`Jelly Roll to Join American Idol as Artist in Residence`

Carrie Underwood isn’t the only familiar face joining American Idol.

For season 23, the eight-time Grammy winner who emerged victorious in the singing competition back in 2005 is stepping into the role previously held by Katy Perry as judge. Additionally, the show has brought on board Jelly Roll as its inaugural “Artist in Residence.

In the freshly established position, the artist famously known as “The Son of a Sinner” – who previously acted as a guest advisor in season 22 – will collaborate with competitors, providing guidance from the very start of Hollywood Week onwards.

He shared with Ryan Seacrest during a video announcement that he feels like he’s providing the motivation they need. He emphasized that his goal is to boost their spirits and encourage them.

As I stand here, it feels like coming full circle for me, a man named Jason DeFord, aged 40 – a moment that holds a special significance. You might remember that Katy, equally of age and influence, had once commended me as an exceptional choice to fill her shoes on the panel, following her departure from the show in 2024.

She revealed to TopMob News in April that Jelly Roll was extremely persuasive when he appeared on the show. I believed everything he said without question. If he ran for president or became my pastor, I might even reconsider going back to church. He had the power to sell me anything.

Initially, it wasn’t clear if Carrie, aged 41, would be seated next to established judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, but she was eventually chosen for the role. However, what truly moved Jelly was the heartfelt endorsement from the “Firework” singer, Lionel Richie.

He said to TopMob News last month, ‘I’ve found a friend who praises me as Katy Perry praises me in the press.’ A month later, he expressed, ‘Thank you, Katy Perry. I adore you deeply.’

Although Katy supported Jelly, she openly expressed her full confidence in Carrie Underwood’s judgment skills. She reminded everyone of her personal experience as a contestant on Idol.

Katy stated to People in January, ‘As artists, we’ve had similar experiences, but she has truly experienced every day of her life.’ Therefore, I believe she will have valuable insights for anyone ready to listen.

Get a sneak peek at what your beloved “Idol” alumni are currently doing as you continue scrolling down before the new season starts.

Since her appearance on the initial season of American Idol in 2002, Kelly Clarkson, who resides in New York, has made significant strides in her career. She has amassed three Grammy Awards, secured three No.1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, served as a judge on NBC’s The Voice, and is currently hosting her own successful daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show.

In September 2008, the runner-up from season two made a couple of significant disclosures. He announced the birth of his son, Parker, with music producer Jaymes Foster, which led him to come out publicly. Speaking on Good Morning America, he said, “I can’t raise a child and teach him to lie or hide things. At the same time, I don’t ever want to bring him up in an environment where it’s not acceptable for him to be exactly who he is, regardless of what.”

Following this, the well-known redhead transitioned from music to politics, even attempting a run for Congress in 2016. After his election loss, he produced a documentary chronicling his journey. However, he hasn’t abandoned music completely, as evidenced by his tours with season two winner Ruben Studdard in 2023 and 2024 across the country.

Following his victory on season two of American Idol, Ruben garnered a Grammy nomination and put out several hit albums. In 2013, he joined the cast of The Biggest Loser, earning popularity among fans. Despite being eliminated twice, he learned invaluable lessons from the experience. He maintains a close bond with Clay, but found his lifelong partner in wife Kristin, who gave birth to their second child in 2024.

To put it simply, the season three champion expressed her gratitude for every stage of her journey, stating that life has its ups and downs, but it’s important to keep moving forward. She faced some challenging times, but being able to return after losing everything twice makes her feel good.

Recent milestones in her life include the birth of her daughter Keziah in 2021 with husband Kendall Taylor and receiving a Golden Globe nomination for the remake of “The Color Purple”. As a mother to both Zion, who is 23 years old, and Keziah, she wishes to appreciate these moments and acknowledge her hard work to reach this point. This North Carolina native was also proud to mention her daughter Zion.

I may not have taken home the title during season three, but let me tell you, this musician more than made up for it! First came an Oscar in 2006 for her role in Dreamgirls, then a Grammy in 2017 for her work on the musical adaptation of The Color Purple. Add to that, a stint as a judge on The Voice. Now, this mom to son David, who’s 15 by the way, has embarked on an exciting new venture: Her very own talk show!

As soon as she set foot on the American Idol stage, Underwood established herself as an iconic figure in pop culture. Indeed, not only did she emerge victorious in season four, but she’s since been crowned queen of country music.

Later, she teamed up with fellow artist Brad Paisley to co-host the Country Music Association Awards for over a decade. Amidst juggling her music career and hosting commitments, the “Jesus Take The Wheel Singer” is also a mom to her two sons, sharing this role with retired NHL center Mike Fisher.

2024 saw the announcement that Carrie would be joining American Idol once more, stepping into Katy Perry’s role as one of the esteemed judges on the show this time around.

In a turn of events, the individual who finished second in season four is now happily married, with four children – three boys and a girl. Despite encountering severe health issues back in 2006, the popular Southern rocker has managed to put out three successful albums since his time on American Idol.

