When American Idol premieres its 24^th season on the 2026 TV schedule on Monday, January 26, we'll get to see Ryan Seacrest back in action once again. Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Idol winner Carrie Underwood will also be returning to the judges’ panel. However, I note the host, because Seacrest has been in the Idol game since the very beginning, going all the way back to his frosted tips. Plus, Bryan decided to give the longtime host his flowers by explaining how much work his colleague does on the show (and let me tell you, it's a heavier workload than I expected).

Seacrest is known for putting in more work than the average person. Between his radio show, his hosting gigs on American Idol and Wheel of Fortune, running his nonprofit organization, and so much more, he is seemingly always working. While some may think that hosting isn’t too big of a deal and it’s just announcing, it’s actually a lot more than that. And it’s something that Seacrest has been doing on American Idol for years.

Luke Bryan, who has been a judge since the beginning of the revived series, praised Seacrest and his job specifically while speaking to TV Insider and explaining the complexity of the gig. He said:

The fact that Seacrest has to study scripts, memorize the camera blocking, and be ready to roll with the unpredictability of reality television is miraculous. Of course, he’s had some flubs over the years, but since he’s been hosting American Idol for so long, everything is probably second-nature to him. Clearly, he's a pro at it all, and has been for a while, as Bryan explained. So, while this all sounds like a lot, it's probably just a normal weekday for the longtime host.

Even though I knew that Ryan Seacrest’s hosting gig on American Idol was anything but relaxing, it’s crazy to know what all he’s dealing with behind the scenes. Since he keeps coming back season after season, he doesn’t seem to mind the heavy workload. Either that, or he’s just having the time of his life and doesn’t want it to stop. And I can’t say I blame him, since Idol keeps proving to be a success.

Meanwhile, Seacrest actually addressed his busy schedule last year, saying he does sleep and he actually gets a “good night’s sleep.” So, while it seems like he has an unfathomable workload to me between hosting Wheel of Fortune and Idol full-time (among many other things), clearly, he has a routine and work ethic that works really well for him.

Considering American Idol Season 24 (which you will be able to watch on ABC and stream with a Hulu subscription) has already been in full swing with auditions, Seacrest has been as busy as ever, and that business will continue once the season actually premieres and the live shows begin later. You never know what to expect with live television, but Seacrest has proven time and time again that he’s ready for anything.

American Idol may not be returning before the end of the 2025 TV schedule as the new season will be premiering in 2026, but fans are already speculating who could be part of the judges’ panel. The latest season of the long-running singing competition series saw returning judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, with Idol winner Carrie Underwood joining the fun. There have been rumors that Underwood might be leaving the show already, and Bryan is also part of those rumors, but the latter is weighing in on his future on American Idol.

Bryan has been a judge on Idol since the show was revived in 2018, along with Richie. Katy Perry, who also had been on since the revival, exited in 2024 to focus more on her music and was replaced by Underwood. While it’s unknown who will be returning and if anyone will be leaving, Bryan told Taste of Country that Underwood’s first season on the other side of the table was a success:

Considering Underwood nearly quit American Idol during her season as a competitor before she won the whole thing and then came back as a judge 20 years later, she is a walking ad for how your life can change because of the show. She’s one of the most famous Idol contestants, and it was so great seeing her as a judge this past season, knowing what those contestants are going through. Despite the rumors, Bryan shared his prediction on Underwood returning, and they’re pretty good:

It can be assumed that American Idol will be going out on the road soon to begin auditions for the next season, meaning that the judges could be announced any day now. Whether or not Underwood is among them is unknown, and it’s also unknown if Bryan will be returning. As of the time of the interview, even he didn't know:

As previously mentioned, the country star has been on Idol since the show was revived, but he seems to be having a good time with it; otherwise, he surely wouldn’t continue to do it. While Bryan remains busy with his music and his touring, he revealed how much fun he had last season with his fellow judges despite the reported feud with Richie:

At this point, it’s really anyone’s guess as to who will return. Even though Luke Bryan has a great time on the show, it’s hard to tell if he will be up to returning, as well as Carrie Underwood. There’s no word on Lionel Richie thinking about leaving, so he is probably safe. But as for Bryan, all fans really have to do is wait and see:

Of course, American Idol has switched up the judges’ panel over the course of its entire run, so it wouldn’t be surprising if that were to happen again. But the wait will just have to continue until an official announcement is made.

When American Idol airs live Sunday on the 2025 TV schedule, we’ll kick off the finals of its 23rd season, with the Top 14 taking the stage to honor the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. It was not an easy road to pare the 144 contestants who made it past auditions down to just 14, and it sounds like Katy Perry’s replacement, Carrie Underwood, may have struggled more than her counterparts when it came to sending artists home.

On the April 21 episode — which included a huge Ryan Seacrest gaffe that might have already had Carrie Underwood upset — the field was cut from 20 singers down to 14. Fan votes determined the first 10, then Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan were tasked with picking the last four. That meant crushing six artists’ dreams all at once, which the Season 4 champion said was nearly too much for her. Underwood told USA TODAY:

Coming back to American Idol as a judge 20 years after she won the show has been quite the nostalgia kick for Carrie Underwood, and you have to imagine she’s recalling how it felt for her fate to be in the hands of the three people on the other side of that table. It’s absolutely no surprise that she would find this first big elimination tough, especially on live TV.

While she appeared to downplay the drama, saying they were “pretty much aligned,” and ultimately happy with the singers they chose to move forward, Lionel Richie painted a slightly more hectic picture of the decision that had to be made in the time of one commercial break. He said:

Luke Bryan agreed that quick decisions had to be (and were) made. He said there were two contestants who they all agreed on to advance, but choosing the other two out of the eight remaining hopefuls proved to be pretty difficult.

In the end, considering their "whole body of work" up to that point in the show, Josh King, Ché Chesterman, Desmond Roberts and Amanda Barise got the judges’ nods. The six less-fortunate singers included Baylee Littrell (son of Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell) and Zaylie Windsor, who Carrie Underwood had compared to Taylor Swift during her audition.

I’m sure the eliminations aren’t going to get easier from here on out, but we’ll have to see how Carrie Underwood handles it all. The finals kick off at 8 p.m. ET April 27 and continue Monday, April 28, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

You’re likely aware that history was made earlier this week when six women, including pop singer Katy Perry, traveled into space for 11 minutes on one of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin flights. American Idol judge Luke Bryan admitted he, too, got sucked into the coverage that aired on the 2025 TV schedule (and streamed live with a Paramount+ subscription). Now, as many jokes have been made about the mission, Bryan couldn’t help but take his own hilarious jab at his former colleague after hearing her post-flight comments.

The 11-minute trip beyond the Kármán line on April 14 was historic in that it was the first all-female crew to travel into space since 1963. And while the passengers described a life-changing voyage, we back on Earth found plenty of humor in the situation, including CBS journalist Gayle King’s face ahead of the launch.

Katy Perry drew some smirks too, as she kissed the ground upon her return, and when she was asked how she felt after the flight, she replied:

Luke Bryan — a judge on American Idol who worked with Katy Perry until she left the show after last season — seemed to find her comments quite funny, saying in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!:

Katy Perry has never been one to shy away from speaking about her emotions, so it’s no surprise, really, that this experience brought out her poetic side. This is something Luke Bryan (as well as the American Idol audience) has seen time and again, and the country music singer continued:

Luke Bryan actually sounded interested in taking his own trip outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, although he said he’d get a “resounding no” from his family. Either way, he ended up watching all of the coverage of Katy Perry’s adventure because he wanted to make sure everything turned out OK for the crew. Or, as Bryan so eloquently put it:

Thankfully, the mission was completed successfully, and Luke Bryan certainly didn’t blame Katy Perry for kissing the ground when she returned to our planet’s soil. He said that would have been his first move as well.

Luke Bryan can currently be found judging American Idol alongside Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood, who replaced Katy Perry on the panel 20 years after winning the show herself in Season 4. Tune in at 8 p.m. ET Sundays and Mondays on ABC and stream the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Carrie Underwood is officially back on American Idol 20 years after she won the show. Of course, now — as Season 23 airs on the 2025 TV schedule — she’s on the other side of things, judging up-and-comers alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. If the March 30 episode is any indication, she’s doing a pretty good job, as she may have found the next Taylor Swift. Underwood compared one auditioner to the Eras Tour artist, and the similarities are kind of unbelievable.

On the final day of auditions, 18-year-old Zaylie Windsor stood before the judges to sing an original song she called “The Used” while strumming her own guitar. The veteran judges were split, with Lionel Richie voting yes and Luke Bryan saying the teen wasn’t quite ready. That left Carrie Underwood as the tie-breaker, and she said:

Carrie Underwood seemed to be struggling to make her decision, or maybe she was just choosing her words carefully. American Idol has evolved a lot over two decades, and the country music star said coming into this gig that her judging philosophy was to be constructive and not just critical.

In the end, Zaylie Williams had an undeniable vibe that Carrie Underwood just couldn’t ignore. She told the singer:

Yes, I couldn’t agree more that there is something about this artist. Zaylie Williams has such strong Taylor Swift vibes that she may as well have walked out and announced it was time for her acoustic set before breaking into some surprise songs.

