Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson Will Return to ‘American Idol’ Next Week
ABC/Christopher Willard Reading Time: 2 minutes
Former American Idol judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson will return to the show next Monday for a special reunion episode marking Season 20. The episode will also feature appearances by several other famous names from past seasons.
Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson Return to ‘American Idol’
ABC shared photos of Abdul and Jackson on set with the show’s current judges — Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. They’re also joined by host Ryan Seacrest, who has hosted the show since the beginning.
Abdul and Jackson were on the show’s very first judging panel, along with Simon Cowell. Abdul appeared on the first eight seasons, while Jackson judged until Season 12. Last season, Abdul returned to fill in for Bryan on the panel.
“The greatest ever of any kind, to me,” Jackson said of American Idol in an interview with ET. “I mean nothing like it before, nothing like it after, and there’s a bunch to try and copy, and to duplicate and imitate, but yo, you never beat the OG.”
The reunion will air Monday, May 2, on ABC. The episode will also feature appearances from past contestants Ruben Studdard, Scotty McCreery, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Lauren Alaina, Kris Allen, Maddie Poppe, Laine Hardy, Willie Spence, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Grace Kinstler, and Laci Kaye Booth.
SEE ALSO: ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ WINNERS, FAN FAVORITES WILL RETURN FOR ‘THE GREAT IDOL REUNION’ NEXT WEEK
The Top 10 Is Headed to Disneyland This Sunday
Before Monday’s reunion, the Top 10 for Season 20 will perform during Sunday’s Disney Night. The contestants are headed to Disneyland, and they’ll be singing Disney songs for America’s vote.
The Top 10 contestants are Christian Guardino, Emyrson Flora, Fritz Hager, HunterGirl, Jay, Lady K, Leah Marlene, Mike Parker, Nicolina, and Noah Thompson. They’ll be mentored by Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt in Sunday’s episode.
This past Monday marked the very first Judge’s Song Contest, in which the judges suggested songs for the singers to choose from. Perry and Bryan tied for the most songs chosen by contestants, so they got to save Lady K from elimination.
