At the end of each season, selected contestants go on tour around France, Belgium, Morocco, Switzerland, Tunisia, and other French-speaking countries.
The reality show is hosted by Nikos Aliagas and has featured guest stars such as Mariah Carey, Madonna, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Celine Dion, The Corrs, Texas, Simple Plan, Moby, Tina Arena, Nelly Furtado, Tokio Hotel, Anastacia, Alicia Keys, Craig David, 50 Cent, will.i.am, Destiny's Child, James Blunt, Sean Combs, Sting, David Guetta, Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Phil Collins, Laura Pausini, Kylie Minogue, Tina Turner, Andrea Bocelli, Charles Aznavour, Hélène Ségara, Lorie, Lara Fabian, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Alizée, Johnny Hallyday, Paul Anka, Lionel Richie, Alanis Morissette, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Bee Gees, and Ricky Martin.
Second studio album Le Passage has songwriting contributions from Calogero and Benoît Poher from Kyo.
[citation needed] Carine and Mario, along with series 2 contestants Anne-Laure and Houcine and series 5 contestants Pierre and Alexia make up the cast of a new comedie-musicale in France "Salut Joe" which features the songs of legendary star Joe Dassin.
[citation needed] Olivia Ruiz has enjoyed critical and commercial success with her album La Femme Chocolat.
Elodie ended up making it to the finals, where she beat Polish contestant Michal and become the winner of Star Academy 3.
Grégory also enjoyed success in 2006 with "Même si", a bilingual duet with Lucie Silvas of her song "What You're Made Of".
On 30 April 2007, Grégory Lemarchal died of complications due to cystic fibrosis while waiting for a lung transplant.
His popularity grew over the series and he eventually reached the finale where he faced, and lost to, Magalie Vaé.
In the female semi-final she and fellow student Ely were voted out in favour of Magalie, who had attracted much attention in France because, unlike previous Star Academy participants, she was overweight.
The focus for this season was expected to shift from traditional songs to the "nouvelle chanson francaise" style made popular by singers like Benabar, Benjamin Biolay and former Star Ac 1 contestant Olivia Ruiz.
This year was unusual as only seven students went on the tour: Cyril, Dominique, Cynthia, Jean-Charles, Brice, Marina, and Ludovic.
The series also saw a decline in the ratings, as in the premiere week, it has received 5.5 million viewers with 29.6% share (mainly from their competition, NCIS on M6).
Nikos Aliagas again took up hosting the show, while British singer Robbie Williams was named the godfather of the programme for this season.
Despite rumors of his departure, TF1 confirmed, during a back-to-school press conference on 28 June 2023, the return of Michael Goldman once again as promotion director for the 11th season.
Laure Balon, professor of stage expression, is replaced by Cécile Chaduteau, former dancer of Kamel Ouali during the first seasons of the program, former backing vocalist for the singers Johnny Hallyday and France Gall, and choreographer of the musical Flashdance – The Musical (2023).
Jean-Louis Blot, president of Endemol France, reveals that the singing room is changing location to be closer to that of the theater.
Finally, a dressing room will be equipped with a camera, which will allow students to speak to their fans in the form of vlogs between two rehearsals.
Hugues Hamelynck, Belgian actor, director and improviser, succeeds Pierre de Brauer to provide theater classes.
The world champion athlete in the 100 metres hurdles, Ladji Doucouré, takes the place of Joël Bouraïma for sports classes and Fanny Delaigue, singer, dancer and pianist in musical, becomes co-rehearsalist alongside Lucie Bernardoni, succeeding Marlène Schaff; the latter is now in charge of stage expression courses, replacing Cécile Chaduteau.