Not only does the artist have the look — blonde hair with bangs — but she writes her own music, penning her audition song “The Used” when she was just 14. As previously mentioned, she also plays guitar, as does Taylor Swift, and the American Idol contestant showed some of that Swiftie hustle by immediately volunteering to play something different when Luke Bryan questioned the maturity of her songwriting.

As if that all wasn’t enough, Zaylie Williams had one other quality that people often associate with The Tortured Poets Department’s chairman — her subject matter. Of “The Used,” the 18-year-old said:

I mean, tell me you’re a Swiftie without telling me you’re a Swiftie. You can see the whole audition for yourself below:

Carrie Underwood went with her instincts and sent Zaylie Williams through to Hollywood, so we’ll have to see if she can thrive in American Idol’s competitive environment. We won’t have to wait long, either, as Hollywood Week starts immediately.

Tune in as American Idol adds Monday nights to its schedule, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET March 31 on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription. Friendship bracelets are optional.

The new season of American Idol has arrived on ABC in the 2025 TV schedule , and Katy Perry’s replacement, Carrie Underwood, joined judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan to decide who was on their way to Hollywood. As Richie and Bryan have been on the reality competition series for the past seven seasons, they reveal which audition songs they’re tired of hearing (and same here).

I can imagine it being very frustrating to hear the same audition songs over and over again. It reminds me of the mid-2000s when musical theater students would frequently audition with Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” to show off their vocal range. In terms of American Idol, judge Lionel Richie got real with EW on which song he’d love to get through an audition without hearing, and I don’t blame him:

Don’t get me wrong – James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” can get anyone in their feels. It’s a powerful, emotionally charged number that can draw in audiences as well as the singers performing the song. But I can see how the mighty effect the song is supposed to have can easily wear off after hearing it so many times. We’ve heard the R&B song before on the popular TV show during Clark Beckham’s audition in Season 15 and during a performance by the American Idol/The Voice contestant Adanna Duru.

It’s true that if you’re going to hear the same audition song repeatedly, you want to make sure that the contestant can make it their own. It would show off a singer’s originality and true depth at knowing full well the message the song conveys. Fortunately, Lionel Richie had good news about the James Brown song making its appearance this season:

Lionel Richie is proving once again that he’s got a real ear for when a song is a hit. So far, we only heard “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” played once during the Season 23 premiere, and it was by the talented Amanda Barise. The 26-year-old contestant wowed the judges when she provided such deep soul and belted those notes with genuine strength. It was an example of a performance where the judges didn’t have to think twice. She was on her way to Hollywood! Now, I’m curious what the second rendition of the James Brown hit will sound like this season.

It turns out that James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” isn’t the only song that irks the judges. Luke Bryan has his own idea of a song he’s tired of hearing, and I really can’t blame him for this one:

As Harry Styles’s chart-topper has such a repetitive chorus, it’s easy for a song like “Watermelon Sugar” to get stuck in your head after so many renditions. In fact, Katy Perry herself said in Season 19 that she humorously wanted to put a ban on the pop song, considering how many times she heard it. But during the Hollywood Duets, Anthony Guzman and Adriel Carrion sang the popular tune. Their engaging harmony and the way they brought fresh energy to the overused song impressed Perry enough to advance them to the next round.

It’s understandable how tiring it is to hear the same audition songs on repeat. While it’s nice to pick a popular tune that will hit well with judges and viewers, a true standout contestant will use their moment to wow judges with something fresh. But like Amanda Barise and Season 19’s successful duet singers proved, even an overused song can still have a unique spin if you’re the right artist to find it. New episodes of American Idol premiere on ABC Sundays at 8/7c as well as streaming on your Hulu subscription.

We’re mere days away from our first look at Carrie Underwood’s big comeback to American Idol as the show’s first winner to return as a judge. An audition special will air March 2 after the 2025 Academy Awards are handed out, and I’m betting those Oscar winners won’t be the only ones feeling the emotion. Underwood opened up a little about what she experienced, saying the nostalgia hit was real, and fellow Idol judge Lionel Richie said something else hit her pretty hard as well.

When American Idol Season 23 premieres on the 2025 TV schedule, it will be 20 years since Carrie Underwood was named the Season 4 champion. If that’s not enough of a blast from the past, this season's Hollywood Week was filmed at Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre — a venue familiar to the new judge, who remarked to TV Insider:

Bo Bice was the Season 4 contestant who came in second to Carrie Underwood, so that’s no small praise for whoever inspires that comparison!

The auditions and Hollywood Week taped in the fall, so Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan have already gotten to see what the former contestant is like as a judge. She may have experience on the other side of the table that they don’t, but Richie said one part of the job hit her as hard as any of them. He said:

Who could blame her? It seems like it might be even harder for Carrie Underwood to turn people away because she knows exactly what the auditioners are feeling. The “Blown Away” singer, however, comes from those early American Idol days when contestants endured the possibly faked-for-TV rudeness of Simon Cowell, so she likely knows that honest feedback is actually what’s best for the artists, even if it is hard for them to hear.

She said as much when breaking down her judging philosophy. She said she’s well aware that she becomes a part of these singers’ stories as soon as they take the stage, no matter where they end up, and that’s not something her or her fellow judges seem to take lightly.

It’s going to be fun to see Carrie Underwood complete that circle, and I’m sure we’ll witness some of those emotional, nostalgic moments with her along the way.

American Idol’s Season 23 Post-Oscars Audition Special is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET Sunday, March 2, on ABC, but if the awards run too late for you to wait up, you can stream it the next day with a Hulu subscription. The official start to Carrie Underwood’s reign kicks off at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9, on ABC.

After crowning Abi Carter the winner of American Idol Season 22 and bidding Katy Perry adieu, fans are excited to see another season kick off in March on the 2025 TV schedule. Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood is returning as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie to help shine a spotlight on undiscovered talent. Dozens of contestants will put their lives and jobs on hold for this opportunity, and that begs the question: Do American Idol contestants get paid to appear on the ABC singing competition?

The short answer is yes, contestants who make it to a certain point in the season are paid for their time. There are reportedly other perks along the way but also some expenses. Let’s break it all down.

American Idol Pays Its Top 24 Contestants Per Episode

Most of what is known about how much American Idol artists make on the show comes from the 2011 book American Idol: The Untold Story by Richard Rushfield, who covered the show as an entertainment web editor for the LA Times. Rushfield reports (via Fox Business) that American Idol begins paying its contestants once they reach the Top 24.

However, in order to earn a performance fee, they must first join the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which costs $1,600. After that they’re paid by episode, with the length of the episode determining how much they earn. As of 2016, musicians earned $1,571 for two-hour shows, $1,303 for one-hour shows and $910 for half-hour episodes.

With this source material coming out over a decade ago, it seems likely that these numbers may have changed — especially since the show has moved from Fox to ABC since then — but contestants’ contracts may keep them from divulging such financial details publicly.

Idol Contestants Earn Additional Stipend If They Make It To Top 12

The longer you last on the show, the better the benefits, apparently, as Richard Rushfield also said that once the artists reach the Top 12, they’re given a stipend of $450 per week. That apparently means clothes for many of the singers, and the author wrote:

At least they get to keep the clothes! However, I can see how that wouldn’t be a lot of money if they’re not provided a wardrobe from the show. One thing they are provided, however, is room and board. The Top 12 contestants no longer have to pay for lodging, which seems like it could be a huge expense for the Top 24 up to that point.

How nice the digs are depends on the season. Richard Rushfield points out that on seasons where the living quarters are shown on the air, contestants have stayed in mansions, while otherwise they’re put up in apartments that are “nothing fancy, but it’s not squalor.”

Families Must Pay Their Own Way To Attend Tapings

It sounds like having friends and family attend tapings to support the contestants could prove a bit tricky for those who live far away from Los Angeles. American Idol allegedly does not pay for travel or hotel accommodations for its contestants’ loved ones.

The American Idol Tour Was Pretty Lucrative

Another big perk of making it to the Top 10 or 12 of an American Idol season used to be the spot it earned you on the live tour. The artists reportedly pulled in around $150,000 to travel for the show post-season. However, the final tour ended in 2015 ahead of Fox’s cancellation of the show. The tour was not resumed when ABC revived it in 2018.

How Much Does The American Idol Winner Earn?

Early winners of American Idol like Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard walked away with an impressive $1 million on top of a record deal. The dollar amount has gone down since then, per American Songwriter, which reported in 2024 that Idol winners get a cash prize of $125,000. Upon completion of their first album, the artist will receive another $100,000. The site reports that artists are then given an advance of $300,000 for their second album, which is required to be paid back against future earnings.

In 2019, The Blast reported a different breakdown after seeing Season 17 third-place finisher Madison VanDenburg’s contract. The then-17-year-old’s paperwork said that season’s winner would walk away with $250,000 but would be responsible for many of the costs of producing their album.

The winner (who ended up being Laine Hardy) would sign with Hollywood Records, where they would receive $125,000 in advance of their debut album and another $125,000 upon completion. The winner would also reportedly make $1,000 a week during recording and another $1,000 per master recording turned in, receiving a 15% royalty rate for their first three albums.

