Written by Elise Mullen, photos by Kendra Frankle and Alex Puga
‘American Idol’ began filming their 18th season and made a stop in Savannah, Sept. 30, and Oct. 1 to hold auditions on the rooftop of the Perry Lane Hotel. Contestants came out this weekend and auditioned in front of some of Hollywood’s biggest names waiting to hear the famous words, “You’re going to Hollywood.”
‘Idol’ has come to Savannah in the past, and returns for the incredible talent they always find here. “We have a very good track record here, in fact, this is the city we found Phillip Phillips [season eleven ‘American Idol’ winner] in, so we expect great talent here, we always get good talent,” said Patrick Lynn, senior supervising producer of ‘American Idol’, to WSAV3.
WJCL22 said, “About 70 contestants have made it past the producer rounds.” Those seventy contestants showed up earlier this week along with celebrity judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie
Georgia Southern student and season eighteen auditioner, Bryce Leatherwood told WJCL22, “I’m 45 minutes down the road, I drove in yesterday, I’ve gotten to enjoy the town, enjoy the people, I really enjoyed it.” Other first-time auditioner and singer/songwriter Maggie Renfroe, told WSAV3 that nerves weren’t present before her audition but that, “maybe right before I go in there, probably a couple of jitters will be the case, but I’m good right now.”
WJCL22 said, “The episodes featuring Savannah will air sometime in late February or March on WJCL and ABC.” So tune in to see which Savannah native gets a golden ticket and if any becomes the next ‘American Idol.’
