Lionel Richie Returns For Idol Season 25
Portrait of a Man Seated in an Armchair — Dutch (Amsterdam) Painter, about 1640–50, ca. 1640–50
What Happened
Lionel Richie will return as an American Idol judge for the show's 25th season alongside Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, announced Thursday at a Nashville concert. The news comes days after Richie, 77, was treated for a common AFib procedure. He's also canceled three upcoming tour dates to recover.
Why It Matters
Richie's team says the procedure went perfectly and he'll be back onstage soon. Friends and family have told reporters they're worried he's choosing work over rest, and nobody's willing to be the one who tells him to stop. A 77-year-old committing to a full season while recovering from a heart procedure is its own kind of statement about what retirement looks like for people who don't want one.
What's Next
Season 25 premieres in 2027 on ABC, with production relocating from Los Angeles to Atlanta.