Ryan Seacrest will continue his long-running role as host of American Idol when the series returns for its ninth season on ABC, marking its 24th season overall since the franchise debuted in 2002.
ABC confirmed the news just weeks after announcing that Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will all return to the judging panel.
Underwood, who won season four in 2005, joined as a judge last year, while Richie and Bryan have been mainstays since 2018.
Alongside his Idol duties, Seacrest is also in his first year as the host of Wheel of Fortune.
However, away from television, the 50-year-old presenter has been dealing with a deeply personal challenge: his father Gary’s ongoing battle with prostate cancer.
Earlier this summer, Seacrest revealed that his 81-year-old father had been hospitalised with pneumonia while undergoing chemotherapy. He recalled receiving the distressing call from his sister Meredith while live on set.
“She said, ‘Dad is in the ICU. How fast can you get here?’” Seacrest shared on his radio show in July.
“I didn’t even remember what I was saying while I was on the show. I said ‘goodnight,’ and went straight to the airport to catch a flight to Atlanta.”
Seacrest remained by his father’s side until his condition stabilised.
“We have to go back into another treatment and fight this cancer,” he admitted.
“It’s difficult. The treatments suck. The treatments are tough. But I know he’s gonna get through this.”
Since its inception, American Idol has been a cultural phenomenon, launching the careers of stars such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jennifer Hudson.
Contestants aged between 15 and 28 audition for a panel of celebrity judges, before progressing through various stages, including the notoriously gruelling Hollywood Week.
Finalists then compete in live shows, with the winner ultimately chosen by the public through voting.
The next season of American Idol is set to air in 2026.