Lionel Richie will return as a judge on American Idol for its 25th season after recently undergoing a heart procedure, ending uncertainty over his future on the popular singing competition.
The 77-year-old singer confirmed his return during a virtual appearance at Luke Bryan’s concert in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday.
Richie joined Bryan and Carrie Underwood, who were appearing together on stage, and asked whether they were ready to reveal their “secret.”
Bryan then announced to the crowd that the three judges would return for the show’s 25th season.
The announcement was later confirmed by ABC on Instagram, with the network saying Richie, Bryan, Underwood and host Ryan Seacrest would all return.
Richie’s participation had been uncertain after his representative confirmed that the singer had recently undergone a heart procedure.
The veteran musician and Bryan have served as judges since 2018. Underwood joined the panel in 2025, taking over from Katy Perry.
Richie has been a prominent figure on the show for much of its recent run and is known for bringing decades of experience in music to the judging panel.
The new season is scheduled to air in 2027, with Seacrest continuing as host.
Richie’s return means the current judging lineup will remain intact as the program enters its milestone 25th season.
