ABC/Image Group LA Last September, we found out Luke Bryan would complete the judges’ panel on ABC’s reboot of American Idol, alongside Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.
On Sunday, we’ll be able to see what the “Most People Are Good” hitmaker is like as a judge, but from what he tells ABC Radio, it sounds like he may be a bit of a softie.
“It’s been every emotion that you can dream up,” Luke says of the experience so far. “I guess I wasn’t prepared for how you would get emotionally attached to the kids and the contestants.”
Luke admits he’s even suffered through some sleepless nights after Idol auditions.
“I didn’t realize that no matter how you work this thing, you’ve got to tell [contestants] no at some point,” he tells ABC Radio. “But the ability to send them on to the next round is pretty amazing too.”
“But, I mean, I have laid awake at night many times so far wondering, ‘God, did I make the right decision about fighting for this one contestant over the other?'”
As for his co-stars, Luke’s got nothing but love.
“I’ve had a blast,” the four-time Entertainer of the Year says. “We’ve laughed, we’ve cried. I mean, the panel, with Ryan [Seacrest] hosting and then Lionel and Katy, we’re having a blast with it, and it feels real and it feels like we’re just having fun with it.”
You can tune in for the premiere of American Idol Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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