Luke Bryan On 'American Idol': 'It’s Always About The Contestants'

Luke Bryan On Idol: 'It’s Always About The Contestants'

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Luke Bryan was confirmed as a judge on the newly announced Season Three of American Idol on Monday along with Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

As we posted when it happened, Luke said in part on Instagram, "Ready for another season of laughs, tears and wigs flying on @americanidol."

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Luke talked to us about American Idol when Season two was confirmed last year saying, "We know how serious the contestants take it. We’re excited. I mean, I know we’re more excited than last year, just because we know what to expect, and it’s gonna be a lot of surprises and a lot of fun.”

He continued, “It’s always about the contestants. That’s what makes the show fun for us – the surprises, the talent, the youthfulness of the talent. I mean, we have so many 15, 16, 17-year-olds that are unbelievable, and watching them handle the pressure and have fun and the tears and the joy and the smile and all that. So, we’re loving it. We love the role – me and Katy and Lionel and Ryan [Seacrest] – we’re having a great time doing this. To be able to facilitate these kids’ dreams is very special.”

American Idol Katy Perry Lionel Richie Luke Bryan

Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media GroupEditor

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.