Skip to main content
Georgia Public Broadcasting Logo
  • Watch

    Featured Specials and Programs

    • All Creatures Great and Small
    • Antiques Roadshow
    • PBS News Hour
    • Miss Scarlet & The Duke
    • Finding Your Roots
    • Doc Martin
    All Programs

    GPB Originals

    • Georgia Legends
    • Lawmakers
    • A Fork in the Road
    • View Finders
    • Georgia Outdoors
    • Your Fantastic Mind
    GPB Originals

    Browse by Genre

    • Arts & Music
    • Culture
    • Drama
    • Food
    • History
    • News & Public Affairs
    • TV Schedule
    • GPB Programs
    • PBS Passport
    • TV Highlights this Week
    • PBS KIDS
    • Ways to Watch
    • Newsletters
    • Contact GPB
  • Listen

    Featured Programs

    • The Daily
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Serendipity
    • John Lemley's City Cafe
    • Fresh Air
    • Here and Now
    • Code Switch/Life Kit
    • Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
    All Programs

    Podcasts

    • GA Today
    • Salvation South
    • Battleground: Ballot Box
    • Football Fridays in Georgia
    • Narrative Edge
    • Peach Jam Podcast
    • A Fork in the Road
    • Radio Schedule
    • GPB Classical
    • Radio Programs
    • Podcasts
    • GPB News
    • Find Your Station
    • Ways to Listen
    • Contact GPB
    • Newsletters
  • Learn

    Featured

    • Chemistry Matters
    • Classroom Conversations Podcast
    • GASHA Go! World
    • Georgia Farmcraft®
    • Georgia Classroom
    • Georgia Studies Collection
    • Econ Express
    • Let’s Go Enviro
    • Let's Learn GA!
    • Lights, Camera, Budget!
    • Live Explorations
    • Physics in Motion
    • School Stories
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • VR in the Classroom
    • Writers Contest

    For Kids & Teachers

    • GPB Games
    • PBS KIDS
    • PBS LearningMedia

    • on Twitter
    • on Facebook
    • on Email
  • News

    Featured Programs & Series

    • Lawmakers
    • Lawmakers: Beyond the Dome
    • 1A
    • Battleground: Ballot Box
    • GA Today Podcast
    • Storycorps
    • Narrative Edge

    More GPB News

    • Politics
    • Georgia News
    • Justice
    • Arts & Life
    • Health
    All GPB News
    • Radio Schedule
    • Radio Stations
    • GPB Apps
    • Podcasts
    • Contact GPB News
    • Follow Us on Apple News
    • Newsletters
  • Sports

    GHSA Sports

    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Cheerleading
    • On Demand
    • GPB Sports Blog
    All Sports

    High School Football

    • Scores & Schedule
    • On Demand
    • Teams
    • Rankings
    • Brackets
    • Heads Up Georgia
    Football Home
    • GPB Sports App
    • GPB Sports Blog
    • GPB Sports OnDemand
  • Events

    Browse by Type

    • Community
    • Donor
    • Kids & Family
    • Screenings
    All Events

    Browse by Category

    • Education
    • News
    • Sports
    • Television

    Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email.

    Sign up

    • on Twitter
    • on Facebook
    • on Instagram
  • Kids & Families

    For Kids

    • Video
    • Games

    For Parents & Caregivers

    • Kids & Families Blog
    • Kids & Families Events
    • GPB KIDS - Ways to Watch
  • Support Us

    Support GPB

    • Ways to Give
    • Planned Giving
    • Sustainers
    • GPB Passport
    • Leadership Giving
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donations
    • GPB Next
    • Matching Gifts
  • Search
GPB Passport icon GPB Passport icon Passport
GPB donate icon GPB donate icon Donate
Listen Live Listen Live Watch Live Watch Live

GPB Newsletter CTA

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

News Topics

  • Georgia
  • National
  • Politics
  • Lawmakers
  • Elections

Don't Miss

Don't Miss:

  • New Podcast: Robbery, Inc
  • Federal Funding Update
  • Explore GPB Passport

News Articles: American Idol

Lovett’s Slater Nalley (left) has made it to Hollywood Week on “American Idol.” (Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless)

Tagged as: 

  • News

Atlanta high school student finds his confidence on ‘American Idol’

Slater Nalley first caught American Idol fans’ attention when he auditioned with a song he wrote about his teacher’s late son. Now, he’s hoping to let America get to know him a little bit better.

April 01, 2025
|
By:
  • Sammie Purcell
Nigel Lythgoe arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind" on June 27, 2018.

Tagged as: 

  • Law

Paula Abdul settles suit alleging sexual assault by 'Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe

Paula Abdul and former American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show.

December 13, 2024
|
By:
  • The Associated Press
Mandisa accepts the award for pop/contemporary album of the year at the Dove Awards in 2014 in Nashville, Tenn.

