As Katy Perry prepares to step away from her judging role on American Idol, the search for her replacement is in full swing. Fellow judge Luke Bryan has shared some intriguing possibilities for who might fill Perry’s shoes in the upcoming 23rd season of the show.
In a recent interview with Billboard, Bryan mentioned three potential candidates: Pink, Miley Cyrus, and Meghan Trainor. These names have been circulating among fans and insiders alike, with Trainor being particularly vocal about her desire for the role. On a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live, Trainor revealed that she has “begged” the show’s team for a chance to join the judging panel, calling it her “dream job.”
While Trainor’s enthusiasm is evident, other names have also been floated. Adele is rumored to be interested, though Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever winner of American Idol, has already stated she wouldn’t take the gig due to her commitment to spending more time with her children.
Despite the speculation, nothing is set in stone regarding the future of American Idol. Bryan himself is uncertain about his return to the show in 2025. “It’s been interesting,” he told Billboard. “Disney has been really tight-lipped with me, Lionel [Richie], and Ryan [Seacrest]. We currently haven’t heard what the story is on who’s coming back, and if Lionel and I are coming back. I think Disney is just trying to figure out what they want to do, and we’re just kind of sitting back and waiting until they decide.”
Bryan, Perry, and Richie have been with American Idol since Season 16, the first season to air on ABC after the show was rebooted. Perry announced her departure in February, just days before the Season 22 premiere, stating that she wanted to focus more on her music career. “This fall, in September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio… so I think this will probably be my last season for Idol,” Perry said during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Perry’s departure has been emotional for her co-stars. “It’s kind of like the clock’s ticking, every episode’s one more getting closer to the finale where obviously we won’t be doing this together,” Bryan told ET’s Denny Directo. “It will be an emotional night. We know that she’s not gonna be here. But we’ve had a hell of a ride. It’s been fun.”
Lionel Richie echoed these sentiments, expressing his reluctance to think about Perry’s exit. “I can’t talk about that because it’s upsetting,” Richie told ET. He added that Perry has built a great family on the show and is always welcome to return. “She’s got a baby and she’s got a family, got new music, and it’s going to be amazing. I’m pulling for her. I told her, ‘If you need help on the road, Luke and I will be right there.'”
Host Ryan Seacrest also shared his thoughts, saying, “We’re gonna miss her. It’s not gonna be the same without her, but she’s asked to keep the seat warm.”
As for who might replace Perry, the judges and host have been hesitant to throw out any definitive names, but that hasn’t stopped them from considering a few stars. Richie admitted, “I do have my eye on at least two. I find myself going back and saying, ‘Hey, Katy, what do you think about this? Hey, Luke, what do you think about this?’ What we want is somebody with a sense of humor. Talent is talent, sense of humor is everything.”
Bryan, on the other hand, plans to leave the decision-making to the show’s producers. “There’s a couple names going around, but I wouldn’t even… that is, I let the all-powerful TV people decide that,” he quipped. “Big shoes to fill. She’s always been a big personality. Her personality is what made Katy, Katy. She’s unique in that, only one Katy Perry.”
Perry herself has mixed feelings about her final episodes. “I am always emotional on finale, but gosh when the finale comes, I better just tape the false lashes to my face,” she said. She also explained her decision to leave the show, stating, “I’m just trying to make space for other things. It’s not like me ending this show means I’m going to go retire on an island, even though that would be fabulous. I’m gonna go to work.”
New episodes of American Idol air Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu. As the show continues to search for Perry’s replacement, fans eagerly await the announcement of who will join the judging panel for Season 23.
Source: Billboard, ET, Watch What Happens Live, Jimmy Kimmel Live
