Star Academy is a French reality television show produced by the Dutch company Endemol. It consists of a contest of young singers. It spawned an equally successful show in Quebec called Star Académie. It is broadcast on NRJ12. At the end of each season, selected contestants would go on tour around France, Morocco, Switzerland, Belgium, Tunisia, and other French-speaking countries.
The contestants stayed in the Dammarie-lès-Lys castle: The Vives-Eaux castle.
The reality show was hosted by Nikos Aliagas and featured guest stars such as Madonna, Alizée, Céline Dion, Tina Arena, Nelly Furtado, Tokio Hotel, Andrea Bocelli, Charles Aznavour, Hélène Ségara, Peter Kingsbery, Phil Collins, Laura Pausini, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Lara Fabian, Rihanna, Shania Twain, Moby, Avril Lavigne, Anastacia, Alicia Keys, Craig David, 50 Cent, will.i.am, James Blunt, Diddy, Sting, David Guetta, Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Liza Minnelli, Johnny Hallyday, Paul Anka, Lionel Richie, Alanis Morissette, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Bee Gees, Ricky Martin, and Beyoncé.