Discover the Busy Lives of American Idol Contestants Beyond Their Performances

They lead incredibly hectic lives.

Season two champion Ruben Studdard vividly recalled how tightly packed his schedule was, filled with song selection, preparation, vocal coaching, and filming for various show-related packages and commercials. The demands on contestants are immense.

“Thursday we received the songs,” he shared during a 2023 interview with West Byrd. “On Friday, we selected the songs, followed by taping commercials on Friday and Saturday. Sunday was dedicated to making final song selections, and that night through Monday night, we were in the studio ensuring everything was perfect for the track. Tuesday mornings were reserved for a thorough dry run of the entire show. So when you see the promotional package with messages like, ‘You should vote for X, Y, Z,’ that’s already been recorded on Tuesday morning.”

And then comes the actual show. “Wednesday is the elimination day, and the whole process starts anew,” Ruben added. “The workload intensifies as the group shrinks, yet the demands remain unchanged.”

Jena Irene Asciutto echoed this sentiment.

“As we progressed through the weeks and contestants were eliminated, the remaining participants were tasked with filling more of the episode’s time,” the season 13 runner-up explained to Business Insider. “Consequently, we became more involved in various segments. I believe it was around the top eight when we began filming Ford commercials every Sunday.”