American Idol is heading “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” In a new Wizard of Oz-themed promo, judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, alongside host Ryan Seacrest, make their way down the Yellow Brick Road to visit cities “big and small.”
Set to air during ABC’s Seacrest-hosted Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve broadcast on Dec. 31, the promo features the four Idol main players taking on different Wizard of Oz roles. Perry opens the scene as Dorothy, and Bryan (the Scarecrow), Richie (the Lion) and Seacrest (the Tin Man) join her as she makes her way across the country.
During their journey, the foursome visit the hometowns of several past Idol contestants, including Burleson, Texas (Kelly Clarkson, season 1 winner); Checotah, Oklahoma (Carrie Underwood, season 4 winner); and San Diego, California (Adam Lambert, season 8 runner-up). They even made a visit to Iam Tongi‘s Kahuku, Hawaii; the 19-year-old won season 21, becoming the first winner to be born after the show’s initial premiere on Fox.
Seacrest also told Rolling Stone, which debuted the promo on Friday (Dec. 29), that the show will visit the judges’ hometowns throughout the season. “Idol cannot wait to share the judges’ special hometowns with our viewers – and show off the talent from each of the places they call home!”
Season 22 of American Idol is set to premiere on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, on ABC. Episodes will also be available to stream on Hulu.
In other recent Idol news, season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino is enjoying a successful close to the year in the film musical The Color Purple, in which she stars as Celie in her motion picture debut.
Watch the new Wizard of Oz-themed American Idol promo above.