'American Idol' Fans, We Finally Know Who Is Replacing Katy Perry as a Judge (2024)

American Idol season 22 ended back in May, and it's time to give a round of applause to the show's newest winner, Abi Carter!

Heading into the season finale on May 19, fans saw Abi, Will Moseley and Jack Blocker sing their hearts out for a chance to become the next American Idol. Amid hearing feedback from judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, along with a myriad of memorable performances from this season's former contestants and celebrated singers, Abi emerged victorious and took the top spot in the entire competition.

Now that the latest season of American Idol is officially over, it's time to find out what's next. Thankfully, ABC delivered news about the show's future (including who is replacing Katy as a judge!), and fans will be thrilled to know a new season will happen in 2025.

You bet it is! On May 10, ABC announced that American Idol will be coming back to the network for another season. A joint Instagram post was made between the network and the show.

"Keep the stage lights on because #IDOL will be back for another season on ABC and Stream on Hulu 🤩," read the caption.

Naturally, fans were ecstatic to learn American Idol would be back for another season and voiced their excitement in the comments.

"This show is a national treasure! I hope it runs forever. Can’t think of a better reality show," one person wrote. "This is FANTASTIC NEWS! We are huge fans!!!!!!" another exclaimed. "Yay whoo I can NOT wait!! I’m so excited!! Thank you!!😊❤️," a different viewer added.

And if that wasn't enough, American Idol has more news to share. Folks can already start applying to be on the new season, and can sign up with a video audition through the show's website.

Presently, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are set to return as judges for American Idol, with Ryan Seacrest once again hosting the competition.

As for who will replace Katy Perry and join Luke and Lionel at the judges' panel after the singer's exit, American Idol dropped a major bombshell on August 1. Posting the news in an emotional video on YouTube, viewers learned season 4 winner Carrie Underwood will be taking Katy's place and make up the trio of judges two decades after claiming the title.

"20 years after her 2005 win, home-grown superstar Carrie Underwood returns to #AmericanIdol as a judge!" read the caption under the one-minute clip.

If you're wondering exactly how Carrie will be as a judge, she spoke to Good Morning America about her new role while performing at the GMA Summer Concert Series on August 2.

"I have a problem," she explained in a clip posted on X (formerly Twitter). "I can’t lie. I feel like I’ll be very honest but hopefully I’ll also be very constructive and encouraging ... I feel like being on both sides of the coin, I'll be able to offer insight and help and kind of a different viewpoint."

When the time comes for American Idol to air new episodes in spring 2025, fans will be able to watch every Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

For those who don't have access to TV, there are multiple ways to watch American Idol as it airs live. You can watch the series on ABC's website or on the ABC app, along with live-streaming sites that allow viewers to watch in real-time. Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling and FuboTV are all options to choose from, but just be aware you'll need to make an account ahead of airtime.

If you'd rather wait and watch American Idol on your own schedule, the series will also be available to stream on Hulu the next day. If you're not set up with a profile, Hulu offers a number of plans to choose from, starting at $7.99 per month. Once you're ready, you can head on over to Hulu's website or the Hulu app and start watching.