Ryan Seacrest Reflects on His Legacy After 24 Years with American Idol

Ryan Seacrest in Los Angeles in December 2025.
Credit :

Monica Schipper/Getty

Key Points

• Ryan Seacrest shared insights about legacy at the Nashville American Idol Season 9 press line.
• Seacrest emphasized the importance of viewer comfort and enjoyment during his shows.
• He is motivated by the excitement of seeing contestants who have long dreamed of auditioning for American Idol.

Ryan Seacrest, after nearly 25 years leading the iconic competition show American Idol, reflects on his journey while expressing little concern about his legacy at this stage. Speaking at the Nashville American Idol Season 9 press line in November 2025, Seacrest noted, “That’s a big question. I haven’t thought about legacy yet.”

The seasoned host shared his aspirations regarding audience experience: “In terms of what I hope people expect from me, or get when I’m on any show, is that they feel comfortable watching it. They enjoy it. It doesn’t seem like it’s too difficult. They can have anybody of any age watch the show.” He aims to create an environment where families can watch together and feel a sense of familiarity, even without having met personally.

Ryan Seacrest hosting American Idol in 2003.

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Throughout his tenure on American Idol, which spans nearly its entire history, Seacrest has maintained a consistent philosophy regarding the competition. “You just listen to the room and go with the flow of what the show is — you can’t plan out too much of it,” he explained. He highlighted the spontaneity of live shows, noting, “When we get into our live shows, we have an idea of how it’s going to go, but it never really goes that way.” Making contestants feel at ease is key to creating an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Seacrest’s passion for the show is fueled by the diverse contestants he meets each season. “Many of them, now, have grown up watching the show and waited all their lives for this moment to audition,” he said. He also noted a shift in contestants’ perspectives, with many expressing a newfound belief in their potential: “They say, ‘I never thought I would be the person that would try out for this show, but I saw an artist or a contestant like me that was not in this quintessential cookie-cutter kind of way. And I thought, wow, it could be me.'” This evolution reflects the broader impact of the show’s legacy.

Ryan Seacrest in New York City on Dec. 31, 2025.

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The next season of American Idol will premiere on Monday, January 26, at 8 p.m. ET.