American Idol is a reality singing competition series that’s been a tremendous success since it debuted in 2002, and a Golden Idol spin-off would transform the show. Currently, American Idol contestants must be between the ages of 15 and 28, but a spin-off that requires singers to be 55 years old or more would be an intriguing and entertaining change for the show. ABC had a huge hit with The Golden Bachelor, a reality dating series that’s exclusively for senior contestants, so now it’s time for the network to give older people the chance to showcase their musical talents.
American Idol has featured many talented teenagers and young adults through the years, from season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson, who was 20 years old when she won, to season 21 champion Iam Tongi, who was 18. The oldest American Idol winner was Taylor Hicks, who was 29 years old when he won season 5, while the youngest was Jordin Sparks, who won season 6 at the age of 17. American Idol has had so much success with the younger generation, but now it’s time for seniors to shine on Golden Idol.
Golden Idol would feature senior contestants, aged 55 years and up. In an interview with USA Today, American Idol judge Lionel Richie criticized the show’s upper age limit of 28. He explained, “I know [actors] who did not make it in their 20s and 30s. They made [it] in their 40s and 50s because they finally realized … from Hollywood’s point of view, the character is what we need, that new, older character.” Lionel added, “Singing is the same way. Sometimes there are so many people who are so qualified and ready to go at 40 and 50. We just completely missed them altogether.”
Longtime American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, who’s been with the show since season 1, agreed that Golden Idol would be a great idea. He said, “Never say never. I’m happy to host.”Golden Idol would break new ground by including contestants who’ve never been able to audition for the show before. The pool of potential contestants would be broadened by allowing a whole new part of the population to showcase their singing skills.
Lionel is right that Golden Idol would bring contestants who are seasoned performers to the stage. They’d be ready to take on the demands of the show, as they’d likely have had many years of experience living and working. The fact that they have all of the qualifications but are too old for American Idol is unfair. They need a space where they can thrive musically, and Golden Idol would be the perfect place for them to do it.
One of the reasons that The Golden Bachelor was such a success was because it showed that older people are still vibrant and searching for love. Similarly, Golden Idol would prove that there’s no age limit to achieving one’s dreams. Whether the contestants were singers who’d been performing locally for years or people who sang for fun in their own homes, they’d have the opportunity to let the world know what they could do.
Many people who are too old to try out for the original version of American Idol would now have a new opportunity with Golden Idol. They’d have the chance to sing on television in a fresh version of the show. Golden Idol would be an inspiring show because it would prove that it’s never too late for people to pursue singing careers.
Many people with fantastic singing voices never pursue music careers because of the uncertainty and difficulty of making it in the music business. Whether they’ve put their dreams on hold for their jobs, their families, or financial security, there are many older people with incredible talent who’ve never had the chance to share it with the world. Golden Idol would be their chance to do that in an American Idol-style competition show.
Golden Idol would give older contestants a chance at a music career. There would surely be many people on the show who started to pursue music as a career, but got sidelined by life’s demands. There could also be singers who’ve never even considered trying to break into the music industry for various reasons. Whether they’ve been singing at local venues or only in the shower, Golden Idol would finally give older people the chance to have their voices heard.
Golden Idol contestants would come to the show with a lifetime of experience, which is very different from the singers on American Idol, all of whom are teenagers and young adults. This is not to discount the life experiences of young people, many of whom have gone through things that older adults never have, as evidenced by their life story packages on the show. However, older adults have the benefit of time to process and deal with their experiences, which can translate beautifully into singing performances.
There would be a big contrast between watching an 85-year-old contestant sing about love versus a 15 year old. It’s not that one would be better than the other, but simply different. There would be a lifetime of memories and experiences behind the lyrics being sung by an older person. Also, Golden Idol could transform American Idol by highlighting contestants who’ve experienced various eras in history and showing how they affected their lives.
American Idol theme nights can be a lot of fun, but when contestants sing songs from artists they’re unfamiliar with, they often appear uncomfortable and their performances suffer because of it. Golden Idol contestants will have lived through many musical eras, and, although they might not like all of them, they’ll at least bring an authenticity to the stage that younger contestants can’t. This sometimes creates performances that feel like kids acting in a school play about what they think musical performances from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s look and sound like.
A concern might be that Golden Idol contestants wouldn’t know the most current music, but that’s a stereotype of older people. Even if they weren’t familiar with all of it, they could learn it. Their experience with older music would outweigh any concerns about them performing newer songs.
American Idol contestants often sing original songs on the show, which they’ve written about their own lives and experiences. While there have been several standout original songs, including American Idol season 19 winner Chayce Beckham’s “23,” American Idol season 20 runner-up HunterGirl’s “Red Bird,” and American Idol season 20 third place finalist Leah Marlene’s “Flowers,” among others, some of them haven’t been as successful, especially during the auditions. However, some songwriters simply aren’t experienced enough to write a hit song either lyrically or musically, or both.
For example, many of the teenagers and young adults who try out for American Idol have written original songs about heartbreak, which can feel repetitive. This is not to dismiss their feelings or their talents, but rather to point out that the topics are from a similar perspective, because only teenagers and young adults have been trying out for the show for so many years. Original songs written by people in their 50s and beyond would be refreshing and interesting, and would bring something new and different to American Idol.
Many of the American Idol contestants who play instruments on the show are excellent at playing piano or guitar, but there have been several auditions during which playing them hindered the contestants’ performances because they weren’t experienced enough. A senior person who’s been playing piano or guitar for decades would be at a professional level, so they would be experts at playing. Their singing abilities would be backed by years of musical experience.
It would be extraordinary to see an older person with over 50 years of experience playing an instrument take the stage on American Idol. This would elevate the competition because it would bring a whole new level of professionalism to the show. Although the show is at its heart a singing competition, when a person plays instruments at a high level on the show, it enhances their performances and makes them a superstar.
When the late, great Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga collaborated together, they at first seemed like an unlikely duo, but their performances have become classics. Golden Idol would give younger professional singers and American Idol contestants the possibility of singing with older people with whom they might not have ever otherwise crossed paths. While the American Idol episodes and finale often invite older music legends to mentor and perform with the young contestants, Golden Idol could do the opposite and invite up-and-coming singers to perform with the senior finalists.
The original American Idol could even do crossovers with Golden Idol, mixing generations and genres to create new and exciting music. Golden Idol could also give families the opportunity to audition together in crossovers, with grandparents and grandchildren trying out for their respective shows. The possibilities are endless for bringing people of all ages together.
While American Idol has always appealed to all generations over the years, it’s possible that Golden Idol could bring in even more new viewers. It’s always important for people to see themselves represented on television, and, since the Baby Boomer generation is such a large part of society, perhaps they’d be drawn to a show that features performers from their own generation. This would transform American Idol by bringing a whole new group of people to it.