American Idol is going big for its 25th season. Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are all returning to the judges’panel, with Ryan Seacrest back as host and producer. Luke Bryan revealed the news Thursday night during his concert at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, turning a sold-out show into a season announcement.
There’s a health note attached to the news too. Lionel Richie is recovering after a procedure for atrial fibrillation, and his rep says everything went perfectly. He’s doing great and taking some time off before returning to the stage.
Season 25 arrives in 2027 on ABC and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu, with a premiere date still to come. If you want in on the action, auditions are open through Idol Across America until October 9, and you need to be 15 by February 15, 2027. So, who’s the one artist you’d want sitting in that fourth chair if Idol ever added one?
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Local Lawton
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