Can she bring the Sparks back to “American Idol?”
Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks says she desires to return to the reality show as a judge after Katy Perry announced she’s leaving her role on the judging panel later this 12 months.
“Oh hiiii @AmericanIdol,” Sparks, 34, tweeted on Friday. “I hear a seat opened up at the judges table! I’m putting my name in the hat!”
Sparks’ public plea comes days after Perry, 39, told Jimmy Kimmel last week that the current Season 22 shall be her last after seven years on the show.
“I really like ‘Idol’ a lot. It’s connected me with the heart of America. But I want to feel that pulse of my own beat,” the “Firework” singer explained, alluding to releasing recent music and possibly even a tour.
Perry, Luke Bryan, 47, and Lionel Richie, 74, have occupied the iconic “Idol” judges’ chairs upon the show’s 2018 revival on ABC.
Richie also appeared on “Kimmel” last week and detailed the sort of individual that could replace Perry.
“That is a terrific show,” he declared. “And what I really like most of all is that we’re artists, so we all know what we’re talking about, and these kids are scared to death, so I really like sitting there as the smart poo-bahs, the three of us, and we’re sitting there and we’re all form of giving information that we all know is real.”
Richie added: “So whoever’s coming on the show has got to be, well, to return past Katy, you’ve gotta be humorous eternally, and, on top of that, knowledgeable.”
Sparks won “Idol” at age 17 in 2007, making her the youngest winner in the show’s history. Her self-titled debut album included hits “Tattoo” and “No Air” featuring Chris Brown. The latter earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
In 2010, she made her Broadway debut as Nina Rosario in the musical “In The Heights.” She also starred in the movie “Sparkle” in 2012.
Sparks released her latest album, “Cider & Hennessy,” in November 2020.
“American Idol” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.