The runner-up for that season (Alejandro Aranda) was potentially eligible for $87,500 to start an album and another $87,000 when it was finished, if Hollywood Records chose to sign them too. All three finalists recorded three original tracks while competing on American Idol, which were allegedly allowed to be used however the Top 3 wished.

Getting On Television And Making Connections Is A Valuable Part Of Being On American Idol

While many of the contestants will reportedly be compensated for their appearances on the popular singing competition, no one there (except maybe the finalists) is getting rich from their time on American Idol alone. Artists go on the show for the opportunity for national exposure, and that likely remains the most valuable thing they can get from the competition.

Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood and Fantasia Barrino are a few early-season singers who found their fame on the show, but 22 seasons later, American Idol continues to produce popular musicians. Two alumni were even nominated for awards at the 2025 Grammy Awards in Benson Boone (Season 19) — who made headlines for adjusting himself during his performance as a Best New Artist nominee — and Lucky Daye, who competed under his real name, David Brown, on Season 4.

It’s also a good idea for artists to make connections during their time on the show that could lead to relationships and opportunities afterward. Just one example of that is Season 20 winner Noah Thompson teaming up with runner-up HunterGirl to co-headline a tour following their time on the show in 2022.

Artists often have to sacrifice for the opportunity to join American Idol, and while we don’t have much current information on what they earn, it does appear that the contestants do receive some sort of payment once they reach a specific level of the competition.

Tune in to see who will be making the big bucks when American Idol Season 23 premieres at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9, on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

The chatter surrounding who will replace Katey Perry on American Idol when the show returns in 2025 following its run on the 2024 TV schedule is going strong. Now, one of the show’s current judges and country superstar Luke Bryan has thrown a few names in the ring, and while I think all three are great options, there’s one who stands out to me.

Luke Bryan Revealed Three Pop Stars Who Are 'In The Talks' To Take Over For Katy Perry

While there’s been speculation about who will replace Katy Perry on American Idol– with Jelly Roll being a fan-favorite contender and rumors about Kelly Clarkson becoming a judge on the ABC competition rolling around – Luke Bryan just dropped new names. Keeping it in the realm of pop stars, the country singer told Billboard about three people they’ve apparently been in talks with:

Those are some seriously big names to throw around, however, all three make sense.

Currently, the show is expected to feature Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie as judges, and with Perry departing, it makes sense that they want to get another female pop artist onto the show. Plus, the star power these three carry and the audiences they’d probably bring with them are incredible. However, I think that of these three, Meghan Trainor is the best choice.

I Want Meghan Trainor To Join American Idol

Now, hear me out. While I do think P!nk would be a great choice, and Miley Cyrus proved to be a wonderful mentor to artists when she was a coach on The Voice, I think it’s Meghan Trainor’s time to shine.

First of all, she has a big personality that’s perfect for TV. I just know she’d have a blast working with the contestants, joking with the judges and listening to all the singers that come on the show. Over the last few years, she’s emerged as quite the TikTok star too through her funny videos that go along with her music releases, which leads me to my next point.

Meghan Trainor could help bring a new demographic to American Idol. While P!nk and Miley Cyrus could do this too, there’s no denying the viral success the “Been Like This” singer has found on social media, and I think she could help the show through it.

All around, I think Trainor would be a refreshing addition to American Idol. She’d help balance out the panel, she’d bring the funny and I know she’d genuinely care about helping the artists on the show because she said this during Watch What Happens Live in June:

Well, I’m sold! Meghan Trainor would be a great addition to American Idol, and clearly she really wants to do it.

While we’ll obviously miss Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will too, it’s always fun to see new stars joining panels on shows like this, and I can’t wait to find out who they pick!

As we learn more about who will be replacing Katy Perry on American Idol, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. To go back and see her, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on the most recent season of the show, you can stream it with a Hulu subscription.

Katy Perry has officially left the building. With the crowning of Abi Carter as American Idol’s Season 22 champion, the “Roar” singer’s time on the ABC singing competition is over. No replacement has been named to presumably join Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan for Season 23, though Perry has shared who she’d pick, and some celebs have thrown their hats in the ring. In the meantime, it seems Richie is feeling a bit nostalgic for the trio that worked together for seven years, as he talked about missing Perry already and an important quality the new judge needs to have. 

Lionel Richie Reminisces About Their ‘Train Wreck’ Early Seasons Together 

There’s no arguing how different Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are from each other. They come from different eras and different genres of music, having taken different journeys to eventually come together on American Idol in Season 16. So it’s not hard to believe Richie when he recalls the judges being something of a hot mess in their early years together. He told USA TODAY: 

Ah, the wardrobe malfunctions. Anybody who’s watched Katy Perry’s reign on American Idol has likely witnessed the singer splitting her pants —  more than once, too. She was the opposite of embarrassed as she tried to show off the damage after one 2018 incident, and then she and Luke Bryan had a fun exchange after another malfunction in 2022. Bryan apparently has problems of his own, according to Lionel Richie, but it sounds like these three have made plenty of fond memories together. 

What Katy Perry’s American Idol Replacement Needs To Have 

That said, the “Endless Love” crooner has some pretty strong opinions about specific qualities the new American Idol judge will need to embody. For one thing, Lionel Richie said, they’ll have to be able to “tolerate two crazy brothers like me and Luke.” Katy Perry’s replacement will also need to have their own “personality,” or “quirk,” but the judge cautions anyone against trying to recreate Perry’s persona. Richie said: 

Katy Perry herself weighed in on what she’s hoping to see from the new judge, saying she wants someone who will give honest feedback and won’t mince their words. The singer has said she’d love to see Jelly Roll get the gig, while Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks has said she’d be interested in returning to American Idol in a judging capacity. One singer who’s decidedly not gunning for the role is Pink, who said she wouldn’t want to have to hurt people’s feelings. 

It will be interesting to see who is chosen, now that another judge has left American Idol, so while we wait for official word, check out our 2024 TV schedule to see what shows are premiering soon. 

American Idol is well on its way to crowning its Season 22 winner, at which time the singing competition will also bid farewell to judge Katy Perry. Since the “California Gurls” singer announced her impending exit in February, her replacement has been a big topic of conversation amongst Idol’s fans. Jelly Roll’s name has continued to circulate, and Perry’s fellow judges — Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie — also seem to have opinions. In fact, one tabloid alleged the two are feuding over their colleague’s replacement, and Bryan has broken his silence on the issue. 

Luke Bryan Addresses Alleged Feud With Fellow American Idol Judge Lionel Richie 

There’s been no official word from American Idol’s producers about what will happen to the judging panel for Season 23 and beyond. Who will replace Katy Perry? Will Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie return or will the show start fresh with three new faces? Those are big questions, and during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Bryan was asked if that uncertainty was causing tension between him and the “Hello” singer. The host called the Idol judges “the next Drake and Kendrick Lamar,” to which Bryan sarcastically replied: 

Luke Bryan referenced the documentary about the biggest names in music coming together in 1985 to sing “We Are the World” (available to stream with a Netflix subscription) to point out how ridiculous it would be to categorize his co-worker as an antagonistic person. When Jimmy Kimmel suggested that perhaps Bryan was the problem, not Lionel Richie, the “Country Girl” singer acknowledged the rumor, saying: 

Life&Style reported on May 2 that the set of American Idol had become “a real claw-fest,” with Luke Bryan allegedly getting annoyed that Lionel Richie has been “so pushy” about getting one of his friends on the show. Bryan reportedly thinks the decision should be left to the producers, but that hasn’t kept the judges — including Katy Perry — from pitching some big names. And that brings us to Jelly Roll. 

Did Jelly Roll Accept The American Idol Gig? 

Technically, yes, after Katy Perry made it known that Jelly Roll had completely won her over when he appeared on American Idol, the “Need a Favor” singer said he accepted the offer. Not so fast, though, because he quickly followed that up by clarifying that nobody has actually asked him to join the show. When asked if he’d consider the job, he told Audacy (via People): 

Jelly Roll seemed flattered that Katy Perry said such kind things about him — both publicly and privately — and it sounds like he’s more than open to continuing that conversation. However, it doesn’t seem likely that American Idol would move forward with an all-male judging panel, so if Jelly Roll was offered the job, there’s the question of if a woman might replace an existing judge (one former winner has thrown her hat in the ring) or Idol could always increase the number of judges to four.

We’ll have to wait to see what happens, but before Katy Perry becomes the latest judge to leave American Idol, there’s still plenty of competition left to see. Tune in for new episodes at 8 p.m. ET Sundays on ABC, and check out our 2024 TV schedule to see what premieres are coming soon. 

It wouldn’t be a day on The View if its panel of co-hosts weren’t offending one group or another with their opinions. Whoopi Goldberg, specifically, is often the recipient of blowback after offering her blunt takes on a number of "Hot Topics." She recently had a lot to say about how judgmental society has become, and the Sister Act star apparently blames that phenomenon on reality TV, specifically American Idol, calling its 2002 premiere the “downfall of society.” Those sentiments are allegedly not sitting well with the singing competition’s current panel of judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, sources report.

