‘American Idol’ Fans Are Losing It Over Katy Perry’s Announcement For Season 21
August 7, 2022 by Maria Pierides
Good news for those of you who love the current American Idol lineup, as it’s just been confirmed that all three judges will be returning for season 21! This means that we can expect to see Katy Perry, 37, Lionel Richie, 73, and Luke Bryan, 46, as well as veteran host Ryan Seacrest, 47, on our screens when it airs on ABC in spring 2023! Happy days!
The news is extra-exciting for the “Harleys in Hawaii” singer, as she will reportedly be earning a jaw-dropping $30M for the new season, which will make her the highest-paid reality TV star in the USA!
Katy’s fellow judges are also reportedly getting a huge pay rise too, with sources telling The Daily Star that Richie could be getting $15M while Bryan is due to get around $18M, with Seacrest earning around $17.5M as part of his ongoing deal with ABC. For reference, Katy’s previous salary was rumored to have been around $25M, but producers at ABC were reportedly desperate to keep her on the show, hence offering her an even bigger salary!
“They want Katy back, she wants to return, so it’s now about getting the deal done,” the source previously told the pub. “But the figure is close to $30M now after her long run of success and how important she is for the series.” The source went on to say that there is no doubt that the “Roar” singer is worth every single cent, adding: “There are some who feel she deserves every penny for how important she has become in the series. Katy owns the screen and much of the narrative in the series. The on and off-screen teams are all close and there is a real sense of family there.” We’re glad that ABC did what it had to do to get Katy back!