In a surprise move, “American Idol” producers announced on February 4, 2025, that the show’s 23rd season will not just have one new cast member, but two.
In addition to Carrie Underwood joining the series as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, red-hot country star Jelly Roll will be the show’s first-ever “artist-in-residence,” according to Variety. The move fulfills the wish of many “Idol” fans who begged ABC in 2024 to add Jelly Roll as a regular to the series after he appeared as a mentor to contestants early in season 22.
In an Instagram video about the announcement, Jelly Roll wrote, “Honored to be Idol’s first-ever ARTIST IN RESIDENCE—mentoring with heart, soul, and real experience! 🎤💥”
ABC Says Jelly Roll Will Become a ‘Permanent Fixture’ on ‘American Idol’
Jelly Roll will appear as an “artist-in-residence” during season 23’s Hollywood Week episodes, which were filmed in late January, and will continue to appear on the show throughout the season, Variety reported.
In a press release, ABC said that Jelly Roll — a Nashville-based rapper-turned-country superstar who cleaned up his life after spending years in prison — will become “a permanent fixture this season and will work closely with the Idol hopefuls, giving them firsthand advice on how to navigate the journey.”
Shortly after the announcement, the social media team at “American Idol” shared Variety’s article in the show’s Instagram Stories and wrote, YES!! Get hyped for more @jellyroll615 on IDOL!”
Fans Begged ABC to Add Jelly Roll to ‘American Idol’ Cast in 2024
Jelly Roll and “Idol” alum Tori Kelly both served as mentors to contestants who made it through Hollywood Week and moved onto compete in at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii. Jelly Roll mentored half of the contestants, and his work with them drew rave reviews from fans and the judges.
A self-professed “Idol” fan for years, Jelly Roll, live-tweeted when his season 22 episode aired on April 8, sharing how much he loved working with the contestants. Much to fans’ delight, he tweeted, “i could get used to doing this. #americanidol #jellytime”
Fans flooded social media during and after his appearance, begging ABC executives to hire Jelly Roll to replace Katy Perry, who had announced in February that she’d be leaving the show at the end of the season.
One person tweeted, “You were the best mentor I’ve ever seen on the show… and I’ve been watching since the beginning. You’d make a great judge. You could be the Fab Four. ?”
Someone else suggested, “When Katy leaves at the end of the year, you can take her place.”
Even Perry was on board with the idea, telling E! News a week after his appearance, “I gotta say Jelly Roll was crazy when he came on the show. I was convinced at anything he said. He could run for president, he could be my pastor, I might go back to church for him. He could sell me anything.”
Eventually, the show hired season 4 winner Carrie Underwood, also a megastar in country music, to replace Perry at the judge’s table. She has also begun filming the new season, which will debut on ABC on March 9.
