Keith Urban Will Return To American Idol For Season 13, Jennifer Lopez To Follow

August 1, 2013 by Lindsay Cronin

Keith Urban has just announced his return to American Idol. The country crooner joined the judges panel of the hit FOX series during the show’s twelfth alongside Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson, and Mariah Carey, all of whom have since gone their separate ways. Thus far, Urban is the only judge confirmed for season 13. However, it is being reported that Jennifer Lopez, who left the show following season 11, will soon follow.

Earlier this afternoon, Urban tweeted, “Thrilled to be back on @AmericanIdol with my pal @RyanSeacrest and dying to know who the other judges will be!!!!”

After three of the four judges from season 12 moved on from the show, rumors flew that the network may start fresh with an entirely new panel of judges in an effort to give ratings a much-needed boost. Now, it looks like they have taken a different approach.

Lopez is “very close to signing a deal with Fox to return to American Idol next season,” a source close to the former judge confirms to People Magazine. ”Both Fox and Jennifer are very happy about this and want it to happen very much. She couldn’t return last year because she had committed to a world tour. But now that the tour is over, she has more time to raise her family, do movies and pursue television projects.”

As for the two remaining seats, it was reported earlier this year that one will be filled by Idol alum Jennifer Hudson and the other could go to either Adam Lambert or Clay Aiken, also alums of the series.