Tagged as: 

  • Obituaries

Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and 'American Idol' alum, has died at 47

The singer gained stardom after finishing ninth on "American Idol" in 2006. In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for "Overcomer," her fifth album.

April 19, 2024
|
By:
  • The Associated Press
GPB News NPR

Tagged as: 

  • Law

Nigel Lythgoe departs 'So You Think You Can Dance' amid sexual assault allegations

The 74-year-old TV personality, producer and choreographer is facing a lawsuit launched by high-profile co-host Paula Abdul.

January 07, 2024
|
By:
  • Chloe Veltman
GPB News NPR

Tagged as: 

  • Law

Paula Abdul accuses 'American Idol' producer of sexual assault

The singer and actor's lawsuit against Nigel Lythgoe is the latest in a string of high-profile cases filed right before portions of California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act expire.

December 30, 2023
|
By:
  • Chloe Veltman
Megan Danielle

Tagged as: 

  • News

Watch Georgia singer soar into ‘American Idol’ top 3 with a Disney song

Megan Danielle is one step closer to being crowned the next “American Idol,” earning a spot in the show’s top 3 after a night filled with fan-favorite Disney songs.

May 17, 2023
|
By:
  • Tanasia Kenney
Publiccommentscopcity

Tagged as: 

  • News

Georgia Today: 'Cop City' public comments; Fulton County DA pushes back; Georgia on 'American Idol'

On the Tuesday, May 16 edition of Georgia Today: Hundreds of residents showed up to an Atlanta city council meeting to oppose a proposed police training facility; The Fulton County DA pushes back against Donald Trump; And a Georgia native earns a top spot on American Idol.

May 16, 2023
|
By:
  • Peter Biello ,
  • Jeremy Powell ,
  • and 1 more
News outlets report the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 23-year-old Willie Spence died Tuesday after hitting the rear of a tractor-trailer near Chattanooga. Spence finished in second place on season 19 of “American Idol” last year.

Tagged as: 

  • News

'American Idol' finalist dies in vehicle crash

A finalist on “American Idol” has died in a vehicle crash in Tennessee. News outlets report the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 23-year-old Willie Spence died Tuesday after hitting the rear of a tractor-trailer near Chattanooga.

October 12, 2022
|
By:
  • Associated Press
American Idol finalist Willie Spence of Douglas, Ga., sings during the televised singing competition

Tagged as: 

  • Arts & Life

Willie Spence Fans Share Frustration, Hope After 'American Idol' Finale

American Idol concluded its 19th season on Sunday and some fans shared their frustration with the results online.

May 24, 2021
|
By:
  • Amanda Andrews
A Vote Willie Spence Banner and display outside the Coffee County courthouse

Tagged as: 

  • Arts & Life

Hometown Hero Willie Spence Returns to Georgia Ahead of 'American Idol' Finale

Sunday marks the finale of the 19th season of American Idol, and eyes are on Georgia’s own Willie Spence to take home the title.

May 21, 2021
|
By:
  • Amanda Andrews
Our Breakroom: Ed Sohn, Kathy Lohr, Kalena Boller, and Hector Fernandez

The Breakroom: Social Media Fails, Self-Driving Ubers, Trump's Opioid Crisis Plan

Today in the Breakroom we talked about this week's top stories. We were joined by Ed Sohn , the Vice President for Product Management and Partnership at...

March 26, 2018
|
By:
  • Adam Ragusea and
  • Fenly Foxen

Newsletter Signup

Sign Up For Our Newsletters

Connect with GPB

  • Connect with GPB on Facebook
  • Connect with GPB on Instagram
  • Connect with GPB on Twitter
  • Connect with GPB on YouTube
  • Connect with GPB on Apple News

Footer

Footer First Nav (Main Menu)

  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Learn
  • News
  • Sports
  • Events
  • Kids & Families
  • Support Us
  • Search

Footer Second Nav Menu

  • Help Center
  • About GPB
  • Contact Us
  • Closed Captioning
  • Directions
  • Studio Production
  • Program Submissions

Footer Third Nav Menu

  • Support Us
  • Careers
  • Accessibility
  • FCC Public Files
  • Drawing Rules
  • News Media Request
  • Open Records and Document Retention Policy
  • Privacy Policy

Georgia Public Broadcasting

260 14th St. NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
United States

(404) 685-2400 In Atlanta
(800) 222-4788 Outside Atlanta
ask@gpb.org

Newsletter Signup

Sign Up For Our Newsletters

Connect with GPB

  • Connect with GPB on Facebook
  • Connect with GPB on Instagram
  • Connect with GPB on Twitter
  • Connect with GPB on YouTube
  • Connect with GPB on Apple News
© Copyright 2025, Georgia Public Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved. Georgia Public Radio® GPTV®