With his large mane and booming tone (who wouldn’t remember his spirited performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” during the fourth season?), Constantine seemed tailor-made for Broadway’s “Rock of Ages,” earning him a Tony nomination.

The father of 14-year-old Malena is still traveling with his music and gracing Broadway stages, including a scheduled appearance in “Rock & Roll Man” in 2023.

Following his win in season five, the silver fox saw his self-titled album achieve platinum status and took on a role in the Broadway production of “Grease”. In 2016, he moved from music to television, becoming the host of a show called “State-Plate”, which emphasized the concept of farm-to-table dining. Despite this transition, he has not abandoned his initial passion and continues to perform his music on tour.

Prior to the Bieber craze, there was McPhee-mania that catapulted Katharine into both singing and acting careers, most notably in the Broadway-inspired show ‘Smash’ and the drama ‘Scorpion’. Married to David Foster since 2019, she is now a mother to their musically-talented son Rennie. In an interview with TopMob News in 2023, Katharine expressed her hope that Rennie would pursue music like his father, stating, “I’d love for him to be proficient in various musical instruments just like his dad.” Although they are not forcing him, she shared, “We’re simply letting him explore. However, I hope he develops a strong understanding of all musical instruments, similar to his dad. I believe he’s on the right track—that much is certain.

Following my stint on American Idol during season five, when “Wait for You” became a hit, I found myself journeying to Angola, collaborating with former Idol judge Kara DioGuardi to promote Malaria No More. In 2010, I made headlines again after surviving Chile’s earthquake and sharing my tale through Twitter.

Musically, I’m still creating, and I’m blessed to share a beautiful daughter named Camilla with Karen Cruz.

During the fifth season of American Idol, the country music performer placed sixth. However, she’s since made a name for herself, appearing in Hallmark’s Christmas in Graceland and receiving three Daytime Emmy nominations for her TV show Pickler & Ben.

Following the tragic suicide of her husband Kyle Jacobs in February 2023, she has been reminiscing about their shared past. In an interview with People, she shared a valuable lesson he taught her during hard times: “If you’re unsure of what to do when faced with a crisis, just stay still.” This advice resonated with her, and she has chosen to follow it.

In 2007, the then-youngest champion of American Idol ignited quite a buzz. Her Battlefield tour traversed 35 cities across the U.S., and she further dazzled by making her Broadway debut in 2010, performing in the musical In the Heights. Since then, her career has flourished, culminating in the birth of her first child with husband Dana Isaiah in May 2018. Over the years, she’s revisited American Idol and even competed on season 31 of Dancing With the Stars.

The champion of season seven, known for his popular song “Time of My Life,” symbolizes his musical achievements on stage, yet this title could also refer to his activities beyond it. In 2010, he journeyed to Ethiopia as a representative of the United Nations, aiming to strengthen women in that nation. Moreover, he participated in the Race for Hope in D.C., fundraising for brain cancer research, a cause close to his heart following his brother’s tragic passing from the disease in 2009.

Married to Racheal Stump since 2015, this persistent musician continues to tour and released his latest single “TABOS” in 2022.

Following his second-place finish behind fellow singer David during season seven, he spent two years (2012-2014) as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile. Upon his return in 2014, he has consistently performed. In June 2021, he publicly announced that he identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Expressing joy about his personal journey, he stated on Instagram in October, “It’s been a beautiful experience learning to embrace myself,” and expressed hope that by living openly, he could inspire others to do the same.

Despite being overshadowed by his runner-up Adam Lambert in media attention, the season eight winner has experienced a tranquil surge of success with his self-titled second album. Launched in November 2009, it entered the Billboard 200 at position 11, and one of its tracks, “I Need to Know,” was showcased on an episode of The Vampire Diaries.

In the interim, this celebrity has been expanding his family, welcoming three children with his long-time sweetheart Katy O’Connell.

As an ardent fan, I can’t help but marvel at the triumphs of that eighth season’s runner-up who, if fame were a trophy, would surely be crowned a grand-slam champion. Ever since his stint on the reality show, he’s graced us with numerous albums, spearheaded sold-out tours, garnered countless nominations (even earning a nod for a Grammy), followed in the legendary footsteps of Freddie Mercury as the lead vocalist for Queen, and even starred in Fox’s reimagining of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

To add to his impressive resume, he briefly took a seat as a guest judge on “Idol.” The singer also had the privilege of kicking off the 2019 Oscars with a rendition of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.

Following the exhilarating finale of season 8 of American Idol, I, an ardent fan, found myself overjoyed at the news of Kris Allen’s marriage to Leyicet Peralta in 2012. Fast forward a few years, and this loving duo has been blessed with four beautiful children.

In 2021, this three-time Grammy nominee unveiled a Christian music album called “Jesus People.” Additionally, he runs a business called Danny Gokey Eyewear that deals with eyeglasses.

