Three-time Grammy winner Brad Paisley is set to appear this season on American Idol as a guest mentor, joining Keke Palmer in guiding the show’s Top 20 contestants. Paisley made an early appearance during the season premiere, surprising his longtime friend Carrie Underwood with a prank during Nashville auditions held at his alma mater, Belmont University. His mix of musical insight and humor adds a seasoned voice to the competition at a pivotal stage.
Paisley’s mentoring role continues in episode 908, Top 20 at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii – Part 1, airing Monday, March 16, followed by episode 909 on March 23. This season also marks the first time Hollywood Week heads to Nashville with Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover, featuring a single high-stakes round and the largest cut in the show’s history. American Idol airs Mondays from 8–10 pm ET/PT on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.