'American Idol' judge Luke Bryan doesn't know if he or Lionel Richie will return
Is Luke Bryan in or out at "American Idol"? He would also like to know.
The country singer, 47, revealed in an interview with Billboard that he and Lionel Richie don't yet know if they're returning as judges on the singing competition show following Katy Perry's exit.
"It's been something Disney (has) been really tightlipped about with me and Lionel and Ryan," he shared. "We currently haven't heard what the story is on who's coming back, and if Lionel and I are coming back."
Bryan added, "I think Disney is just trying to figure out what they want to do and we're just kind of sitting back and waiting until they decide."
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for ABC for comment.
Perry announced in February that she's exiting "American Idol" after serving as a judge for seven seasons. No replacement has been announced, though in the Billboard interview, Bryan named several candidates.
"I think Pink has been in the talks, Miley Cyrus has been in the talks, Meghan Trainor has been in the talks," he revealed.
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Pink, who on Tuesday canceled a show due to a health issue, previously suggested she's not interested in the gig. She told Entertainment Tonight that she likes her "day job" and dislikes "hurting people's feelings."
Trainor, on the other hand, is very much interested. She revealed on "Watch What Happens Live" that being a judge on "American Idol" is her "dream job" and that she is actively pursuing it.
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"I have emailed three awesome people who work in that world who don't really have the full say, but I begged," she said. "I have begged for this job. I haven't heard any updates."
But one potential candidate who has taken herself out of the running is Kelly Clarkson, who won the show's first season. She told Entertainment Tonight in June, "I can't do that, only because I promised my kids. I was like, 'I want to be there as much as I possibly can.' And it would put me in LA, and that's why I had to quit 'The Voice,' which I love that team. And I miss them so much."
Contributing: Edward Segarra, Jay Stahl
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'American Idol': Luke Bryan unsure of return, teases Perry successor
