American Idol judge Luke Bryan has reacted to pop singer Meghan Trainor wanting to replace Katy Perry on the show’s judging panel for Season 23.
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Katy decided to leave American Idol after serving as a judge alongside Luke and Lionel Richie for seven years, and Meghan recently voiced how being an American Idol judge would be a “dream come true” for her.
“That would be great… I’ll support her or whomever all the people over at ABC decide to go with,” Luke told E! News when asked about the possibility of Meghan replacing Katy as a judge.
“I haven’t spent a lot of time with Meghan, but the whole thing about that role is you’ve got to have personality and you’ve got to have fun with it every day, and I think Meghan kind of has fun with her career.”
The country singer elaborated, “She’s kind of like me [in that] she doesn’t take herself too seriously. She has fun with her music.”
Luke revealed, however, that he and Lionel are still “waiting to hear who the show is going to pick,” adding, “It will be exciting to see who they decide to fill Katy’s seat.”
Luke confirmed that it’s not his decision to make, although he and Lionel may have a little sway over the big casting decision.
“I got asked a couple questions, like, ‘Who do you think [we should hire]?’ I know when to speak and voice my opinion, and… I’ve learned over the years when to kind of zip it,” Luke quipped.
Katy said her goodbyes during American Idol’s Season 22 finale in late May, and Luke noted how it was a “really emotional” and “very special” night.
When asked which singers or artists he’d love to see that vacant spot on the judging panel, Luke replied, “I know that P!NK, her name was thrown around, and Miley Cyrus and obviously Meghan. So we’ll see. [ABC] is being pretty good at being tight-lipped about it.”
Earlier this month, Meghan had announced that she would absolutely love to replace Katy next season and sit on the judging panel for American Idol in 2025.
Ahead of her 24-city “Timeless Tour,” the pop star told Entertainment Tonight, “There’s nothing I want more in life than to be a judge on American Idol.”
“That is my ultimate bucket list dream come true. Please, please consider me on your show,” Meghan added with a laugh.
“Please American Idol! Please! I’m ready. Alright, yeah, I would love to… That was my pitch.”
Meghan had briefly served as a mentor on American Idol’s latest season.
Luke told ET after Meghan’s stint on the show that she’s “real witty,” and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest praised the “All About That Bass” singer for her charisma.
“She was very good,” Ryan shared. “Meghan is a super talent, too, and she’s got a great sense of humor. She’s fun and she’s spontaneous.”
Meghan apparently feels ready to go on tour and travel with her family after welcoming her second child, Barry, in July 2023. Meghan had married actor Daryl Sabara in December 2019, and then Meghan gave birth to their first son, Riley, three years later.
While ABC executives are currently looking for the right fit for American Idol’s judging panel, Katy teased last month how she wants the newcomer to “keep that seat hot” for her during an interview with ET.
“I mean, who knows, [I may come back],” Katy said. “I loved everything I got to experience and learn.”
When ET asked whom she’d like to replace her, Katy didn’t throw out specific names.
However, Katy acknowledged that she’d like to see a “fearless” person join the show as a judge, someone who won’t “mince their words” and wouldn’t be afraid to be “a little polarizing” — just like herself.
“There’s a lot of people that’s like, ‘She’s awful! She should go!’ And there’s a lot of people that are like, ‘She speaks her mind! She’s authentic!'” Katy recalled.
“Whatever, you can’t win them all. I think it’s actually better not to win them all because that means you actually have a point of view.”
American Idol’s 22nd season ended with Abi Carter being crowned champion and Will Moseley finishing in second place. Jack Blocker placed third.
“It feels like a cherry on top that Abi got to win just because it’s been a while since, you know, a while since a female won,” Katy said.
Katy gushed about how Abi was her “pick from the beginning” to win, and she said that Idol results ended up being her “present from the universe” for her time served on the show.
Looking back on her American Idol run, Katy gushed about how the show made her feel “really close” to her country.
“I believe in humanity. I believe in the American Dream,” Katy gushed.
“I think this show, it’s like one of the last standing examples of a united front, American Dream, people coming from all places, all different beliefs, coming together.”
About The Author:
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.