Keith Urban Wants To Return As ‘American Idol’ Judge

With the winds of change blowing through the American Idol set, one judge is hoping to be a familiar face next season.

Keith Urban, who joined the judges panel in season 12, said he wanted to come back to the singing competition in season 13.

“I would. I mean, I literally enjoy coming to work every day, and that’s a rarity,” Urban said after being asked if he would like to judge again next season.

“I joined an ensemble like this in the same way I joined a band,” the 45-year-old added. “I like being in a team and I felt that immediately, with [host Ryan Seacrest] and Randy [Jackson], particularly.”

Unfortunately for Urban, who has been a fan favorite on the show, he joined a season wrought with drama and declining ratings. Wednesday’s episode, which featured the final showdown between Kree Harrison and Candance Glover, was topped by Modern Family, which became the first show ever to outdeliver an Idol finale in the Adults 18-49 demographic. While Idol drew 11.57 million total viewers, compared to Modern Family‘s 9.75, the latter scored 3.5 million adult viewers versus Idol‘s 2.9 million.

Modern Family has also beat or tied Wednesday episodes of American Idol in each of the last seven airings.

Throw in the season-long feud between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, and it’s really a wonder that Urban would want to return. But with Minaj reportedly on her way out, next season may be less dramatic. However, Jackson has confirmed he won’t be returning, so Urban may be starting over with an entirely different panel if he is asked to return.

So far, there has no been no word from Carey about whether she will be returning, but the diva is supposedly planning her first world concert tour in nearly a decade, which most likely means she’s out for next season, too.

Still, despite all the happenings this season, Urban seems to have taken it all in stride, even though it means being judged himself.

“It’s funny. I think everybody is judging,” he said. “Everyone at home is judging us, judging them, judging everybody.”

Do you think Keith Urban should return to American Idol next season?

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