Whoopi Goldberg made her bold claim about the fellow ABC show during an episode of The View in May, during a conversation about the Netflix documentary Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me. The co-hosts spoke about how Smith was covered in the media, and Goldberg’s comments came as part of a larger observation about people being “judgy.” American Idol, the longtime moderator said, gave the home audience the ability to judge other people by voting on the singers — a power that has since grown out of control, she said. The current judges apparently didn’t take too kindly to Goldberg’s sentiments, with an insider telling RadarOnline: 

The source is alleging that Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie were so put off by Whoopi Goldberg’s comments that they will skip The View when it comes time to make the rounds for Season 22.

Their reported boycott comes despite Whoopi Goldberg’s clarification — at the prompting of a producer — that she was talking more about American Idol’s days on Fox, before it moved to ABC in 2018. The EGOT winner acknowledged that the show has changed since switching networks, saying her comments were not aimed at the current judges. 

Specifically the co-hosts mentioned the “Simon Cowell Era,” when the British record executive was known to give some pretty harsh feedback to the contestants. It’s since been revealed that much of that rudeness was faked for TV, and that’s pretty easy to believe if you watch him on America’s Got Talent these days, where his persona is unrecognizable from the man who appeared on the early days of American Idol.

Whoopi Goldberg’s comments come just two months after American Idol’s current trio of judges appeared on The View to promote Season 21, which wrapped in May. We’ll have to wait and see what happens in the coming months, and if they will, in fact, take a pass on the ABC daytime talk show during their next round of promotion.

Until then, you can see what other "Hot Topics" come up on The View, which airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET on ABC, or catch up on past episodes with a Hulu subscription. Be sure to also check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what shows are premiering soon. 

The beauty of unscripted television is that anything can happen at any time, and American Idol judge and singer Katy Perry experienced that for herself in the latest episode when she had a wardrobe malfunction during an impromptu performance. Following the malfunction, she had a fun exchange with fellow judge Luke Bryan, and it involved SpongeBob SquarePants.

While American Idol hasn’t begun the live shows yet this season, that doesn’t mean that things still can’t go awry on the fly. When Katy Perry was performing her hit song “Teenage Dream” on the singing competition, the singer bent down and ripped the back of her red leather pants. Crew members and Luke Bryan came to Perry’s assistance with yellow duct tape and the moment led to a great exchange with the judges on Twitter:

In case anyone needs a refresher or simply missed out on the golden age of SpongeBob SquarePants, Bryan’s tweet is in reference to the Season 1 episode of the Nickelodeon series, appropriately titled “Ripped Pants.” And while Perry’s tweet is pretty self-explanatory, it's also pretty hilarious. The pop singer tweeted the video clip where it all went down, with the American Idol logo covering the ripped area:

This isn’t the first time that Katy Perry has had a wardrobe malfunction on the rebooted American Idol. The same thing actually happened back in 2018, though she was wearing a silver jumpsuit, sitting down, and Lionel Richie helped her while Luke Bryan was seated and taking it all in.

Perry seemed to be in good spirits during the malfunction, and her exchange with Bryan was nothing but fun. American Idol may be a family show, but this could have gone in a very different direction if it had been a live broadcast! At least the judges are evidently close enough to each other to lend a hand (and some tape) in the event of an outfit emergency.

It's impressive that Katy Perry hasn’t had more wardrobe malfunctions, especially since her recent Las Vegas residency was a big, weird playground with plenty of outrageous outfits. It wouldn’t surprise me if Perry soon starts to wear outfits made out of duct tape, but at least her reaction to the malfunction made for entertaining television.

Meanwhile, the series is getting ready for Hollywood Week, which will see the return of past winners and contestants, including David Cook, Jordin Sparks, Haley Reinhart, and Ruben Studdard (who also returned last season), among others. Hopefully, Perry won’t have any problems, but whatever happens, she’ll presumably handle it like a pro as she always does. 

American Idol airs on ABC on Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. EST! Check out what other 2022 shows to look forward to, as there are many.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the American Idol Season 20 premiere! Read at your own risk!

American Idol is back for Season 20, a landmark achievement for any TV series, and the ABC series is mixing things up right off the bat with a new twist for this season. Auditions kicked off in the premiere, and judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry (who made headlines recently for her hilariously bizarre Vegas show) announced a new feature that sounds like a game-changer for the competition. Idol is introducing a new feature called the "platinum ticket" that will really help out those lucky enough to receive it. 

The platinum ticket is a decent advantage for contestants in American Idol, but what does it do exactly, and who earned the first one? Let’s dive in to talk that out before putting a spotlight on the unique competitor who just got a leg up on the competition in the season premiere. 

What Is The Platinum Ticket?

As fans are aware, American Idol awards each advancing contestant in the auditions with a “golden ticket” that advances them to the Hollywood rounds of the competition. The platinum ticket is different, though, and allows one talented recipient in each auditioning city immediate advancement to the second Hollywood round. This means they automatically skip the first round of cuts, and will get a day of rest while other competitors fight to stay alive. 

Additionally, the platinum contestants get to choose who they’ll duet with in the second round. Which is not only a big change, but also a potentially huge advantage for those doing the choosing.

Why Is This Is A Game-Changer?

So many promising American Idol contestants are plagued with bad performances in the second batch of Hollywood performances, either due to poor song choice or bad chemistry with their paired partner. With the advantage of a platinum ticket, it seems like the lucky few competitors would have more time and availability to set up the perfect set-up to help them get one step closer to the live shows.

I’ll also say this new feature is a plus for fans who might already have an inkling which talented competitors absolutely won’t get eliminated during Hollywood Week. I feel like I’ve watched enough seasons to spot which singers are being edited as the ones to keep watching, so their performances during Hollywood Week always felt like a formality to begin with. Even if they’re paired with a less than adequate partner, it’s rare anything short of a disastrous performance (and sometimes not even then) will result in a standout's elimination. This platinum ticket at least makes it clear who the front-runners are from the start, and possibly clues everyone in on who to watch from the jump as they make their way through the early rounds.

Who Won The First Platinum Ticket?

Luke Bryan found a favorite in the premiere episode and decided to gift Tennessee country singer Hunter Wolkonowski, also known as HunterGirl, with a platinum ticket. Bryan said HunterGirl had the best country singing voice he’s heard from a singer since he joined the show — with apologies to past country-singing contestants — which is high praise indeed.

It’s also a lot to live up to, and it’ll be interesting to see if and how others in the competition will match up with Hunter Wolkonowski, especially those who also get bestowed similar honors. Unfortunately, the platinum ticket means we’ll have to wait a bit longer than usual before seeing her perform again, which might be the only downside of this exciting new feature. 

American Idol airs on ABC Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET for the audition rounds. It’s just one of many exciting returning and premiering shows coming to the small screen in 2022, so make sure to take a look at what else is going on.

American Idol Season 19 winner Chayce Beckham stunned more than a few viewers with his win on the ABC series and earned the respect of judge Luke Bryan in the process. Bryan notably promised Beckham a fishing trip during the season finale for his efforts in the season, and the moment went viral when host Ryan Seacrest actually got in some hot water for a comment afterward that came off as disrespectful to Beckham's past. The world has seemingly moved past that comment, but some may be left wondering what's up with that promised fishing trip. Well, we have an update.

Chayce Beckham recently spoke to Los Angeles Daily News and confirmed that the trip between the two is still on, though it's been a little bit of a challenge to coordinate. Luke Bryan originally offered to take Beckham out on the water the very next day, but American Idol reminded the winner he had an interview scheduled on Good Morning America. Beckham then ran down why it's so complicated to relax at the moment, also explaining why he's still motivated to get out on the water.

Like other past winners Beckham is subjected to a circuit of interviews and appearances to talk about winning American Idol. Take that and pair it with Luke Bryan being a country music megastar with his own family and life in addition to all of his career obligations, and it easy to see how it's hard to pencil in some free time between the two of them. As Chayce Beckham said, he's sure it'll happen, and they just need to find the right time.

When that fishing trip does happen, it's highly likely that drinking, as Ryan Seacrest suggested, won't be involved for Chayce Beckham. Seacrest landed in hot water on finale night after making mention of drinking being involved in the two's upcoming fishing trip, seemingly forgetting Beckham was a recovering alcoholic. In fact, a video rolled ahead of the performance reminding viewers of that (which then gained Seacrest some angry tweets from fans after the comment). Beckham didn't specifically address that moment in his interview, but it didn't seem to bother him too much on finale night.

Chayce Beckham mentioned he intended to get to work on his album before he lost momentum from his win, so keeping that in mind, I'm guessing it could be a good while before he's actually able to fish with Luke Bryan. Who knows though, perhaps a video will surface of the two fishing and showing off their fishes in the near future!

American Idol has wrapped on ABC for now, but auditions are already being accepted for Season 20. For more on Season 19 and the finale, check out Arthur Gunn's explanation on why he skipped the finale and a chance to sing on stage with Sheryl Crow.

For the first time in its four-season run on ABC, American Idol featured not just one but two promising contestants who surprisingly dropped out of the competition, though for very different reasons. Wyatt Pike withdrew from the series just before the live episodes began, citing personal reasons for his decision, while 16-year-old Caleb Kennedy more recently had to quit American Idol just days following his Top 5 advancement, due to a video surfacing only that showed him with someone donning a white hood similar to those worn by the Ku Klux Klan. The show's judges remained largely mum about the issue between episodes, but now Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie have broken their silence.

