Contact: Rick Harmon
Alabama Tourism Department
334-242-0583
June 28, Wednesday, for immediate release
‘American Idol’ auditions to bring thousands of musicians, national focus to Shoals
About 2,000 musicians are expected to descend upon the Alabama Music Hall of Fame on Sept. 7 as “American Idol” holds auditions in a state that has already supplied some of the show’s most successful contestants. ABC recently announced that the network would be bringing back the beloved singing competition series for the 2017-2018 season and that Katy Perry is set to judge.
“We always love holding auditions in towns with a rich music history, and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Shoals fit the bill,” said “American Idol” producer Melissa Elfar. “Also, Alabama has always been a wealth of talent for past ‘Idol’ finalists like Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks, and Bo Bice.”
In the history of the franchise, only the states of Alabama and North Carolina had more than one winner.
Dixie Griffin, manager of the hall of fame, said a part of the museum attests to the effect “American Idol” already has had on the state.
“We showcase Ruben, Bo Bice, and Taylor Hicks - two winners and Bo a first-place runner-up with the show,” she said.
Sara Hamlin, chairwoman of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame’s board of directors, said Griffin deserves much of the credit for attracting the popular series to the Shoals.
“She showcased the museum and the incredible music attractions in this area to bring ‘American Idol’ here, and after ‘American Idol’ comes here and showcases those attractions to a national audience, there is no way to estimate how many tourists that may bring” she said.
With the Alabama auditions taking place in September, Griffin expects “American Idol” will once again have an impact on the state, particularly the Shoals area and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
“This is going to be huge for the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Tuscumbia and the area,” she said. “Many people coming to audition will stay overnight, tour the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, eat in our wonderful restaurants, and shop. Everyone will profit from the auditions being held on the grounds of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.”
Maybe the biggest impact will be the attention “American Idol” will bring to the Shoals and its contributions to the national music scene. It is the birthplace of W.C. Handy, known as the “Father of the Blues,” for not only writing some of its great standards but spreading the knowledge of the blues to musicians throughout the world, and of Sam Phillips, who founded Sun Records and revolutionized rock ‘n’ roll.
It also has had some of the country’s most influential recording studios.
Rick Hall’s FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals created the blend of Southern soul called the Muscle Shoals Sound with such hits as Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally,” Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman,” and Aretha Franklin’s “I Never Loved a Man.”
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, which opened this year after Beats Audio gave it a $1-million renovation, helped create classics by the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, Cher, Bob Seger, Traffic, The Staple Singers, Linda Ronstadt, LynyrdSkynyrd, Willie Nelson, Leon Russell, BozScaggs, Jimmy Cliff and many others.
Both FAME and The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio are still active.
Part of Alabama’s musical history is its success on “American Idol.” Throughout the series’ history, Alabama has had two winners, Studdard and Hicks; two runners-up, Diana DeGarmo and Bo Bice; and four other finalists, including Paul McDonald, Jess Meuse, C.J. Harris and Dexter Roberts.
Elfar had a few tips for musicians interested in trying out Sept. 7 at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame:
Pick a song you like and know how to sing - Performance is a big part of being able to deliver any song, so perform it well.
Don’t be nervous, be confident.
Make eye contact.
Smile.
Be engaging.
Be ready to chase your dreams!
Please visit for more details on specific audition locations, full eligibility requirements, submission forms, terms and conditions.