Fans are eagerly anticipating the season 24 premiere of “American Idol,” set to air on January 26 on ABC. The new season will see Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood returning to the judges’ panel. At the same time, Ryan Seacrest continues to do what he does best, hosting the hit singing competition.
Seacrest has been hosting the reality TV show since its very first season in 2002, consistently demonstrating his dedication, and it’s clear there’s no one better suited for the job. In a recent interview, Bryan opened up about Seacrest’s hard work on the show and why he truly deserves more recognition for his work on Idol.
Luke Bryan Hails Ryan Seacrest’s Hard Work on ‘American Idol’
GettyThe “American Idol” judges are gearing up for another season of singers hoping to become the next big thing. While Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, back for her second season, make the final calls on the contestants, Bryan wants fans to know that host Ryan Seacrest is just as hard at work behind the scenes, if not even more.
In an interview with TV Insider, Bryan shared that Seacrest does far more than just host; he memorizes scripts, knows exactly where the cameras are at all times, and seamlessly navigates live television, something not everyone can do.
For viewers, Seacrest is always on hand to ease contestants’ nerves, bringing a calm and reassuring presence to the show.
“Ryan has to study these things and study the blocking and the cameras and all that,” Bryan shared, adding, “So the fact that he has to show up before us and do all that, I mean … it’s a lot of work what he does.”
He continued, “And you just learn that there’s a reason why he’s in that role. It’s because he knows how to make it happen from day one.”
Of course, practice makes perfect, and Seacrest has been proving that since season one in 2002, the year Kelly Clarkson became the show’s first winner.
Seacrest Revealed This Was His Favorite Part About Hosting ‘American Idol’
GettySeacrest truly loves what he does on “American Idol,” but what is the host’s absolute favorite part of the show? Speaking with Entertainment Tonight in 2023, Seacrest shared that it’s saying that famous line at every season’s finale, “The next American Idol is…”
He added, “I mean, that’s the best part for me… I get excited.”
Elaborating on why he loves that specific moment on Idol so much, Seacrest said watching the contestants “grow” their talent week after week is especially rewarding. Throughout their journey, he’s there every step of the way, cheering them on from auditions to the finale.
“We see them with their normal jobs and they just come in for this audition. They don’t know where it’s gonna go. They end up looking like glamour superstars onstage and like they’ve done it for 20 years,” he shared.
Seacrest Reflects on the ‘American Idol’ Moment That Changed Everything
GettyIn a 2019 interview with Billboard, Seacrest shared his absolute favorite moment in Idol history. To no surprise, it was the season one finale that saw Kelly Clarkson beat out Justin Guarini. It was a defining moment for the host, especially since he had no idea what the future of the show would hold at the time.
“The greatest moment was probably the first finale because of the energy in the nation rooting for Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini and us not knowing what the show was really all about yet. There was still a naivety about it all for us and I remember how pure and how simple that was,” he said.
He continued, “‘A Moment Like This’ was the song and there was confetti and fireworks and we didn’t yet know what impact the show was going to have in popular culture over the years. I think back to those early days.”
“But I enjoy each year standing on the end of the stage when the finalists are there and getting to say, “The winner of ‘American Idol’ is…,” he shared.
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