The final season of "American Idol" premiered last week with a judging panel of Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban. Last year, host Ryan Seacrest revealed that the original three judges that the show started with including Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell would all return at some point in the farewell season.
"We will have the former judges back," Seacrest told E! News. "The plan is to have all of them back. They've all considered it and I think are enthusiastic about coming back and saluting the show."
Aside from the original three judges and the current ones that sit behind the judges table, the show previously had some serious star power come on to judge the talent competition show, including Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Ellen DeGeneres, Steven Tyler and Kara DioGuardi. While Seacrest was referring to the original trio of judges returning to the show, that does not mean some past favorites judges could pop up in one way or another.
Check out all 11 "American Idol" judges and their thoughts on the final season and the show in general.
Simon Cowell
Connick Jr. was the last new judge to be hired on "American Idol." The singer/actor had appeared on the show numerous times before as either a performer or as a guest mentor for the contestants. He officially joined the show for Season 13 alongside Lopez and Urban, which is the current judging panel. While this season of "American Idol" is supposed to be its last, Connick Jr., isn't so sure.
"I wouldn't be surprised if, at some point, it came back. You notice they're not calling it the final season. They're calling it the "farewell" season," he told HNGN in an exclusive interview.
The farewell season of "American Idol" airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c on FOX.
