American Idol auditions are due to start in one week and the show has confirmed Luke Bryan as a second judge. The country star will join Katy Perry for the series’ reboot on ABC. While the third spot has yet to be locked down, word is that Idol will stick with a panel of three and not four judges. ABC declined to comment on Bryan’s deal.
Lionel Richie, who was reported to have been in advanced talks to join the show, appears to no longer be in the running. Other artists considered for the panel included Charlie Puth and Keith Urban, though it looks unlikely that either will round out the judges’ table.
ABC’s revival of the long-running Fox series has been slowly taking shape since it was announced in May. Perry was revealed to be a judge shortly after the deal at ABC was made, for a salary of $25 million.
Ryan Seacrest, who hosted every season of the original American Idol, is returning to the show, and told reporters backstage at this weekend’s iHeartRadio Music Festival that an announcement about judges is expected imminently.
American Idol is slated to premiere in early March, launching its debut episode shortly after the Oscars, which will be held on March 4. It is unclear where the show will sit on ABC’s primetime schedule, though it is believed to be airing on Sunday and Monday nights.
