American Idol has been cancelled. According to TMZ , the reality singing competition show that took the world by storm over a decade ago will no longer be on the air after its 15th season.
After its 2002 debut, which crowned Kelly Clarkson its winner, Idol saw some incredible ratings. At its peek, the show raked in 30 million viewers a season. Over the years, however, there was something lost along the way.
Perhaps it could have been the constant changes made both to the way the show progressed and the departure of various judges (once Simon Cowell left, the show faltered a bit). Competition from other shows of this nature from X Factor to The Voice likely played a role in Idol’s downward spiral as well.
News that American Idol has been cancelled is not really a surprise to many people. Fans of the show have found themselves bored over the past several seasons, and the show hasn’t seen a serious superstar since Carrie Underwood.
However, the show had a great run, and there have been several success stories to come from it. Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, and Jordin Sparks are just a few entertainers who got their start on the Fox show.
According to Entertainment Weekly , judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick, Jr. will all be back for the final season of Idol , and Ryan Seacrest will still be the host (no surprise there). Season 15 will reportedly “ pay tribute ” to the previous 14 seasons. Guest appearances from former Idol contestants are just about guaranteed, and many are expecting the show to really go out with a bang.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr , the current season of American Idol will come to an end this week. The finalists are Jax, Clark Beckham, and Nick Fradiani. This will be second-to-last person to ever hold the coveted title, but it’s unlikely that the show will put forth any more serious superstars with staying power. While there is certainly plenty of talent to go around, there is just too much competition after these kind of shows end. Singers aren’t grabbing the huge contracts or putting out the hit singles anymore.
So, it seems only normal that Idol would end its run. Are you sad to see the show end?
The final season of American Idol will begin in January 2016. Will you be tuning in?
[Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images]