Singer-songwriter, record producer and international superstar Lionel Richie has been officially confirmed as the third, and final judge for the upcoming American Idol reboot on ABC. From his early days with The Commodores through his expansive solo career, the music icon is one of only two songwriters in history to achieve the honor of having No. 1 records for nine consecutive years.
His hits are legendary, including radio staples such as “Three Times a Lady,” “Still,” “Easy,” “Endless Love,” “Lady,” “Truly,” “All Night Long,” “Penny Lover,” “Stuck on You,” “Hello,” “Say You, Say Me,” and “Dancing on the Ceiling.”
“I am very excited to be joining Katy, Luke and Ryan on ‘American Idol,’” said Richie. “As a singer, songwriter and producer, I feel I can bring a great deal of experience to the table. It’s going to be so much fun!”
With more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, an Oscar®, a Golden Globe®, four Grammy Awards®, and the distinctions of MusicCares person of the year in 2016, and Kennedy Center Honoree in 2017, Richie is the perfect person to sit in the judge’s chair.
He joins recently announced judges Luke Bryan and Katy Perry, along with host Ryan Seacrest in this reboot of the revolutionary TV series that changed the face of reality television.
“Luke and Lionel are the perfect additions to round out our panel of judges for ‘American Idol’ on ABC,” said Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment. “In their respective genres of music, both Luke and Lionel possess insurmountable popularity and award-winning talent that are undeniable, and we are lucky that they will help in paving the way for hopefuls pursuing their dreams on our stage.”
American Idol is set to debut in 2018 on ABC.