Country music superstar and former judge Keith Urban will return for the American Idol season 21 finale as a mentor and performer. Keith is a Grammy Award-winning singer who became a judge American Idol season 12 in 2013, along with Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Nicki Minaj. Keith returned for seasons 13, 14, and 15, which was American Idol’s final season on FOX. He was joined by Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick, Jr. for those seasons.
In an Instagram post, American Idol announced that Keith will be a mentor and guest performer on the American Idol season 21 finale.
The caption of the post read, “Once an IDOL judge, now our FINALE guest mentor! Welcome back, @keithurban!” According to Billboard, Keith will guide the Top 3 contestants as they compete for the win. He will also perform his 2022 hit song, “Wild Hearts.”
American Idol Season 21 Finale Details
The American Idol season 21 finale airs on Sunday, May 21. The finale will be three hours long, with other performers who will be announced as the date gets closer. Three of the American Idol Top 5 finalists will make it to the finale after Disney Night. The Top 5 consists of Iam Tongi, Wé Ani, Colin Stough, Megan Danielle, and Zachariah Smith. They will be judged by the current panel consisting of Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan.
American Idol does a fantastic job of honoring its rich history. During Hollywood Week, several alums returned to help the contestants work on one of three categories of their choosing. Clay Aiken and David Archuleta worked to build the contestants’ confidence. Phillip Phillips and Catie Turner focused on songwriting with the singers, while Jordin Sparks and Justin Guarini advised them about stage presence. Noah Thompson was also there to offer his guidance. Later in the season, Noah and runner-up HunterGirl performed, while Adam Lambert mentored the Top 12 for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night.
Keith’s return as an American Idol finale mentor is a fantastic choice. As a judge, he helped to build the contestants’ confidence, while also offering constructive criticism. He knows what it takes to win the competition, as he spent four seasons finding and guiding the music industry’s next stars. It will also be exciting to see him take the American Idol stage with his hit song. The Top 3 are lucky to have Keith, such a talented and seasoned performer, to mentor them as they compete to be crowned the next American Idol.
American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.
Sources: Keith Urban/Instagram, Billboard/Rania Aniftos