Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie Confirm American Idol For 25th Season.

American Idol is heading into its 25th year! With Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie all returning to the judging panel for the 25th season, alongside longtime host Ryan Seacrest.

The news was broken during Bryan’s Luke Bryan & Friends show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on September 24th, with Underwood alongside him on stage and Richie appearing on the big screen behind them.

“Hello, Nashville! Look at this beautiful crowd,” Richie told the arena before asking whether his fellow judges wanted to “share our secret”. Bryan admitted, “I’m so surprised I’ve been able to keep this secret”, before revealing that they will all return for the 25th season of American Idol alongside the show’s longstanding host, Ryan Seacrest.

Season 25 will mark Bryan and Richie’s 10th season together, while Underwood returns for her third. There’s also a lovely full circle feel to all of this because back in May, Bryan used the American Idol finale to announce SIGNS and perform ‘Fish Hunt Golf Drink’. Four months later, at the Nashville party celebrating that very album, he used SIGNS to announce his return to American Idol.

The premiere date has not yet been announced, although the show is expected to return in 2027 and auditions are already underway.