Following the "My Personal Idol" episode that cut the contestant poll down to the Top 3, with Casey Bishop shocking being eliminated, American Idol's Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie spoke with People about Caleb Kennedy's unexpected departure. The country music singer, who recently had to ward off rumors that he was Maren Morris' baby daddy, expressed largely sympathetic feelings for the teen singer, saying:

While obviously not condoning anything that was shown in the video regarding alleged KKK-esque outfits, nor how Caleb Kennedy would be connected to such things, Luke Bryan instead reflected on his personal time and experiences with Kennedy, viewing the situation from his position as an American Idol judge. Which is about all one can expect, considering the judges likely had zero predispositions about the teenager as he made his way up the ladder of Idol success.

Lionel Richie's response to the situation was also one of a reflective nature, not quite excusing anything but viewing Caleb Kennedy's controversial video through the prism of making poor decisions in one's youth. In his words:

Lionel Richie went on to say that Caleb Kennedy definitely has some talent within him, and even though the decisions that led to Kennedy leaving the show had to be made, Richie thinks that the teenager will always remember this situation and the problems it caused. Perhaps Kennedy will view it as a cautionary tale. To his credit, Kennedy did quickly come out with a public apology upon announcing his departure from American Idol Season 19, and said the actions viewed in the video were not meant to be taken in the way they were, though he still accepted the responsibility of his actions. He capped the apology off with hopes that his fanbase would still trust him after the anger-causing incident.

This season of American Idol also saw Luke Bryan having to take a short time off after he contracted COVID-19, as well as former Season 19 contestant Cecil Ray getting arrested just a week after his elimination. This past week also gave way to Season 18 standout Doug Kiker, the singing garbageman, being arrested for domestic violence.

With this season having also delivered the first Comeback round due to Season 18's COVID-shortened run, American Idol is now heading into the Season 19 finale with Willie Spence, Grace Kinstler and Chayce Beckham as the three remaining hopefuls. Check out who will win when it airs on ABC on Sunday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Once the finale is over, get ready for less singing and more 2021 Summer TV.

American Idol judge and country singer Luke Bryan is a popular face on television and as such, is subject to the wild rumors and speculation of tabloid outlets. Bryan has had to defend himself from some truly outlandish claims as of late, including the rumor that he fathered the child of singer Maren Morris.

Luke Bryan recently appeared on Ellen to discuss the details of his upcoming documentary and, while Ellen DeGeneres noted the documentary did cover a lot about Bryan's past, she jokingly had to point out there was no mention of the rumor about Maren Morris. Bryan couldn't help but laugh at the comment and decided to share the story of the phone call he received from his mother when she discovered the rumor:

It turns out Luke Bryan even had to answer to his own mother regarding the rumor, though she did help bring the story to his attention. Bryan explained to Ellen that Marren Morris' husband, Ryan Hurd, actually wrote Bryan's current single "Waves," so Bryan was actually able to pass the article along to Hurd and make a joke about it.

Overall, it seems like all parties involved had a giggle at the whole thing but, just in case anyone walked away from that story feeling like Luke Bryan dodged the question, the singer stated things rather plainly for the world:

As mentioned, this is not the first time in recent months that Luke Bryan has had to combat a rumor in his life. It was actually rumored by fans that he didn't actually have COVID-19 and was absent from American Idol due to a backstage altercation with ousted contestant Wyatt Pike. Bryan's wife quickly dismissed the rumor, though she stated that she wished that had been the case as she'd been sanitizing their house so much she felt as though she was peeing Lysol. What's the deal with Bryan getting caught up in all sorts of wild rumors?

Fans of Luke Bryan can catch him on American Idol Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 19 has been one to remember, though, perhaps due to Bryan's aura, it's also suffered from more controversy than usual in this stacked season of talent. For the latest on that, read up on how one unique twist to the season may have resulted in a fan-favorite being sent home.

Luke Bryan's fans were shocked and disappointed last week when it was announced that the country music superstar would have to miss the first live episode of American Idol Season 19, due to his COVID-19 diagnosis. Luckily, the singer was well into his recovery by the time he had to reveal that he'd caught the virus, and only had to miss one show. Now, Bryan's opening up about how it felt to miss that episode this season.

As fans saw last week, American Idol was without Luke Bryan for the first live episode this season, with former long-time judge Paula Abdul stepping in for him at the last minute. Bryan was able to complete his recuperation at home, and came back to set for Sunday's show. While he did continue to keep tabs on the contestants by watching the episode he missed from home, Bryan noted to Entertainment Tonight that it was hard not to be on set with everyone, saying:

There are several qualities which make for a good judge on a show like American Idol, with a big obvious plus being that they can give honest, constructive criticism to the young hopefuls without destroying their spirit and desire to sing / perform professionally. But, it sounds like another good thing for judges like Luke Bryan to have is a complete investment in the singers who are competing on the show, with them putting in a lot of effort to make sure they notice and point out things which will help them grow as artists. And, it turns out that that investment is one of the things which made quarantine difficult for Bryan.

We still don't know when Luke Bryan was diagnosed or how serious his symptoms may have been, but when he got the positive test result he headed back to his home in Tennessee, where he secluded himself in a part of the house and stayed away from his children, only relying on his wife to help him out when need be. Fortunately, Bryan was able to keep up with show by watching last week's live episode on TV, and texting with fellow judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie during the show to offer them some of his feedback.

Even though Luke Bryan being absent from an episode did mean that host Ryan Seacrest was able to reunite with Paula Abdul on American Idol for the first time in many years (she left after Season 8 in 2009), it's clear that Bryan is more than happy that she only had to fill in for him for one week, and he's glad to be back on set.

You can see how things turn out with the Top 9 contestants when American Idol continues to air, every Sunday and Monday at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.

Earlier this week, American Idol fans were disappointed and surprised when judge Luke Bryan had to announce that he wasn't going to be able to make the first live episode of Season 19. Bryan let fans know that he'd been diagnosed with COVID-19, and while he was on the mend, he hadn't been cleared to head back to the studio. Now, Bryan has had to leave yet another gig behind this week, as he's also been forced to pull out of performing at the ACM Awards.

According to The Tennessean, which got confirmation from a representative for Luke Bryan, the country music star will no longer be performing at Sunday night's ceremony. It was just earlier this month that Bryan was announced to perform at the long-running award show along with over two dozen artists, who still include Maren Morris, Jimmie Allen, Little Big Town, Kane Brown, and Blake Shelton, along with show hosts Mickey Guyton and Keith Urban. The show will air live from Nashville from three venues, the Bluebird Café, Ryman Auditorium, and the Grand Ole Opry House.

While Luke Bryan's judging duties on American Idol were taken over by last minute replacement, and former long-time Idol judge, Paula Abdul, there's been no word yet on whether or not another artist will fill in and perform in Bryan's place for the ACM Awards. The singer is likely disappointed at having to back out. Even though he's often found himself at or near the top of the country music charts since releasing his debut single, "All My Friends Say," in 2007, his profile was likely raised quite a bit by joining American Idol as a judge for the reboot in 2018.

During his career, Bryan has had 23 number one hits across 10 albums, and sold over 15 million albums and 60 million singles worldwide. In 2013, he was also named Entertainer of the Year by both the Country Music Association and the ACM Awards. Bryan is up for two awards at this year's ceremony, Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year, which would be for his 2020 release "Born Here Live Here Die Here."

There's been no word so far on when Luke Bryan received his diagnosis or what kind of symptoms he may have had at the time. We're also not sure right now when he might be fully healthy again and given the go ahead to both perform and return to the American Idol stage and the live shows. Co-judge Katy Perry was asked about it earlier this week, though, and made it sound like she thought he could be back to his old self and able to return pretty soon. But, until we hear an update from Bryan himself, we should all just be thankful he was able to catch his diagnosis and seems to be healing up well.

The ACM Awards will air on CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday, April 18 at 8 p.m. EST.

American Idol officially began its live shows of Season 19 on April 12, but the show looked different for more reasons than just the broadcast going live. Judge Luke Bryan was out due to a positive COVID test, and original American Idol judge Paula Abdul stepped in to fill his seat alongside Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. Abdul isn't going to be a full-time judge, however, and Perry has delivered an update on when Bryan could return.

Following the first live show of American Idol Season 19, Katy Perry spoke with ET about Luke Bryan's absence due to his positive COVID test. Although she didn't deliver any exact date, she did share when Bryan (who has had more than his share of bad luck recently) could return:

Katy Perry's comments should reassure American Idol fans who were missing the usual dynamic between her, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. He seems to be feeling good enough that it's expected for him to return to American Idol next week, which could mean as soon as Sunday or Monday's broadcast, with Sunday's featuring Oscar Nominated Songs performed by the remaining contestants.

