The first mentor on the 8th season of American Idol was Randy Travis during the top 11. The songs for the week were from members of the Grand Ole Opry.

There were many more mentors in season six than seven, as producer Nigel Lythgoe stated that the competition took a turn they had not expected with having so many mentors. "The competition became about the mentors, and less about the contestants" Lythgoe said. Season six was the first season to have mentors, until then, artists would either be a guest judge or perform live on stage.

1. Randy Travis
2. Smokey Robinson
3. Berry Gordy Jr.
4. Quentin Tarantino
5. Jamie Foxx
6. Slash

1. Dolly Parton
2. Mariah Carey
3. Andrew Lloyd Webber
4. Neil Diamond

1. Diana Ross
2. Peter Noone and Lulu
3. Gwen Stefani
4. Tony Bennett
5. Jennifer Lopez
6. Martina McBride
7. Bono
8. Jon Bon Jovi and David Bryan
9. Barry Gibb

• Google Blog Search: American Idol Mentors

• MJs Big Blog: Top 11 Results Recap (March 18, 2008)

• Idol Chatter: Carly Smithson is in the bottom 3 (March 18, 2008)

• Reality TV Magazine: American Idol Mentors... (March 1, 2008)

• Idol Stalker: Dolly Parton To Be On American Idol

• (October 3, 2007)

• American Idol Forums: Idol Mentors Forum