Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry.Photo:Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty
Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty
Don’t worry,American Idolfans — the judges you know and love are coming back for season 22!
On Tuesday, ABC announcedKaty Perry,Luke BryanandLionel Richiewill return to the judging table onAmerican Idolnext season, which will premiere in spring 2024. Additionally,Ryan Seacrestwill be coming back as the show’s host.
Hopeful contestants can sign up to audition for the reality competition series starting on Aug. 4 with the return of “Idol Across America,” the virtual nationwide search that found last season’s winner, Iam Tongi.
They can choose a time slot throughout August and September based on their location or preferred musical genre, withmore information available here.
Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan.Raymond Liu via Getty Images
In an interview withFox Newslast month, Bryan, 46, praised Perry, who he said is used to shaking off negative attention.
“Katy Perry’s been dealing with stuff like that her whole career,” he said. “We all get it… I mean, we’re judging kids that people at home fall in love with. We’re not gonna bat 1,000 as judges.”
The country star said he believes he and Perry as well as Richie, are often put in a tough position, as it falls to them to be critical of contestants that viewers adore.
Katy Perry.Eric McCandless/Getty
“I think we get set up. As judges, you know, we kinda fall on the sword a lot of times,” he said. “And get set up to where people can get very vocal on socials and stuff. My thing is, I think when me and Lionel and Katy sit down at the desk, in our hearts, we’re doing the best we can.”
Perry was the subject of some heat from viewers this season, which began during auditions, when she joked that contestant Sara Beth Liebe — a mother of three children — had been “laying on the table too much.”
Liebe went on toaccuse Perry of “mom-shaming"in a TikTok video, and later quit the competition, though the “Firework” singer tried to convince her to stay. Liebe laterexpressed gratitude toward the showand toward Perry, implying that the two were on good terms.
Then, Perry wasbooed during an episode ofIdolafter she told contestant Nutsa Buzaladze to wear less glitter on stage, and also was criticized fornot providing feedbackto contestant Wé Ani.
Luke Bryan; Katy Perry.Eric McCandless via Getty Images (2)
Bryan continued to defend Perry in his interview with Fox News, saying the backlash is unwarranted.
Despite his gripes with fan treatment toward Perry, the “Country On” singer had only positive things to say aboutIdol, saying it would be “a tough show” for the panel “to walk away from.”
“We feel like we’re doing beautiful work as a whole, and we felt like this year was what we had all worked together to get to,” Bryan said, adding that he will remain a judge as long as “the vibe feels like we’re onward and upward.”
source: people.com
