[2] The eighth and final season, entitled Singer 2020, or Singer: Year of the Hits (Chinese: 歌手:当打之年; pinyin: Gēshǒu: Dāngdǎ zhī Nián),[3] began taping on 3 January 2020; the season was initially slated for a premiere on 10 January 2020, but was postponed twice; the season was first announced to premiere on 31 January 2020,[4][5][6] but was again postponed to 7 February 2020 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that occurred prior to the intended premiere date.
On 22 September 2020, Hong Tao announced during the Hunan TV's Merchants Association meeting that Singer will cease production after eight seasons of air, citing a gradually lower viewership ratings and its competition against other rival programs in the current Chinese reality television landscape.
[8][9] However, on November 12, 2023, Mango TV reversed the decision and revive the series, allowing a ninth season to premiere on May 10, 2024 after a four-year hiatus.
Since season 7, with the implementation of Electronic voting (which was conducted thrice throughout the show), each scores accounted a 50% weightage towards final results.
Eliminated singers were entitled to a Returning Performance on the next show and a chance to return to the competition via the Breakout Round, though eliminations could also be cancelled if another singer chose to withdraw from the competition, or if any contestant was given a bye due to health conditions.
"Breakout" round follows after the last Knockout round, which featured previously eliminated singers (except withdrawn singers) performing for a chance to return to the game and take part in the finals.
The viewing audience voted online for "Pot Luck" songs featured during episode 8 of Season 1.
Returning performances did not appear on season 8 due to health and safety matters relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
If the lowest combined scores were tied after an elimination round, eliminations were postponed to the following show; the tie is resolved based on the singer's placement in the next show, regardless of overall placement.
The first (and only) tiebreaker happened in Season 4, when two singers were tied for seventh place during the first elimination round.
The online viewing audience would cast votes for potential contestants of the broadcast show.
An online spin-off, titled National's Recommended Singer was held during Season 7.
On certain time periods throughout the season, potential singers can audition and must be able to turn up for the show's arrangements set by the producers.
Unlike regular Challengers, results were done separately from other contestants (this vote was separate from the final result); the singer who lost the face-off will be eliminated along with the ineligibility to participate in the Breakouts, similar to withdrawn singers.
Unless otherwise stated, the table only reflects any music partners that were assigned for the singers and its placements (the table do not reflect any partners and managers that were temporarily assigned): Key: Singers participated in groups are listed in parentheses.