American Idol: Previous Judges to Return for Final Season

It’s the end of an era for FOX and American Idol. As tribute, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the judges from Idol’s past 14 seasons will come back to appear on the show’s upcoming final season.

The final season will begin airing on January 6, 2016 with regular judges Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr., and Keith Urban.

Since the FOX series debuted in 2002, several judges have sat in the hot seat. There was the original trio: Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson. Over the years, Mariah Carey, Steven Tyler, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi, and Nicki Minaj have also presided over the American Idol judges’ panel. And host Ryan Seacrest confirms they will be back to celebrate the end of the series.

Seacrest told Access Hollywood, “I’ve spoken to all of them recently, and we as a team have talked to them about coming back to do something for the final season. They are going to do it, it’s just a matter of figuring out what to do with them.”

What do you think? Do you still watch American Idol? Who is your favorite judge? Are you sad to see the series go?

Update: It was later clarified that Seacrest was only referring to the three original judges — Abdul, Cowell, and Jackson.