Luke Bryan didn't deliver any more hard details about when he could return than Katy Perry did, but his announcement that he'd be missing from the April 12 episode seemed optimistic about when he could return. Taking to Twitter, Luke Bryan shared:

Luke Bryan followed with another post saying that he was "going to miss being there in person," and he did miss a doozy of an episode. With Paula Abdul returning to the show that made her a household name for another reason beyond her singing career, this episode was a throwback to days gone by in some ways, and Abdul even dropped a jab at former co-host Simon Cowell.

It was a wild episode beyond Paula Abdul referring to Simon Cowell as an "STD" after a video reunion with Randy Jackson, thanks to the departure of a popular contestant. Ryan Seacrest announced at the top of the episode that Wyatt Pike had left the competition, without giving any kind of explanation for why, leaving viewers to speculate.

Only time will tell if American Idol will give any answers about why Wyatt Pike left the show, but all signs do point to Luke Bryan coming back to the show as soon as he's able. Whether that means next week's Sunday or Monday episode remains to be seen, but there is still plenty of Idol action on the way in what's left of Season 19.

Find new episodes of American Idol on ABC Sundays and Mondays starting at 8 p.m. ET. If you're in the market for some more viewing options now and in the coming weeks, be sure to check out our 2021 spring premiere schedule.

After twelve pre-recorded episodes that went from debate-worthy audition rounds to showstoppers and duets with all-stars, American Idol is finally ready to dive into its live episodes, starting with the results that will whittle the Top 16 down to the Top 12. Unfortunately, judge Luke Bryan is having to forego his weekly duties, with the country singer revealing that he won't be around for the first live episode at all. Why not? It turns out Bryan recently tested positive for COVID-19. But there's good news in the form of a returning Idol legend.

Just hours ahead of American Idol going live on ABC with the Top 12 Reveal episode, Luke Bryan revealed his diagnosis on his Twitter page, saying:

Obviously the most important element to take away from Luke Bryan's post is that he's on the mend, and doesn't appear to be suffering too much from his health troubles. It sounds like he will be back in a timely manner, although no specifics were given on that front, and it's not entirely clear when Bryan first found out about the diagnosis, or how long his COVID symptoms have been evident so far. It doesn't seem like a sure thing that the award-winning musician will be back in the judge's chair during next week's "Oscar-Nominated Songs" episode, but we'll have to wait on an official update to be sure.

Now for the good news! While Luke Bryan is recovering and getting back to full strength, American Idol will welcome O.G. judge and Masked Dancer vet Paula Abdul back to the musical festivities. Though she'd appeared on Idol's last season finale during its Fox run, after having exited the show years earlier, this will mark Abdul's first time appearing on the competition series after its move to ABC. The show shared the news via its Instagram page, as seen below.

Considering Luke Bryan only recently showed off an eye-twitch-worthy injury he suffered while fishing, it's clear he needed a little bit of time to sit back and recuperate. And while we're perfectly happy watching Paula Abdul back in her element on American Idol, here's hoping Bryan feels better with the quickness.

American Idol airs Sunday and Monday nights on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET.

American Idol judge Luke Bryan is making sure to still take a trip here and there, you know in between finding the next big musical star on Idol. However, the country artist may need to rethink his vacation ideas. A recent fishing trip went south for Bryan and the result is sure to make anyone feel his pain. No really, we're talking a major ouch.

Luke Bryan recently went on a fishing trip but he got a little too “hooked” on the activity. The singer posted on Instagram a video, with the caption “Dammit,” which says it all. In the video, which comes with a warning due to its graphic nature, Bryan has a fishing hook in his hand, which does not look the slightest bit comfortable.

The video, which is not a pretty sight to see, could serve as a warning for anyone who enjoys fishing, wants to go fishing and maybe isn't super used to fishing, though I'm sure accidents like this happen all the time. However, Luke Bryan is being candid in a moment of vulnerability and showing his fans that he deals with accidents just like his fans. Many of the comments are empathizing with Luke Bryan, relating to him, while others are just very, very punny or suggesting that this could be the source of a new song.

American Idol is currently in its 19th season and just wrapped “Final Judgement.” The next episodes will be “All Star Duets and Solos” meaning everything is on the line. The recent episode rounded out the Top 24 for the season, but not without a little controversy, as per usual. Fishing has been known to be a relaxing activity, so that might be why Luke Bryan decided to get away for a little bit, even though it probably didn’t help much after he injured his hand.

While the country singer’s injury does seem like it hurts quite a bit, hopefully it won’t take away from his judging duties on the singing competition as these next few weeks are about to get very crucial. With American Idol dwindling down on contestants, Luke Bryan needs to be there for every step of the way, which he surely will be. He’s been a judge since Season 16 when the series returned after a two-year hiatus, just like Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

With the coronavirus pandemic, things for Idol have been handled differently, especially with auditions and the controversial eliminations. Luke Bryan’s fishing trip could be an indication that he has a little more time on his hands or that he’s just gearing up for the final weeks of the season as they get closer and closer to finding the next American Idol. Whatever the case, Bryan seems to be okay, and we are thankful for that. Just make sure the next time you go fishing to be careful and not get too hooked on it.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for American Idol Season 4 Auditions Part 2. Read at your own risk!

American Idol's judges have often come under fire for making the wrong calls with contestants, though incidents provoking backlash from the fandom are usually reserved for the late stages of the season. Season 4 has gotten to the drama pretty early, as fans are making it clear how displeased they are after Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie turned away the talented trans performer Ace Stiles and gave a ticket to Hollywood to a guy who poorly performed a Pitbull song.

From the first moment when 16-year-old Ace Stiles stepped on stage, it seemed like he was destined to be on American Idol. The quirky outfit matched an equally quirky voice that a show like this would usually applaud while aiming to see more. Following the performance, though, the judges ultimately turned Ace away, saying they wanted to make sure he was ready to be as good as he could be before truly making it into the competition. You can watch the process in the video below.

I think the rejection in and of itself was already a hard-to-swallow moment for viewers, since there was a lot to love about Ace Stiles' performance. What made many American Idol fans REALLY angry, however, is that Stiles was sent home after an objectively bad competitor was given a ticket to Hollywood earlier in the episode.

While I'd typically be more reserved about calling anyone's audition "bad," it's really hard to consider Yurisbel Garcia's first performance on American Idol legitimately worthy of a trip to Hollywood. The hopeful came on the show with a lot of energy, but killed that promise with a questionable rendition of Pitbull's "Fireball." Don't take my word for it though, check out the audition below and the judges' reasoning for keeping him around by the end.

After seeing the two performances, it's pretty hard to argue that the contestant that moved through was more deserving. At least, that's the popular notion online, where folks are beside themselves that Ace Stiles was turned away and the "mascot of fun" will advance to the next round. You know it's real when the Shining GIFs come out.

The judges are catching hell from the decision as well, despite their well wishes for Ace Stiles on social media. Luke Bryan was openly eager to see Ace do well in the future, but that didn't stop viewers from questioning his rationale in being lukewarm on such a solid performance while gyrating alongside a questionable one.

It's worth noting, of course, that this wasn't an either-or choice between Ace Stiles or Yurisbel Garcia, and the latter's success had no bearing on the former's lack of success on American Idol. There are other competitors who may have performed worse or better in San Diego, but the main reason the two are being lumped together is that their auditions appeared in the same episode. Had they not, Ace's rejection may not have been as jarring to witness, but that's how the editing cookie crumbled here.

Fans can complain all they want of course, but at the end of the day, American Idol made its decision. Perhaps, however, the situation will lead the show to turn away less serious acts, or at least avoid showcasing them prior to turning away an act that, beyond their age, seemed to be someone the judges thought could be a star. I'd like to think the series will open up the door for Ace Stiles should he return in the future, especially with the amount of attention the singer is getting at the moment. Maybe they'll make up a special rule to allow him to return.

American Idol airs on ABC Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Do you think Ace Stiles deserved to go on to Hollywood? Sound off on our poll and continue to stick with us this season for more happening in the competition.

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American Idol was one of the many shows to experience the swift impact of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year. The singing competition managed to continue airing new episodes despite the shutdown, and it will be back for Season 19. Well ahead of the its return, Luke Bryan has revealed that the show will be getting back to normal in one fundamental way when it returns.

Luke Bryan is anticipating the eventual return of American Idol, which isn't due back until next spring, and sharing some exciting news in the process. (Hint: It is not related to Katy Perry’s new baby and album.) However, there is a silver lining worth looking forward to when the premiere eventually arrives. Fans should be thrilled to hear this! Bryan told Entertainment Tonight:

You read that correctly. Luke Bryan says that he, Lionel Ritchie, and Katy Perry will be together in the flesh for American Idol Season 19. This is a somewhat surprising revelation, considering that, not too long ago, the competition announced that it would be holding virtual auditions. So, one would have thought that the idea of Bryan being face-to-face with his fellow judges would have been a pipe dream.

Luke Bryan did not explain what process would be implemented so that he, Lionel Ritchie, and Katy Perry could be back together and in person. Will they have to undergo a quarantine process à la Dancing with the Stars? Could “bubble-filming,” like Paramount Network’s Yellowstone is using, be utilized by American Idol Season 19? It is all a bit of mystery for now.

The news comes after American Idol had to be crafty last season as the coronavirus pandemic bared down in full-force during its run. American Idol called on at-home auditions to keep things going back then, before announcing that it would continue to air live episodes in the face of the quarantine.

