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'FEELS SO GOOD'

American Idol fans are ‘crying with excitement’ that hit ABC show has an in-studio audience again amid Covid pandemic

AMERICAN Idol kicked off its Top 24 performances on Sunday with the announcement that they had an in-studio audience for the first time since the Covid pandemic began.

Fans admitted they started “crying” over the return of a live audience, sharing their excitement on social media as the ABC competition show aired.

Ryan Seacrest revealed American Idol is back to having a live audience
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Ryan Seacrest revealed American Idol is back to having a live audienceCredit: ABC

Host started off the two-hour episode, which featured 12 of the Top 24 singing solo and celebrity duet performances, by revealing the exciting news.

He told viewers that they had a limited amount of people in the crowd, who were all wearing masks and sitting in pods that included only the people they arrived with.

One fan said: “Omg live audience in American idol. I swear I'm not crying #AmericanIdol.”

Those in the crowd were required to wear masks and adhere to proper social distancing guidelines
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Those in the crowd were required to wear masks and adhere to proper social distancing guidelines
Fans were so excited to have a live audience once again
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Fans were so excited to have a live audience once again
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Another tweeted: “#AmericanIdol has a live audience again. Nature is healing.”

A third wrote: “It feels so good to finally a real live studio audience again! #AmericanIdol”

Fans weren’t the only ones excited by the change from a virtual audience to in-person. 

The American Idol judges said they were happy to have fans back in the crowd, as well
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The American Idol judges said they were happy to have fans back in the crowd, as wellCredit: ABC
Luke Bryan tweeted that he was 'so thankful'
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Luke Bryan tweeted that he was 'so thankful'Credit: ABC

Judge tweeted: “Omg a real audience?! Made of real people? Smiling face with tear #AmericanIdol”

Fellow judge also wrote about in on Twitter, saying: “So thankful to be back in front of a studio audience. Those zoom cameras were really getting old. #AmericanIdol”

Also present during Sunday night's American Idol were a slew of celebrity singers, who took to the stage to perform duets with some of the contestants.

American Idol alum Katharine McPhee returned to the show to perform with contestant Alyssa Wray
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American Idol alum Katharine McPhee returned to the show to perform with contestant Alyssa WrayCredit: ABC
The two sang Whitney Houston's I'm Your Baby Tonight
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The two sang Whitney Houston's I'm Your Baby TonightCredit: Getty

Half of the Top 24 contestants performed solos and duets on Sunday, and the other half will have their turn during Monday's new episode.

One of the artists who joined for the fun was American Idol alum Katharine McPhee, who was the runner-up in season 5.

The 37-year-old, who recently – son Rennie – with her , sang Whitney Houston's I'm Your Baby Tonight with contestant Alyssa Wray.

Katharine gave birth to her first child with David, and his sixth, in February after it was revealed in October that she was pregnant.

The singer, who is David's fifth wife, got hitched to the Canadian musician and producer on June 28, 2019.

The two first met when he mentored Katharine on season 5 of American Idol in 2006.

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