Following his inclusion in the top 10 finalists’ summer tour in 2010, the winner of season nine kick-started his solo music career. Lee subsequently tied the knot with model-actress Jonna Walsh in 2012 after they crossed paths on the set of his debut music video post-Idol. Today, this artist has firmly established himself as a singer-songwriter, with his compositions regularly featured on series like The Walking Dead.

As the runner-up to Lee DeWyze in season nine, I, a Janis Joplin-esque rocker, tied the knot with musician Brian Walker and launched my debut album, “Farmer’s Daughter,” in December 2010. However, when RCA disbanded Arista, J Records, and Jive Records, I lost my label deal. But I made my acting debut on ABC’s second season of Body of Proof.

In May 2013, my marriage ended. After the divorce, I shared with The Boot that my second album “All That For This” was the next chapter in my life.

Since then, I, a mom of two, have released albums like “Alive” in 2017 and “HitchHiker” in 2022.

As an over-the-moon fanatic, I’m thrilled to share that the Season 10 Idol champion was the first titleholder since Ruben to have his debut album, “Clear as Day,” reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200! He even bagged the New Artist of the Year award at the 2011 American Country Awards and serenaded the national anthem before Game 1 of the World Series that same exhilarating year. Fast forward to June 2018, our beloved singer, known for hits like “This Is It” and “Five More Minutes,” tied the knot with his long-term sweetheart, Gabi Dugal. Their bundle of joy, Avery, arrived in October 2022, adding another beautiful chapter to their story.

After coming in second place to Scotty on a popular television show, the beloved country artist secured a record deal and launched her studio debut, “Wildflower,” in October 2011. Following her stint on the same show, she shared the stage with Scotty at the 2011 CMT Music Awards, made her Grand Ole Opry debut, and even performed alongside Martina McBride at the CMA Music Festival.

In 2017, she earned her first recognition from the Country Music Association (CMA) when she was nominated for Best New Artist, following the success of her album, “Road Less Traveled.” She also ventured into acting by starring in a film with the same name.

The singer known as “Thicc As Thieves” announced her engagement to Cam Arnold during a performance at the Grand Ole Opry in November 2022.

In the tenth season of the competition, he didn’t win a spot on the podium but came in sixth place. This was partially due to the judges using their one-time save five weeks earlier in the season. However, he garnered a significant fanbase, affectionately known as “cult faves.” He showcased his talent on the American Idol Live tour and collaborated with fellow finalist (and reported love interest) Haley Reinhart on a cover of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Eventually, he signed with jazz label Concord.

His debut album, titled after him, was released in 2012. This was followed by the albums “I Put A Spell On You” in 2018 and “Jazz” in 2019.

Initially eliminated before the live voting rounds during season 10, Allen has since achieved great success, releasing two chart-topping songs, “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To,” in 2018 and winning the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year in 2021.

In April 2023, Allen and his wife, Alexis, announced they were expecting their third child and were ending their two-year marriage. Just under a month later, Allen was accused of sexual assault and abuse by his former manager in a lawsuit. Although he admitted to infidelity and publicly apologized to Alexis for humiliating her with his affair, he denied the sexual misconduct allegations, stating that his relationship with his former manager was consensual.

Following the birth of their son, Cohen Ace James, in September, the couple announced they were attempting to reconcile their relationship.

Following my triumphant win in season 11, I soared to the pinnacle of the music charts with my chart-topping single, “Home,” which was also the anthem for NBC’s coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics. My latest album, Drift Back, was released in June this year.

In 2015, I exchanged vows with my beloved girlfriend, Hannah Blackwell, in a intimate ceremony surrounded by our dear ones. Four years down the line, we were blessed with our first child, a son whom we named Patch.

The season 16 winner hinted to TopMob News about the diverse array of tracks on their album, “Whirlwind,” which was released in 2019, a year following their victory on American Idol. They shared that they couldn’t narrow down their sound because they adore all the styles so much, making it challenging to stay within one genre. However, their 2023 single “SOS I’m In Love” has a clear perspective. Notably, she is now disclosing her relationship with musician Gabe Burdulis after parting ways with season 16 runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson.

After finishing as the runner-up on season 16 of the series, Caleb Lee has dedicated himself to producing new music and taking advantage of the chances that come with being on ABC’s show. In his own words to TopMob News, “I’ve always been passionate about music and aspired to be an artist. However, my experience in entertainment broadened significantly. I had the privilege of attending Luke Bryan’s final concert for his tour and even joined him on stage to sing a song together.” His latest album, titled Southern Galactic, was launched in October 2023.

Following her third-place finish on season 16 of “American Idol”, the country singer known for “I Hope” dedicated herself to completing her album. She shared with TopMob News, “I’m thrilled about playing Stagecoach, and touring with Brad Paisley is just the perfect finale to all this excitement! It feels surreal to go on tour with him.”

Approximately two years after the birth of their first child, daughter Baylah, she and fellow alum Cade Foehner welcomed their second child, son Augustine, in October 2022. In February 2024, they became parents for a third time.

2025-02-04 23:51

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