Not since the days of Randy, Paula and Simon American idolThe judging panel saw such stability.
ABC announced Wednesday that Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie are all set to return Idol‘s fourth cycle on ABC (and it’s 19th season overall). They will join veteran host Ryan Seacrest.
Strikingly absent from the network’s press release is Bobby Bones, who has served as Idolhas been a full-time in-house mentor since Season 17. Sources tell TVLine that Idol is “still to be found for the logistics for the upcoming season,” and hopefully there will be news on the mentor front to “share very soon.”
“American idol has always been able to bring people together, to entertain and inspire people – and I’m so proud of how this show kept cheering and laughing in people’s homes at a time when we needed it most, “There is no one we feel more confident about leading us into a new season with high notes than Luke, Katy, Lionel and the easy-going Ryan Seacrest,” said ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke in a statement.
Added showrunner Trish Kinane, “Katy, Lionel and Luke are fun, simple and really know how to find talent. Their chemistry is unmistakable, and we’re glad they’re back with host Ryan Seacrest to find and take on the next superstar American idol next season to new heights. ”
While things at Idol remain relatively the same, there are other ABC reality series Dance with the stars en The Bachelorette swap things up for their upcoming seasons. DWTS recently announced that it would be undergoing a creative overhaul, with Tyra Banks replacing unsuspecting hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews ahead of season 29. Meanwhile The Bachelorette will fill out franchise alumna JoJo Fletcher for longtime host Chris Harrison for part of the show’s 16th cycle.
Virtual Idol auditions are currently underway in all 50 states plus, Washington, DC, for the first time since the show’s inception. (More information can be found here.)
American idol is set to return in spring 2021. Are you happy that the right panel remains intact?
