‘American Idol’ Judges Speak On Whether They’ll Return For Season 24
American Idol Renewed For Season 24
On Sunday, May 18, American Idol officially crowned the winner of Season 23 after weeks of tough competition and incredible performances from hopeful contestants.
It was definitely a season to remember, and fans couldn’t get enough as they tuned in to each episode.
That’s why viewers were thrilled when ABC officially announced that American Idol had been renewed for a 24th season. The exciting news was shared just days before the season finale aired.
Will Every Idol Judge Be Returning For Season 24?
Now that American Idol has officially been confirmed to return, fans are already asking questions about what to expect.
While it’s still too early to know any important information, especially since the new season won’t air until next year, one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is whether all three current judges will be coming back.
In Season 23, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood sat behind the Idol judging panel, helping guide contestants through the competition.
Luke and Lionel have been staples of the show for the past eight years. One of the biggest changes this season, though, was the addition of Carrie Underwood.
She made her debut as a judge after Katy Perry announced her departure following seven seasons.
Carrie’s return was a full-circle moment. Her judging debut came exactly 20 years after she won the competition herself. And fans loved seeing her back on the Idol stage, right where it all began.
So, is Carrie coming back for another season? And what about Luke and Lionel?
In an interview with USA Today ahead of filming, the judges shared some insight on whether they’ve agreed to return for Season 24.
As of now, it looks like the decisions about who’s returning are still being worked out. And each of the superstar judges seems to be keeping things quiet for now, not giving away any clear hints about whether they’ll be back.
“We will see,” Carrie shared. I feel like there’s a lot of contemplating, and you never know. I dunno where the good Lord’s going to take me, but I’m glad I’m here, man.
Luke also commented on his possible return to the show. However, he didn’t give many details about what the future holds for him as a judge.
“We haven’t started talks with the show on my return. We will hear what the direction is, but love the show… love the brand…love what we have,” he said.
Lionel didn’t directly address whether he’ll be back, but he did talk about how special Season 23 was to him. He shared how honored he felt to be part of it and said they discovered more talented singers than they ever expected.
“From the Top 20 on, we know that there’s a star in there somewhere. As we got closer, we realized that there was a whole bunch of stars in there. And that’s what makes this year so wonderful. We got more than we ever bargained for.”
We will just have to wait and see if our favorite American Idol judges will return to our TV screens for the show’s 2026 season.
