Jennifer Lopez & Harry Connick Jr. Officially Join ‘American Idol’, Keith Urban Rounds Out Judges Panel
Another year of American Idol musical chairs is over, so we can stop speculating and wringing our hands: your new judges for season 13 are Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. They’ll be joining returning judge Keith Urban, the lone survivor from the Great Purge of 2013.
Neither judge is a new face for Idol fans: Lopez, who was reportedly scored a $15 million deal this season, returns for her third season after skipping the show last year. As for Connick Jr., he has previously appeared on the show as a mentor, and was locked down for next season after will.i.am‘s name was thrown around and Dr. Luke dropped out of the spot due to a conflict of interest with his label.
Yet another familiar face will be returning, albeit in a different role: Randy Jackson is leaving the judges’ table and taking on the role of mentor, replacing Jimmy Iovine. So after all the talk of completely revamping the show following season 12’s ratings belly flop, it looks like FOX executives had more faith that fans would flock to the show because of its familiarity.
[via Hitfix]
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