Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Ryan Seacrest and Luke Bryan.Photo: Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty
American Idolfans, rejoice — the show’s beloved judges (and host!) are returning for another round.
ABC announced on Thursday that judgesKaty Perry,Luke BryanandLionel Richie, as well as hostRyan Seacrest, will be returning for a sixth season with the network on the competition series in 2023.
Auditions for the show’s upcoming 21st season will kick off on Aug. 3 with the return of “Idol Across America,” the virtual search for contestants. The auditions take place nationwide with the annual First 500 event, where singers can sign up to grab a VIP spot before anyone else.
For more information on auditions, visitwww.americanidol.com/auditions.
Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.Eric McCandless via Getty
Richie, 73, Bryan, 46, and Perry, 37, joined the show as judges in 2018 and have been subject to many hilarious on-screen moments together. From bantering to letting their competitive sides shine in order to be considered the “favorite,” the trio has established a relationshipIdolfans love to witness on Monday nights.
When asked what they thought inspired America to vote for Thompson, 20, Bryan said it really came down to his “likability” and his “all-American boy next door” energy.
“He just came in as the underdog … the unassuming guy that he didn’t see it coming, America didn’t see it coming,” the “Drink a Beer” singer said. “And I think, you know, we’ve seen it in 20 years where those type people, really — America pulls for them, responds to them. And it always tells me that at the end of the day, being a good, humble, kind person wins.”
Richie agreed and said “the humble giant wins every time.”
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“I can’t tell you how many times he woke up every night and went, ‘I can’t believe I’m here.’ And I go, ‘You got to start believing, son,’ " Richie added. “Well, tonight, I walked up to him and said, ‘You want to tell me that now?’ But it’s that humble giant that you’re looking for that works every time.”
Thompson, a construction worker and father from Louisa, Kentucky, stole the hearts of Bryan, Perry, and Richie during hisauditionwith an emotional, acoustic version of Kameron Marlowe’s “Giving You Up.”
“As a kid, all I thought about was playing music and being famous. But where I’m from, you don’t really get [many] opportunities,” he said at the time. “My family, they believe in me, the guys I work with believe in me, but I’ve just never believed in myself.”
Thompson, whose best friend signed him up for the show without his knowledge, later added, “I would’ve never signed myself up for something like this, I never had that confidence.”
source: people.com