The solution? American Idol went remote with at-home performances and the judges’ reviews. So, Luke Bryan only got virtual face time with his fellow judges, music icon Lionel Ritchie, and pop star Katy Perry. Fast forward, and the trio will not have to rely on Zoom to have a conversation. Does this mean there will be no at-home portion of American Idol in Season 19?

Things certainly sound hopeful on that front. If the judges are expected to be in the same room (probably six feet apart), you would think the contestants might be able to follow suit. Only American Idol knows the answer for sure. To its credit, the ABC show (and its peer) found a way around dealing with quarantine last year. Is it all good from here?

Fans of the reality competition will have a chance to find out when Luke Bryan returns, alongside Lionel Ritchie and Katy Perry, for American Idol’s fourth season on ABC. Hopefully, Ryan Seacrest can be in the room too! American Idol will return for its new season in the spring of 2021 on ABC, a release window which puts Season 19 well after this fall’s premieres.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for American Idol Season 18's "Hollywood Week- Genre Challenge." Read at your own risk.

American Idol concluded its audition rounds for Season 18 and has advanced to the stage where all the promising talent who survived thus far competes to be saved from the next culling. Doug Kiker, the garbage man and early Idol stand-out, was among them, but the show unfortunately kind of did him dirty in his Hollywood tryout.

To fully understand what unfolded on the latest American Idol, it's important to go back to Doug Kiker's first audition. The celebrity judges were impressed by what they heard from Kiker, but understood that they were dealing with a raw and not-yet-solidified talent. The key moment came when Luke Bryan got on the piano and helped Kiker get into the right key.

It took a bit of coaching, but the judges eventually got Doug Kiker on track and singing like the professional they knew he could be. The singer was given a ticket to Hollywood, with the presumed intention of getting a chance to work with others to help mold that raw voice.

At the time, it was an amazing moment for American Idol Season 18. Doug Kiker may have needed more work than others who got sent home, but the judges were willing to move him through in order to help continue his journey to becoming a better man for his daughter. That audition video went viral, giving Idol got some pretty great and positive-minded exposure (as it often does with unbelievable contestants and their stories) around the web. Season 18 had something special in Kiker, which makes what happened in Hollywood all the more baffling.

Doug's follow-up episode was Monday's first night in the Hollywood rounds, in which viewers were excited to see him sing again. Kiker performed towards the end of the show, with producers following him around and honing in on his nervous energy ahead of the performance. When Kiker was trotted out on stage, he started off with the wrong song, and then proceeded to sing his planned choice, the classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," but in complete a cappella mode. Readers may be able to guess how it went, but check the video below, with the performance hitting at around 2:40.

As producers, judges, and anyone who watched American Idol could've guessed after seeing his audition, Doug Kiker quickly floundered without any kind of musical accompaniment, which made for the sloppiest performance in the episode. It was thus an easy call for the judges to eliminate Kiker from the competition rather unceremoniously.

I'm not arguing the elimination wasn't valid, because anyone could see why that happened. But I will say that American Idol had a chance to give Doug Kiker the best opportunity to succeed, but seemed to intentionally put him in a position where they knew he'd struggle. Perhaps this is the downside of the ABC singing competition vs. The Voice, since Idol contestants aren't perceived as performers aiming to be coached or trained.

With that said, perhaps there's some opportunity for Kiker going forward with a music career. Maybe he can use this 15 minutes of fame to get in contact with the powers at be over at The Voice to potentially get one of its celebrity coaches to help get his voice where it needs to be? There are plenty of people who'd love to see it happen, with yours truly included.

American Idol Season 18 is chugging right along at ABC with a new episode Sunday, March 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend to stay informed on the competition, and for the latest news happening in television and movies.

American Idol shied away from shaming contestants when it made the transition from Fox to ABC, and instead focused more on helping competitors succeed in rather surprising ways. Fans have already seen this happen once in Season 18 with Doug Kiker, who wowed the judges with his audition after warming up in front of bystanders. The latest round of auditions featured another similarly heartwarming moment, when an Idol hopeful who wasn't even supposed to audition that day ended up getting sent to Hollywood.

Courtney Timmons didn't expect to be seen by American Idol's cameras, but she was determined to take a shot. Having missed the deadline to audition, the young security guard was posted up outside the building hoping that open calls would be taken that day. Though that wasn't exactly the case, she ended up running into someone overtly familiar to any potential Idol contestant, host Ryan Seacrest, and after a brief conversation, Seacrest took Timmons up to take a shot at auditioning in front of the judges, which is pretty unheard of. Take a look below!

For someone who had no idea whether or not she'd see the judges that day, Courtney Timmons came prepared! She performed a moving version of Andra Day's "Rise Up," which is always a great way to showcase one's vocal range. (Though it's also a song that highlights weaker singers if they can't hit the range required for the song.) Timmons passed with flying colors, and even managed to get Katy Perry (who is all recovered from that gas leak) and Ryan Seacrest to shed some tears.

The moment had to be emotionally overwhelming for Ryan Seacrest, who usually doesn't have much consequential input in the competition. Here, though, he basically used his cachet to advance someone that was originally turned away for not adhering to the standard methods of application. Typically, contestants fill out applications and have to sing in front of a preliminary panel who then decides which contestants will go on to appear in front of the celebrity judges to be filmed for American Idol. This is why the situation was so surprising to the judges, and presumably why Seacrest added they had "no idea what she sounds like."

Courtney Timmons left a phenomenal first impression on the judges, and it looks like she may be someone to watch closely as American Idol Season 18 continues. As far on what's on the internet, she apparently isn't a clandestine indie-label singer sent by an agent to get "discovered," just in case anyone was suspicious. As Lionel Richie said, she can "sang," and the few videos on her limited YouTube account are evidence enough she's not a one-trick pony.

Check out Timmons' take on Ariana Grande below.

It originally seemed like topping Season 17 in terms of talent was going to be a tall order for American Idol, but Season 18 has continued to impress thus far. Just when it seems like there's one clear standout favorite this season, another person pops on the scene and it feels like anyone's competition all over again. And we're still just in the auditions! Hopefully, this energy continues going strong until the finale, because things are off to a very strong start.

American Idol airs on ABC Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for more on the competition as it progresses, and for the latest news happening in television and movies.

After what has been a phenomenal season for talent, American Idol is set to return to ABC for the just-renewed Season 3. Unfortunately for Idol, ratings haven't been quite as high as the inaugural season at ABC, which has sparked rumors the singing competition is looking to cut costs ahead of its third season. One way to shed expenses would be finding less pricy talent, but will American Idol really change its judges lineup for Season 3?

That's what some are wondering, as one would think American Idol could help itself save a buck or two by dropping (or at least renegotiating) big contracts like Katy Perry's alleged $20 million being pocketed this season. For those upset about the prospect of Perry getting replaced by someone cheaper, rest assured that it's not automatically in the cards.

In fact, TVLine reported that offers have been made to Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie enticing them to return for another season. Ryan Seacrest is in the midst of a long-term deal with ABC, so it's assumed he'll be back for more.

As for what's happening with the judges' offers right now, none of them have been accepted just yet. It's possible that ABC tried to negotiate lesser amounts for the musicians going forward, and that the conversations are ongoing. Or perhaps it's taking some time to get the paperwork lined up ahead of any official announcements that may be coming any day now.

So, how would American Idol viewers react if one or more judges were to be replaced? It may depend on who was asked to leave. Katy Perry certainly has a strong following on social media, and while she may be expensive, it's possible she's one of the show's main draws. If keeping her on board meant subbing out Lionel Richie and/or Luke Bryan for cheaper options, ABC might go that route. The same goes if Luke Bryan's audience-power would equal or top Perry's.

Then again, American Idol isn't really about the judges, and there has been some criticism directed at the current group and their decision making over the course of Season 17. From questionable saves to superfluous advice that doesn't feature any true criticism, the Idol trio have often inspired a vocal group of viewers who want judges that are a bit more critical of competitors and their abilities. Will Idol give that group what they want, or continue to keep its mostly positive-minded judges on staff?

Again, the payday situation was spawned by rumors. While American Idol has hit a bit of a ratings slump in its followup season, it's still consistently performing as one of the top broadcast television entries on Sunday nights. That's impressive, especially as of late when its second hour runs alongside episodes from the final season of HBO's Game of Thrones. With that series out of the way next year, it's possible ratings may climb higher if Idol returns around the same time in 2020.

Should American Idol replace its judges? Sound off in our poll below and be sure to tune into the Season 17 finale which airs Sunday, May 19 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Stick with CinemaBlend after for reactions and analysis on the season, and the latest news regarding movies, television, and pop culture.

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Warning! The following contains spoilers for American Idol**! Read at your own risk.**

American Idol's Top 6 didn't make it easy on America this week, with each remaining competitor bringing the house down while simultaneously building it back up with each performance. Unfortunately, someone had to leave, but the judges' remaining save ensured either Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon or Laci Kaye Booth would advance. Left with one last opportunity to rescue an outbound contestant, the judges took things down to the wire and saved Booth. The internet, to put it mildly, thought that was a bad call.

