It’s official. @AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/930zc5YB2Z
— Luke Bryan (@LukeBryanOnline) September 29, 2017
After weeks of rumors, the news is official: Luke Bryan has joined the judges panel for ABC’s American Idol reboot. Bryan announced the news on Friday afternoon (Sept. 29), on Twitter and via a press release.
Bryan joins Katy Perry and fellow newly announced Idol judge Lionel Richie at the TV singing competition’s judges table. Ryan Seacrest, who hosted the original version of American Idol, on Fox, will return as the show’s host.
“I’m excited at the chance to help some deserving artists reach their dreams,” Bryan says in a press release. “To be in a position in my career to help facilitate this along with the other judges is just a complete honor. It’s gonna be a blast!”
Adds Channing Dungey, ABC Entertainment president, “Luke and Lionel are the perfect additions to round out our panel of judges for American Idol on ABC. In their respective genres of music, both Luke and Lionel possess insurmountable popularity and award-winning talent that are undeniable, and we are lucky that they will help in paving the way for hopefuls pursuing their dreams on our stage.”
Rumors of Bryan’s Idol judge spot began this summer. ABC confirmed American Idol‘s return in early May. The TV singing competition originally ran on Fox from 2002 through 2016; throughout its 15 seasons, the show helped launch the careers of superstars Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, as well as other well-known country names such as Scotty McCreery and Kellie Pickler. Keith Urban served as one of the show’s judges during Seasons 12, 13, 14 and 15, and he has said that he would consider returning to the role.
What Are Country Music’s ‘American Idol’ Contestants Up to Now?
The Most Unforgettable Country ‘American Idol’ Auditions
[embedded content]
This Article Was Originally Posted at www.TheBoot.com