Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood Return

American Idol will kick off its 24th season with returning judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. Underwood replaces Katy Perry, who left ahead of Season 23. The audition process will begin on

Aug. 26, starting with virtual auditions before moving to in-person sessions across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The fate of longtime host Ryan Seacrest remains uncertain. The show recently faced tragedy with

the double-murder of music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband during a burglary, with the suspected killer now in a mental health court.