Who Are the ‘American Idol’ Season 25 Judges? Here’s What We Know So Far

With Season 24 wrapping up its run, American Idol fans are already looking ahead to the historic Season 25 milestone. ABC has officially renewed the iconic singing competition for its 2027 cycle, which marks its tenth season on ABC and 25th anniversary overall since its original Fox debut.

While network casting decisions for upcoming seasons typically don’t finalize until later in the summer, we already have a very clear picture of what the milestone panel will look like.

The Core Panel is Locked In

Despite fans floating wishlist replacements online, ABC has confirmed that the central judging trio is set to return for the 25th anniversary season.

Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie will both return for their tenth consecutive season on the ABC iteration. The duo has anchored the show’s modern era since its network revival.

Carrie Underwood is returning to her seat on the panel. The Season 4 champion stepped into the high-profile vacancy left by Katy Perry and has quickly cemented her place as the panel’s technical powerhouse.

Ryan Seacrest will also return to host, continuing his unbroken streak as the face of the franchise since Day One.

The Evolution of the ABC Era Panel

To put their tenure into perspective, the modern iteration of American Idol has stayed remarkably consistent compared to its original Fox run.

Judge
Seasons
Status for Season 25

Lionel Richie
Seasons 16–25
Confirmed

Luke Bryan
Seasons 16–25
Confirmed

Carrie Underwood
Seasons 23–25
Confirmed

Katy Perry
Seasons 16–22
Departed

A Changing Table: Katy Perry occupied the third chair for seven seasons before making her exit at the end of Season 22 to refocus on her music career, paving the way for Underwood’s homecoming.

Fan Demands and Guest Star Buzz

While the main trio is set, production occasionally shakes things up with guest mentors and live-show panellists. During recent broadcast cycles, multi-hyphenate star Keke Palmer served as a guest judge, sparking intense social media campaigns from viewers begging producers to make her a permanent fixture on the show.

While a four-person panel isn’t currently in the cards for the core 2027 season, executive producers have historically leaned into special guest appearances for milestone anniversaries—meaning fans might still see familiar faces dropping by to mentor the next generation of talent.

Auditions for the historic 25th season are officially open. Expect production to pick up later this year ahead of the standard winter premiere window.