According to reports from Variety and TMZ among others, Luke Bryan has officially signed on to fill one of the judges’ seats on the reboot of American Idol.
Bryan will join pop superstar Katy Perry, whom Fox had previously confirmed as a judge, leaving one seat yet to be filled. The announcement of Bryan’s addition to the judges panel comes only a week before audition are to start for the show that will return in 2018.
Many rumors have been around that the show has offered everyone from Lionel Richie and Charlie Puth to judge, but neither has accepted an offer. Bryan follows fellow country superstar Keith Urban who filled a judges seat from 2013 to 2016.
Bryan was reportedly offered a deal in early September, but couldn’t come to terms on money. He wanted more than they were offering and producers tried supplementing his salary with a Disney deal due to budget restrictions.
Ryan Seacrest will be returning to host when the American Idol revival launches in March of 2018. He’s set to earn around $15 million, with Perry making $25 million. Bryan was a prime candidate for the judges position, scoring 17 No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts combined, along with multiple chart-topping albums.