One viewer summed up the foul feelings appropriately enough.

It was obvious that Season 17's stocked talent pool would lead to eliminations and other moments destined to set off angry fans once everything got down to the nitty gritty. Still, everyone assumedly held the faith that the judges would use that final save to ensure the "right" person could keep going if the votes went sour for certain beloved contestants.

The good news is American Idol's judges won't get another chance to let fans down with a save again this season. The bad news? Another huge fan favorite, Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, is out of the competition. As evidenced above, fans are NOT being shy about letting the excitable Katy Perry and the rest of the judges know that they made the wrong call in saving Laci Kaye Booth. For example:

Lots of shaking heads out there, no doubt. Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon has been one of American Idol's most consistent performers in the competition since the beginning, and his story really caught the attention of fans. Harmon was at odds with his family after coming out as a gay man, but as he progressed throughout the competition, his family members slowly reached out to re-establish contact. It was one of the season's more heart-warming stories, and hopefully a tale that continues developing for him after the competition.

Again, though, it wasn't just the story but the talent that had Harmon's fans riled up after he was voted off.

Of course, the judges' save was only a safety net, so for every finger pointed at the three musicians after the latest episode, there were quite a few pointed back at the voters who didn't come together to vote Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon through in the first place. Had enough fans made their votes heard, Jeremiah would have been in Season 17's top 5 competitors without needing a save.

Had this fan made his voice heard loud enough, there probably would have been NSFW warnings blaring ahead of it.

A fair amount of aggressive opinions were pointed at Laci Kaye Booth after she was confirmed to continue, but she wasn't the only competitor that America thought didn't deserve the Top 5. As has been the trend for a few weeks now, the more vocal critics of Wade Cota made it known they did not believe he deserved that spot in the final round over Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon.

If American Idol ever held a mini-competition where fans got to vote on who remained a judge in the following season, this episode probably would have doomed them.

With the judges' save now used, there's nothing to save the remaining competitors, who will have one more chance to battle it out ahead of the finale. Right now Alejandro Aranda still feels like the favorite, although Laine Hardy and Wade Cota have both proven they have fans who will vote them through even when they're off their A-games. Will either man take out Aranda, or will Laci Kaye Booth or Madison VanDenBerg be the ones to shock the world?

Cota definitely won't if this person has anything to say about it.

The winner will be revealed soon as American Idol Season 17 has a couple weeks left on ABC Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Stick with CinemaBlend for news on the competition, and other things happening in the world of television.

Plenty of American Idol contestants grew up in and around the music industry and seemed destined to attain stardom, while other talented hopefuls had the complete opposite backgrounds. Phoenix's Wade Cota showed up for his Season 17 audition armed with two things: a heartbreaking story about his childhood, and a gobsmacking voice that was well beyond his years.

On Sunday night's episode of American Idol, Wade Cota was gearing up for his big audition alongside his doting mother Terri, who amusingly called him her "baby bear cub" to Ryan Seacrest. (An experience he can live down easier now that he'll be in the main competition.) Before showing off his excellent voice, Cota shared a heartfelt admission about the hard-knocks experiences his family went though years ago, thanks to an abusive father figure. In his words:

Wade Cota went on to say that whenever his mother finally worked out a situation where she could get all of her children settled elsewhere, she asked her husband if he wanted to go with them, and he refused.

With his eyes glossing over, Cota continued:

Not that things got so amazingly easy just because they were away from his father. Wade Cota shared that they were a poverty-stricken family, but that Terri never made it seem like they were suffering. All in all, Cota made it clear that his goals in life are to find ways to both make his mother proud, and to give back to hear all of the love and support she provided for him over the years.

Having such goals is no walk in the park, especially in relation to a broadcast network's reality competition. But it's a lot easier to consider such things when one has a voice as spectacular as Wade Cota's.

After a fun introduction in which he admitted to Katy Perry that he was over 11 lbs. when his mother gave (an all-natural) birth to him, Cota announced he'd be performing "Blame It on Me" by British singer-songwriter George Ezra. It's then that minds were blown anew, as Cota voice took on some completely unexpected changes.

Check out the full video below, with his singing performance starting up at the 3:25 mark.

Viewers were likely just as wowed with the three American Idol judges, who were all taken aback and moved by Wade Cota's audition. Not only did Luke Bryan offer up a stellar compliment comparing Cota to Johnny Cash, which Perry agreed with, but he also said he wanted to see No Country for Old Men 2 get made, just so Cota could sing the entire soundtrack. That's definitely not the worst reason for the Coen brothers to return to that stellar film's setting.

Thankfully for both viewers and Cota himself, he'll be heading to Hollywood for American Idol's competitive rounds, so here's hoping he'll take on some more amazing performances in a few weeks. Also, kudos to the performer for stealing the show in an episode where the headline-drawing Katy Perry showed off her abilities to do the Worm and other dances.

American Idol will now switch to airing in its usual Monday and Tuesday night time slots on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Country music fans just got a major surprise performance this weekend! Gwen Stefani shocked the crowd at a Blake Shelton concert this Saturday by crashing the stage and performing a hit of her own.

After Blake Shelton finished his set at Luke Bryan's Crash My Playa music festival in Riviera Maya, Mexico this weekend, he brought out his superstar girlfriend to pump up the crowd even more, E! News reported. Gwen Stefani joined in with Shelton for a cover of "Footloose," and then launched into her band No Doubt's 2001 hit "Hella Good."

Some concert-goers managed to capture the surprise throwback performance and post it to social media. Gwen Stefani was certainly going all-out to give the crowd a high-energy performance, as she jumped around the stage in an Army green romper. Check out the performance below.

The festival's organizer and headliner Luke Bryan also reportedly gave a nod to Gwen Stefani's surprise appearance a day earlier with a winking reference in his hit "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)." Bryan reportedly inserted some lyric's from Stefani's most recognizable hit "Hollaback Girl" into his performance while looking towards the side of the stage where she and Blake Shelton were watching on.

And although Gwen Stefani's surprise No Doubt performance came after Blake Shelton's set was over on Saturday, her beau kept things going by bringing out Little Big Town and performing come classic covers ranging from Billy Joel to "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)." That crowd most definitely got their money's worth that night!

According to PEOPLE, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani got to enjoy the exotic beaches together offstage as well over the weekend, as they hung out with friends in a luxury resort in the nearby town of Tulum.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton began their relationship a little over a year ago. The two music superstars had just both been serving as judges on the reality singing competition series The Voice since 2014, and a year later they made they began dating. The new relationship caused a bit of the stir in the tabloids, as Stefani had just filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years Gavin Rossdale two months earlier, around the same time that Shelton and his ex-wife Miranda Lambert also announced their intention to divorce. But Shelton and Stefani look like they just might stand the test of time, always appearing to be head-over-heels for one another whenever they are spotted together.

Not to mention that they make some sweet music together! "Hella Good," indeed.

Taylor Swift had a good year in 2015, but that's probably stating the obvious. The country-turned-pop singer has been riding a wave of success for quite a while now, and that apparently includes besting her fellow musicians in the earnings department by a sizable margin. Between album sales and her other musical earnings, the artist raked in more than $70 million, which is tens of millions more than the talented and popular dude who came in second on Billboard's list (said dude being Kenny Chesney.)

Billboard posted their list of highest-paid musicians of the past 12 months, and Taylor Swift topped it with a whopping $73.5 million. That's $7.2 million for album sales, $564,000 for streaming, $4.1 million for publishing and a massive $61.7 million for her concert tour. As mentioned, she beat out #2 on the list, country singer Kenny Chesney, whose total revenue for 2015 topped out at $39.8 million.

Here's the top 10 breakdown:

1) Taylor Swift - $73.5 million

2) Kenny Chesney - $39.8 million

3) The Rolling Stones - $39.6 million

4) Billy Joel - $31.7 million

5) One Direction - 24.2 million

6) Grateful Dead & Company - $23.8 million

7) Luke Bryan - $23.1 million

8) U2 - $21.8 million

9) Adele - $20.5 million

10) Maroon 5 - $19.2 million

I need to pause on the Swift conversation for a moment here, because it seems well worth noting that Adele managed to land a spot in the Top 10 despite no reported earnings for touring, which is ultimately the big money-maker for musicians. It helps that Adele earned $16.3 million in album sales alone. Had she gone on tour, it's a safe bet that she would've had a much higher spot on this list, if not the top spot, considering her album sales are more than double Swift's. Adele is the only artist in the Top 10 with no touring income.

Getting back to Taylor Swift, Billboard's list only cites income related to their musical endeavors. There's no mention of money made on endorsements, of which Swift has had numerous in recent years, including Keds, Diet Coke, and more recently, those Apple Music ads that have been cracking us up. So theres a good chance she reported a bit more on her 2015 taxes than the figure mentioned above.

Taylor Swift has been inching further and further away from country music with each album, and 1989 took her into full-on pop territory, with much success. As Billboard points, her publishing royalties had some help, thanks to Ryan Adams' releasing a cover of her 1989 album. The singer-songwriter capped off her album release with a massive tour, which included drop-ins by various celebrities and musical acts. Based on the numbers, it's evident that Swift's hard work and talent have paid off.