Keith Urban has had his American Idol wish granted.
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Fox has announced the country singer, who had previously expressed his desire to return for a second season as an American Idol judge, will be part of the show's thirteenth-season judging panel when the new season premieres in January.
Fox Entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly announced Urban's return during a Television Critics Association press tour panel in Beverly Hills on Thursday.
"He did a great job on the show, fans loved him and you can see how much he loved the doing show, Reilly told reporters, according to Deadline Hollywood.
Reilly also reportedly confirmed the network has had discussions with former Idol judge Jennifer Lopez, former finalist Jennifer Hudson, recording artist will.i.am, and music producer Dr. Luke about joining the thirteenth-season judging panel, but stressed no other deals are in place yet.
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"All have been talked about and discussed," he said, adding that the network is seeking judges who are "good at the job" and "people like," but is planning to refocus American Idol "on the contestants" rather than its judges.
Urban subsequently confirmed Reilly's announcement on Twitter.
"Thrilled to be back on @AmericanIdol with my pal @RyanSeacrest and dying to know who the other judges will be!!!!" he tweeted.
Urban was the only remaining twelfth-season judge still in the running for American Idol's thirteenth-season judging panel as Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj had all announced their exits this past spring.
According to reports published at the time, American Idol was reportedly considering a drastic revamp that would include dumping the show's entire twelfth-season judging lineup in favor an alum-filled panel which would include former contestants such as Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert, and Clay Aiken.
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However new reports that the plan had been put on hold emerged several weeks later, and Clarkson's representative had denied her participation.
About The Author: Steven Rogers