Josh Groban brings his wealth of experience to “American Idol” season 23 as a guest mentor. The talented singer shared what he loves most about imparting his vast knowledge to the young hopefuls.
Josh Groban Dishes on His ‘American Idol’ Mentor Experience
In an April 2025 interview with Billboard, Groban shed some light on what it was like to mentor the “American Idol” hopefuls.
For Groban, it was a no-brainer to join the show. “They didn’t even mention Hawaii before I said yes,” he explained. “I’ve done it before, whether it’s on ‘Idol’ or through my foundation, working with after school programs or kids that are just in need of that push and advice.”
He continued, “My favorite thing about having a platform is being able to impart some small amounts of wisdom that maybe will help them escape some of the trappings that I had to learn the hard way.”
Groban shared that making a show involves a lot of behind-the-scenes efforts that aren’t seen. “The talent is genuine and the notes we give are genuine,” he noted. “I wish that audiences could see us when the cameras aren’t rolling — working with Jelly [Roll] and the way we’re talking about what the contestants need to do.”
He also provided some insight into how they are really “invested” as mentors. “We really care. It’s not just for TV. Because we’ve been there and we know how special this is for them and we also know that these are notes that will travel with them beyond the competition,” Groban explained.
The singer pointed out that, although there’s only one “Idol” winner, their guidance as mentors extends beyond the show.
“They may decide to not continue with music, but we can also note that having this experience will be a foundation of confidence for them for the rest of their lives and we want to make sure that the things we instill in them allow them to have that for whatever they do,” Groban added.
Groban Says He Owes a Lot to His School Choir Teachers
While Groban may have been mentored by music industry heavy-hitters like David Foster when he started his career, he also received valuable mentorship in school.
“I also want to give a huge shout out to my teachers,” Groban shared. “The unsung heroes were my choir teachers in junior high and high school, when I was at my most insecure. They were essential in helping me find my voice, find myself.”
He added, “And it just so happens that I went into it professionally, but even if I hadn’t … it helped me as a human being. It helped me as somebody who was a little lost inside myself to realize that my voice had a place in this world and if I’d gone into veterinary medicine, which was my other dream, it still would’ve followed me.”