American Idol alum Tori Kelly will mentor the season 22 Top 24 contestants in Hawaii
UPDATE: Grammy-nominated country artist Jelly Roll will also serve as a mentor for the Top 24 contestants. Both mentors are scheduled to work with contestants during performances at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii on February 7 and February 8. Last season, Jelly Roll joined a contestant for a duet during the American Idol 2023 finale.
Tori Kelly is returning to American Idol as a guest mentor for Season 22. The show announced her appearance on social media, confirming that she will spend time with the contestants who advanced to the Top 24. Kelly already has experience in this role, having mentored and performed with contestants during Season 19 in 2021.
In her mentoring role, Kelly is expected to help contestants refine song arrangements, strengthen vocal performance and stage presence, and prepare for the unique conditions of performing outdoors in Hawaii. Her trajectory—from a young contestant who reached Hollywood Week to an established recording artist—gives her a perspective that many singers find valuable when preparing for televised performance rounds.
American Idol Top 24 set to film at the Disney Aulani Resort February 7 and 8
The Top 24 performances will be filmed at the Disney Aulani Resort on Wednesday, February 7 and Thursday, February 8. On Camera Audiences is offering tickets for those in Hawaii who want to attend the live tapings, which are traditionally held on an outdoor stage at the resort. Filming is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. local time on both days.
These Hawaii rounds are a pivotal moment for many contestants. The Top 24 stage often acts as a turning point when contestants decide whether to continue with the competition, and the arduous travel and heightened scrutiny can lead some to withdraw for personal or professional reasons. For example, previous seasons have seen contestants change between announcement and filming—some leaving the show and others stepping in as replacements.
American Idol 2024 Top 55 performed in front of a live audience. See the spoilers
Prior to selecting the Top 24, the Top 55 contestants performed in front of the judges—Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan—and a live audience during the Showstopper round in December. That round took place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, where each performer delivered a song intended to showcase their strengths and secure a spot in the next stage of the competition.
The Showstopper performances generated early spoilers and set the stage for who would advance to Hawaii. Producers and fans alike watched closely as the judges made difficult decisions, narrowing down the field in anticipation of the televised rounds.
Judges Auditions took place in five “hometowns”
This season’s audition theme centers on “hometowns.” The show staged auditions across five cities, including Los Angeles and Nashville, alongside stops in the judges’ hometowns: Leesburg, Georgia (Luke Bryan), Santa Barbara, California (Katy Perry), and Tuskegee, Alabama (Lionel Richie). Promotional art for the season leans into a Wizard of Oz-inspired motif, with Katy Perry featured in themed imagery, while Ryan Seacrest returns as host.
The hometown auditions offer a narrative thread for the season, giving viewers a sense of place and background for the contestants. That context often enhances the emotional stakes when a singer advances to later rounds like Hollywood Week and the Top 24 performances in Hawaii.
Tori Kelly’s own American Idol journey began when she advanced to Hollywood Week as a teenager during Season 9. Although she was eliminated before the Top 24 round, that early exposure helped her build a following online and eventually secure a record deal. Her experience—both as a former contestant and as an established artist—makes her a relatable mentor for current competitors navigating the pressures of the show.
Season 22 of American Idol premieres on ABC on Sunday, February 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. As the Top 24 prepare to perform in Hawaii with mentors like Tori Kelly and Jelly Roll, viewers can expect a mix of polished vocal showcases, emotional backstories and the high-stakes decisions that define this long-running singing competition.