Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, & Ryan Seacrest Returning To ‘American Idol’ For Season 22

ABC has confirmed that Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie will return as judges on the next season of American Idol. Additionally, Idol veteran Ryan Seacrest will reclaim his duties as host. 

The network took to social media to share the news and prompted new hopeful singers to audition before the star-studded panel of music industry legends. Returning in spring of 2024, the upcoming competition season will mark the 22nd season of American Idol in total and seven seasons on ABC. 

Dim the lights… and here we go!!! We 💙 you, @RyanSeacrest! #IDOL pic.twitter.com/vXwJ6hFMVu

— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) July 25, 2023

The current set of judges were welcomed to Idol upon its revival in 2018 on ABC. Since then, Perry, Bryan and Richie have become very comfortable in their position to help hopeful singer/songwriters achieve their dreams. 

When previously asked about his future with the show, Bryan explained that it would be hard to walk away from it. 

“It’s a show that kids can sit down and parents can cry and laugh together, and have fun.… It’s gonna be a tough show for me and Lionel and Katy to walk away from. Obviously, Ryan’s been there 21 years.… Ryan Seacrest could go do whatever he wants to,” he said of the longtime host while speaking with Fox News at CMA Fest.

“We feel like we’re doing beautiful work as a show, and we felt like this year was what we had all worked together to get to,” he shared, before adding that he hopes to remain a part of the Idol family as long as “the vibe feels like we’re onward and upward.”

According to a new press release, American Idol came out on top as ABC’s No. 1 program last season in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. Additionally, it was the No. 1 most social reality series across all of television, year to date, with nearly 1 billion social video views. 

Auditions are slated to kick off Wednesday, Aug. 2, with the return of “Idol Across America.” This live virtual nationwide search for the next superstar will give auditioners the chance to showcase their talents in front of an Idol producer. All those who are eligible and looking for the chance to propel their talents into full-time music careers can audition from anywhere in America, across any official audition date for a chance to proceed to the judge audition round of the competition.

Within the beginning stage of auditions, also known as the First 700 event, hopefuls have the chance to sign up to grab a VIP spot before anyone else while other contenders can also audition under their genre for the first time in “IAA” history.

“Idol Across America” auditions will be held as follows (subject to change.) Additional fall dates will be announced at a later time:

• First 700 VIP Event (Aug 2)
• Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina (Aug 4)
• Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia (Aug 7)
• Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas (Aug 9)
• Open Call: Singer-Songwriters (Aug 11)
• Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington (Aug 14)
• Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi ( Aug 16)
• Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire (Aug 18)
• Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming (Aug 21)
• Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (Aug 23)
• Open Call: Country & Rock (Aug 25)
• Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin (Aug 28)
• The South: Open Call Pt. 1 (Aug 30)
• Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Washington D.C. , Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts (Sep 6)
• Open Call: Pop, R&B & Soul (Sep 8)

For more information on how to register for auditions, visit www.americanidol.com/auditions.

Iam Tongi was crowned last season’s winner after making his way to the end of the competition and beating out fellow standout contestants Megan Danielle and Colin Stough.

He first made an impact after blowing away the judges with his audition of James Blunt’s 2019 hit “Monsters,” a tune Blunt wrote as a tribute to his father, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Kidney Disease. Tongi connected with this song as he lost his own father just a few months prior to his audition.

Along the way, he captured hearts of American Idol viewers everywhere with his heartfelt performances and jaw-dropping vocals.

While sitting down to discuss this new chapter of his life, the singer/songwriter shared a few words of advice for the next round of contestants hoping for the chance to vie for this coveted title in 2024.

“To people that are thinking about auditioning, go do it. You could do it no matter what. Just go do it and just try your best. Cause that’s what I was thinking, like, ‘oh yeah, what if they don’t like me?’ And all this stuff. If anything, they might not air your episode. So yeah, just go and do it and whatever happens, happens. Honestly, I wouldn’t have won if my mom never signed me up. You know, I didn’t want to do it cause I didn’t want to get embarrassed or anything like that and look at me now, I’m winner of season in 21. Yeah, you did it.”

American Idol will return to ABC in the spring of 2024.