In 2019, American Idol announced on August 5 that Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan were returning to the judges panel for season 18. Unfortunately, that date has come and gone, and still no word about who will be hosting and judging American Idol season 19 when it returns to ABC in 2021.
Luke REALLY wants to return to the American Idol judges panel, but he and the judges are “still in negotiations”
Finally, however, fans have an update. According to Luke, the trio are “still in negotiations” a week before virtual auditions kick off next week.
“I am going to speak for myself that I certainly want to be at the judges’ table and it is something I love doing,” Luke told Entertainment Tonight. “I love being on the ground floor of these artists coming in and watching these dreams start to come true and I think American Idol is really really important for music.”
“Being there with Lionel and Katy, our chemistry is so natural, so real, so fun and I wouldn’t miss being at that judges’ table for the world,” Bryan adds. “We are just trying to figure out… we are just making sure we are getting our format of doing the show [right] and we are excited about building it.”
(Host Ryan Seacrest signed his deal even later last year. His deal was announced on Sept 20).
American Idol will do everything to keep cast and crew save during the COVID-19 pandemic
American Idol had to suddenly switch gears to remote performances and zoom judging for the second half of season 18 last spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And, to stay safe, the show will reportedly continue to feature remote and virtual auditions out of an abundance of caution for the crew, cast and contestants.
“The network and everyone will do everything to keep the kids safe and everybody that works on the show,” Luke saud. “I’m excited to see what they come up with. They’re very creative and, like I said, creating the show we were able to put out there was amazing. I think it was, under the circumstances, we were able to showcase these kids to the best of our ability.”
Currently, The Voice Blind Auditions are filming at the Universal Studios soundstage with the cast and contestants, but no audience. With the proper safety protocols in place, there is no reason why Idol auditions couldn’t be filmed in the same way. Maybe everybody could film in one location, rather than traveling the country.
Katy’s baby due date is “just around the corner”
Katy is expecting her first child, a baby girl, with Orlando Bloom. If she does return to American Idol next season, she’ll be a new mom, which will be a huge change for her. Her due date is a bit of a mystery, but Luke told ET that her due date is “right around the corner.”
“I didn’t know the exact due date … so I texted her like, ‘Hey, just so I can kind of wrap my head around when to really start thinking about you guys and saying prayers and everything,’ so she let me know the due date,” Luke told ET. “She’s pretty close.”
“I told her I’m probably gonna send her little girl maybe, like, a little pink BB gun,” Luke joked. “An old country boy version of little baby girl gifts. Pink camo and a pink BB gun.”
Meanwhile, Luke’s seventh studio album, Born Here Live Here Die Here, is out this week, and the album’s single, “One Margarita,” became Luke’s 25th No. 1 hit on the U.S. Country Music charts back in April. It’s also the third single off the album to reach that spot after “Knockin’ Boots” and “What She Wants Tonight.”
