Inside American Idol audition process and if there | TV Shows

The age range for American Idol contestants has shifted over the years, but the current rule is clear: participants must be between 15 and 29 years old at the time of their audition.

That means standout Season 23 contestant Mattie Pruitt, who just turned 15, made the cutoff by the slimmest margin.

In its early days, the show only allowed contestants between 16 and 24. The upper age limit was bumped up to 28 in Season 4, and the lower end dropped to 15 by Season 9.

Now, some involved in the show are questioning whether it’s time to broaden the rules again.

Host Ryan Seacrest hinted in 2024 that the door might not be closed to older contestants in the future. “Never say never,” he told USA Today. “I’m happy to host.”

The current format, however, hasn’t stopped the older contestants from finding success. Taylor Hicks was 29 when he won Season 5 in 2006. Nick Fradiani was also 29 when he took the title in Season 14.

On the other end of the spectrum, Jordin Sparks and Scotty McCreery were both only 17 when they won Seasons 6 and 10, respectively, making them the youngest winners in the show’s history.

The very first winner, Kelly Clarkson, was 20 when she won. Two decades later, she remains one of the show’s most successful alumni.