American Idol host Ryan Seacrest is having a tough time swallowing the idea the show is coming to an end.
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American Idol premieres its fifteenth and farewell season January 6 at 8PM ET/PT on Fox, and Seacrest -- who has been hosting the reality singing competition since its 2002 debut -- certainly views it as bittersweet.
"I can't imagine life without going on the auditions every summer and then doing the shows for months afterwards," Seacrest said on the Today show Tuesday.
When co-host Carson Daly asked Seacrest what he'll do with his free time once the season ends, the Idol host replied, "I don't know! I'm looking for something."
"But actually, speaking of what will I do," Seacrest continued, "I was just sort of thinking about that last episode, the last night, the final time we crown a winner and how emotional that will be. Because I love the show! I really love what it did and does, and what it did for me too."
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Seacrest, 41, also acknowledged Carrie Underwood is the biggest star to ever come out of American Idol.
"Carrie Underwood. [Kelly Clarkson] too, but I was just with Carrie on New Year's and she's just a superstar. She really is. So I'd say Carrie," he said.
Seacrest confessed that over time, he was able to start predicting which singers might get cut and which artists had the chops to make it all the way to the end.
"Initially I couldn't, but after all of the -- however many people we see, I can now. And I'm pretty in tune with what the judges think. You either have it or you don't," Seacrest explained.
As for what viewers can expect from American Idol's final edition, Seacrest told Today, "Well, we're going to bring back -- or we invited all of the original judges to come back, and so, I think that will be a lot of fun. Also, some of the past winners will come to. We'll be focusing on the competition but also nostalgia."
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Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson served as the show's first judging panel.
While reports circulated throughout Idol's run Seacrest dealt with expired contracts and thoughts about leaving, he confirmed he "never" considered quitting.
"No, I mean, it's so great for me! I can say that now," Seacrest insisted.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski