'American Idol': What Does It Mean When a Contestant Gets a Platinum Ticket? Details

Do you have what it takes to be the next American Idol? The show features aspiring singers from all over the United States who compete for a recording contract and a chance to become a star.

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the judges are Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan.

During the American Idol Season 22 premiere, one lucky contestant, Odell Bunton, was rewarded with a Platinum Ticket, as opposed to just a Golden Ticket. This season, a total of three Platinum Tickets will be given out.

So, what's a platinum ticket? Keep reading to find out how this ticket will give Idol hopefuls an advantage over their competition.

During the American Idol audition rounds, the judges travel to big cities across the United States in search of the next up-and-coming singer. If a contestant impresses two of the three judges during their audition, they are awarded a Golden Ticket, which means that the person has made it to Hollywood, aka the next round of auditions.

But, in Idol's 20th season, the platinum ticket was added to the audition round. So, what does this ticket do for a contestant?

Those contestants who are granted the platinum ticket not only get to advance to Hollywood, like their gold-ticketed peers, but they also get to skip the first Hollywood round. The platinum tickets are awarded by judges based on contestants who stand out in their audition.

As Katy Perry explained during the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter Press Tour in 2022 via The Wrap, “This ticket gives them the ability to go to Hollywood Week, which we’ve already filmed and was so rigorous and survival of the fittest, and they get to basically observe from the box seats at the theater — one day, they get to rest their voice, strategize, check out the competition and select who they want to duet with.”

Lionel added: “For me, it was just the fact that they’re just naturals. Some people walk out and they’re stars, they have all the boxes ticked: stage presence, delivery, their sound, their style."

He continued, "They have it all there so that when they open their mouths you know exactly who they are as artists. It just rings that bell. And when that happens you just give them the platinum ticket as fast as you can.”

We certainly can't wait to see which other contestants will be granted the elusive opportunity of securing a Platinum Ticket to Hollywood Week.

Watch American Idol on Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.