run, the show is making a historic move that’s already sparking excitement across the entertainment world

In Season 24, American Idol is trading the palm trees of Los Angeles for the guitars and grit of Nashville. That’s right — “Hollywood Week” is officially becoming “Hollywood Week in Music City,”

filmed at the prestigious Belmont University, one of the nation’s top music schools and a training ground for countless country artists and industry professionals.

A Bold Move — and a Meaningful One

When American Idol producers first teased a “major location shake-up,” few could’ve guessed it would mean leaving California altogether. But insiders say the decision to host Hollywood Week in

Nashville was both strategic and sentimental — especially given the show’s deep roots in country music.

No alum embodies that connection more than Carrie Underwood, the small-town Oklahoma girl who won Idol in 2005 and went on to become one of the biggest stars in the world. Underwood,

who has since made Nashville her home, represents everything the show still aspires to discover: raw talent, hard work, and authenticity.

“This feels full-circle,” one executive producer said. “Carrie’s journey started on the Idol stage, but her legacy lives in Nashville. Bringing Hollywood Week here isn’t just a change of scenery — it’s a

tribute to where American music truly lives and breathes.”

The move also nods to Luke Bryan, one of Idol’s beloved judges and a lifelong country artist who knows the city inside and out. Sources say Bryan was a vocal supporter of the transition, even

suggesting Belmont University as the perfect venue.

“Belmont is a place where music education meets real-world performance,” Bryan reportedly said. “It’s where talent gets polished, and dreams get tested — which is exactly what Hollywood Week

is all about.”

Why Belmont University?

The choice of Belmont wasn’t random. Nestled just blocks away from Nashville’s famed Music Row, the campus is a creative haven where future producers, songwriters, and performers are

molded. Alumni include country and pop stars like Trisha Yearwood, Brad Paisley, and Hillary Scott of Lady A — all of whom once walked the same halls the Idol contestants will now inhabit.

“Having American Idol here is a dream,” said Dr. Greg Jones, Belmont’s president. “Our mission has always been to equip artists to change the world through music — and this partnership

with Idol brings that vision to life.”

Set designers are reportedly transforming Belmont’s performance spaces into a hybrid of classic Idol flair and Nashville charm: neon signs, vintage microphones, and a “Soundstage” designed to

evoke the intimacy of a honky-tonk and the grandeur of the Grand Ole Opry.

The Heartbeat of Country Meets the Hope of Pop

While Nashville is known globally as the capital of country music, the city’s musical diversity has exploded in recent years — making it the perfect melting pot for Idol’s eclectic lineup of

contestants. From gospel choirs to indie folk bands, hip-hop producers to banjo pickers, Music City offers something uniquely American: a crossroads of sound and so

“Hollywood was glitz and ambition,” one longtime Idol staffer explained. “Nashville is heart and story. And we think that’s exactly what the show — and the world — needs right now.”

Early reports suggest that the upcoming Hollywood Week will include new collaborative challenges inspired by Nashville’s songwriting culture. Instead of just vocal showdowns, contestants will be

asked to co-write and perform duets with local musicians and producers, emphasizing storytelling and emotional connection over flashy production.

Carrie Underwood’s Quiet Influence

Though Underwood hasn’t officially confirmed whether she’ll appear during Hollywood Week, her presence looms large. Nashville insiders claim the production team has reached out to her camp

for a potential cameo — possibly a surprise mentoring session or a walk-on moment during the “Green Room Sessions,” a new behind-the-scenes series being filmed exclusively for Idol’s digital

platforms.

“It would be poetic,” said one source close to the production. “Carrie was once the nervous young singer standing under the bright lights. To have her walk back into that space — now as a global

icon — would send chills through everyone.”

Even without an on-camera appearance, Underwood’s legacy is woven into every note. Her story — from a shy student at Northeastern State University to Nashville superstar — is the blueprint

that keeps American Idol relevant two decades later.

The Judges ReactLuke Bryan and Lionel Richie have already expressed enthusiasm about the move. “It’s about time Idol came home to the South,” Bryan told reporters with a grin. Richie

added, “There’s

something spiritual about Nashville. You feel the stories in the air. Every corner has a melody. For artists trying to find their voice, it’s the perfect place to begin.”

As for Katy Perry — whose pop sensibilities have often balanced out the show’s country leanings — she reportedly welcomed the new vibe. “Nashville has soul,” Perry said in a recent interview. “

And Idol is about finding the soul of a song — whether it’s pop, rock, or country. I think the change is going to bring out a whole new kind of artist.”

What Fans Can Expect

Producers are promising a Hollywood Week unlike any other. The weeklong series will feature:

Songwriting Circles inspired by Nashville’s “Bluebird Café” tradition, where contestants perform original songs in an intimate setting.

Collaboration Challenges with Belmont students and faculty, blending mentorship with real-world artistry.

Live Band Rounds featuring some of Music City’s most in-demand session players.

A Grand Finale Showcase at the historic Ryman Auditorium — the “Mother Church of Country Music” — where finalists will perform in front of a live audience for the first time this season.

Portable speakers

The Ryman event, still under wraps, is rumored to feature surprise guest appearances from major Nashville icons — with Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Keith Urban all reportedly on the

shortlist.

A New Chapter for an American Institution

For many, the move to Nashville feels like the most natural evolution American Idol could make. The show that began by discovering small-town dreamers is finally returning to the soil that grew

them.

In a time when television competition shows struggle to stay relevant, Idol’s pivot to authenticity might be its secret weapon. The heartland stories, the porchlight harmonies, the faith in a song’s

power to change a life — all of it finds its truest echo in Music City.

As one longtime fan wrote on social media: “Hollywood made the stars. Nashville made them shine.”

When the curtain rises on Season 24, the contestants won’t just be chasing fame — they’ll be walking in the footsteps of legends who once stood exactly where they are. And for the first time, their

journey from dreamer to artist will unfold not under the California sun, but beneath the Tennessee sky.

“Hollywood Week in Music City” isn’t just a new location. It’s a new heartbeat. And for American Idol, it may just be the spark that keeps America singing.