Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick, Jr. will return for Season 15 of "American Idol.' Ryan Seacrest will return as the show's host for the 15th and final season. FOX publicly announced that "American Idol' will end following Season 15.
"American Idol has been a big part of my life for so long, it's frankly hard to imagine it without it. It's been a remarkable journey, and I feel very fortunate to have been part of a show that made television history in countless ways," stated Seacrest. "It's a show about chasing and fulfilling dreams, and truth be told, it helped some of my own dreams come true too."
Past judges of "American Idol' are Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Kara DioGuardi, Ellen DeGeneres, and Steven Tyler. Past winners of the series are Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee Dewyze, Scotty McCreery, Phillip Phillips, Candice Glover, and Caleb Johnson. Nick Fradiani won Season 14 in May 2015.
"Just announced! @AmericanIdol will begin its 15th - and FINAL - season this JAN on @FOXTV?!" tweeted the show's official Twitter account on May 11.
Winners of the contest receive a recording deal with a major record company and receives a management contract. Past winners of the show are reported to have made at least $1 million in their first year after winning. Other finalists have also gone on to having recording contracts or going on tour.
