Should ‘American Idol’s Current Judges Return for Season 18? (POLL)

Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan
ABC/Eric McCandless

American Idol‘s life onscreen will continue for a third season at ABC and 18th overall, as the network renewed the series Monday.

The singing competition series, which debuted on Fox back in 2002, has remained a pop culture mainstay but its ever-rotating panel of judges has also been a big part of its history. As ABC heads into its third season with the program, the question remains as to whether Luke Bryan, Katy Perry or Lionel Richie will continue to fill those roles.

The judges panel has yet to sign new deals for the third season and considering their busy careers as active musical artists there’s a good chance new faces could fill their seats. As of now, ABC is reportedly attempting to set its deals with the hosts, but will it be the right choice to keep them on?

During the current Season 17, fans have had a mixed reaction on the judges, especially when it came to their choices for saving contestants, as well as their seeming lack of constructive criticism. And the viewers haven’t been shy on social media about these feelings, so it’s safe to say their concerns have likely been heard by the network.

Most recently, fans rebelled against the judges when they didn’t save audience favorite Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, opting instead to keep Laci Kaye Booth in the competition.

Should Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie return as judges for American Idol‘s next season? Let us know in the poll below and don’t miss the final episodes on ABC.

American Idol, Sundays, 8/7c, ABC

American Idol key art

Hit All the High Notes

Get absolutely everything about American Idol in your inbox!




Conversation1 Comment

Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.

Comments are closed on this story.

  1. G

    GoldSubmarine

    I do like the trio. But if Disney feels that they need to cut the budget to make Idol more lucrative, I\'m all for it. Maybe the current judges will accept a pay cut (especially costly Perry).

    It wouldn\'t be a bad idea to hire former Idol contestants like Adam Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry and/or Jennifer Hudson. They likely would be much cheaper and would remind fans of Idol that these super talents all got their start with the show.

    Another good idea is to have this season\'s very talented voted off contestants compete again next season. That will lure fans of those artists to watch again next season.