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Changes in store for ‘Idol’s’ upcoming season
Contestants will be allowed to play guitar as part of their performances
 | “American Idol” contestants will be allowed to play guitar during their vocal performance, adding yet another opportunity to wow judges Randy Jackson, left, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. |
Nick Ut / AP |
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LOS ANGELES - “American Idol” returns to TV screens in January and it might be a little different than you remember.
According to the New York Post, singers with extra musical abilities may be able to show off their talents on stage by accompanying themselves on guitar.
The Post is also reporting that legends like Tony Bennett and Diana Ross, who have acted as mentors on the show, will not be booked as often, to help put the focus more squarely on the contestants.
As for those contestants, over a hundred, according to executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, are heading to Hollywood next month.
“We’re bringing about 160 people back to Hollywood at the end of this month,” Lythgoe told the Post. “We’ll bring everyone there, and the judges will spend four days with them and bring the list down to the top 24 contestants — 12 boys and 12 girls.”
Lythgoe said there are few people who are already making an impact in the competition.
“There are one or two that stand out — there are three girls who are superb, including one girl we saw three years ago who wasn’t an American citizen [and is now] and we’re happy to have her this year,” he said. “And we’ve got one or two guys who are really good.”
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