In “American Idol,” the Platinum Ticket is a special advantage introduced in Season 20 (2022) to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary. Each season, only three Platinum Tickets are awarded to standout performers during the audition rounds. These recipients gain a significant benefit: the ability to skip the first round of Hollywood Week, allowing them to rest their voices, observe the competition, and strategically select duet partners.
For example, in Season 23 (2025), the first Platinum Ticket was awarded to 26-year-old Kolbi Jordan from Tulsa, Oklahoma. After her impressive audition, judge Lionel Richie surprised her with a phone call to her idol, Patti LaBelle.
The introduction of the Platinum Ticket adds an extra layer of excitement to the competition, highlighting exceptional talent and providing recipients with a strategic advantage in the early stages of Hollywood Week.