Lionel Richie Officially Joins 'American Idol' as Judge
For ABC's much-awaited revival of the reality singing competition "American Idol," the network tapped an icon as the third judge — Lionel Richie.
After weeks of speculation, the legendary singer-songwriter officially completes the panel, which also includes Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, whose participation was announced shortly before Richie was confirmed to join.
In the press release, Richie expressed his excitement to be part of "American Idol" and work with Perry, Bryan and returning host Ryan Seacrest as they help aspiring performers make their dreams come true.
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As a singer, songwriter and producer, I feel I can bring a great deal of experience to the table. It's going to be so much fun!
Following the announcement, Richie's daughter Sofia Richie congratulated her father for getting the gig, referring to him as the "true American Idol."
Executive producer and showrunner Trish Kinane said in the press release that they took their time to put together the "right mix of amazing talent" that will make up the judging panel of "American Idol." After all, part of the appeal of the show is the people who get to take these three seats.
Our viewers expect musical credibility, passion and a true concern for the contestants; and with Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie joining the brilliant Katy Perry, we have two more world-class musical powerhouses eager to get to work and identify the next generation of superstars.
Core Media Group CEO and president Peter Hurwitz also gushed about the new judging panel for "American Idol" and how it showcases the quality to expect in the show's big comeback.
This extraordinary panel of judges speaks volumes about the continued power of the iconic "American Idol" brand. We are thrilled to have Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan join Katy Perry and, ultimately, millions of viewers as we begin this new era on ABC.
"American Idol" is slated to premiere on ABC early March.
