‘American Idol’ Announces Judges And Host For 2025 Season
on Aug 01, 2024 • Updated Sep 08, 2024
Fans are riled up about the upcoming season of American Idol after Katy Perry’s replacement was named Thursday, August 1.
In a somewhat surprising move, American Idol has chosen their Season 4 champion, Carrie Underwood, to replace Katy Perry at the judges table for the upcoming season. Carrie’s name was never one that came up when there was speculation about who would fill the vacant judge seat. While it was a surprise, the decision makes perfect sense considering Underwood’s two-decade history with the show.
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Ahead of the announcement, longtime judge Luke Bryan revealed that P!nk, Miley Cyrus, and Meghan Trainor had each been in talks for the role. He also shared that he wasn’t sure of his own status with Idol, saying that the show had been “tight-lipped” about whether he, Lionel, or the show’s host, Ryan Seacrest, would be returning.
“It’s been interesting,” the “Drink A Beer” singer told Billboard in early July. “It’s been something Disney has been really tightlipped about with me and Lionel and Ryan. We currently haven’t heard what the story is on who’s coming back, and if Lionel and I are coming back. I think Disney is just trying to figure out what they want to do and we’re just kind of sitting back and waiting until they decide.”
Following the news of Carrie Underwood’s hiring, American Idol put to rest any speculation that the rest of the cast would not be returning. They confirmed that Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Ryan Seacrest would all be returning to their previous roles via an announcement on GMA and on American Idol on Instagram.
Ryan Seacrest is an American Idol staple having hosted the show since its inception in 2002. The show aired on Fox for 15 seasons before ending in 2016. It returned to television, airing on ABC, two years later with Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie as judges.
RELATED: RELIVE CARRIE UNDERWOOD’S EMOTIONAL AMERICAN IDOL WIN
The history-making show has launched the careers of some of music’s most successful acts such as Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, and more.
Auditions for American Idol Season 23 kick off in mid-August and the new season is expected to air in early 2025.
