Harry Connick Jr. is in. Jennifer Lopez is returning. And Randy Jackson will never go away.
Following weeks of speculation and near-casting decisions, Fox has confirmed the Season 13 roster for American Idol:
Keith Urban will join Connick and Lopez at the judging table, while Ryan Seacrest will once again host and Randy Jackson will take over for Jimmy Iovine as in-house mentor.
In a statement, Kevin Reilly – Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company – explained the moves:
"American Idol has always been about discovering the next singing superstar, and next season our judging panel will deliver a most impressive combination of talent, wisdom and personality to do just that: Jennifer Lopez, the triple-threat global superstar who loves Idol and whom Idol fans love; Harry Connick, Jr., a bona-fide musical genius and fantastic Idol mentor whose honesty and expertise can help turn these hopefuls into stars; Keith Urban, a multi-Grammy-winning artist who was such a positive force on the show last season.
"We are also very excited to have our friend Randy Jackson now in a new role as mentor, and the captain of our team – the heart and soul of IDOL – Ryan Seacrest returning as host.”
So… are you now psyched for American Idol Season 13?