Keith Urban to Return as AMERICAN IDOL Judge; J-LO, Hudson to Sign On?

Keith Urban, a four-time Grammy Award winner who has sold more than 15 million albums, will return to AMERICAN IDOL XIII as a judge.

IDOL hopefuls will meet Emmy Award-nominated host Ryan Seacrest and the judges, including Urban, when the auditions travel to Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Detroit, Omaha, Salt Lake City and San Francisco. AMERICAN IDOL XIII debuts in January 2014 on FOX.

FOX entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly shared at today's Fox's upfront presentation that rumored judges Jennifer Hudson, will.i.am and Dr. Luke have all been "talked about and discussed," however no deals are in place at this time. The chairman maintained that his goal is to find judges who are "good at the job, people like and we refocus on the contestants."

About Keith Urban:

2013 is poised to be another spectacular year for Keith Urban, who has already celebrated the success of a sold-out Australian Arena tour and received his first Golden Globe Award nomination for his song "For You," his initial foray writing specifically for a motion picture. A performance with the Rolling Stones and at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Concert, combined with Urban's fourth annual All 4 The Hall Benefit Concert performing alongside Rebels and Renegades' Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill, Tim McGraw and Eric Church, amongst others, has further solidified the respect that Urban has received as a musician and player.

In the spring, Urban released his first single in nearly two years, "Little Bit of Everything," and wrapped Season 12 of FOX's AMERICAN IDOL, on which he serves as a judge.

In July, he launched the first outdoor summer tour of his career, Light The Fuse Tour 2013, with Little Big Town and special guest Dustin Lynch. The tour will move into arenas in October and will continue through December. Urban's eighth studio album, "FUSE," will be released on September 10.

In 2001, the Country Music Association honored Urban with its Horizon Award, designating him a talented artist with a bright future. He is the first Horizon Award winner in history to go on to win the CMA's Male Vocalist of the Year, a title he's captured three times, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year. More than 15 million albums later, Keith is a four-time Grammy Award winner who has also won a People's Choice Award and American Music Award. He's won five Academy of Country Music Awards, had 14 No. 1's, including 28 Top 5 hits, and has had five consecutive platinum or multi-platinum albums. In 2012, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Urban's reputation as a songwriter, musician, vocalist and virtuoso guitarist is no more evident than when he is onstage. His electrifying concerts have played to sold-out venues from Australia to Germany, England to Canada and the United States. In fact, 2009's Escape Together World Tour, as well as 2007's Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy World Tour, were both one of the top-grossing tours for their respective years.

Auditions are under way for AMERICAN IDOL XIII, with stops in Boston, MA, on Friday, Aug. 2; Austin, TX, on Wednesday, Aug. 7; and Omaha, NE, on Sunday, Aug. 11. Additional cities, dates and details will be announced on www.americanidol.com.

In addition, the "AMERICAN IDOL Audition Bus Tour" will hit the road for a five-town mobile tour offering hopefuls a chance to audition for AMERICAN IDOL XIII and making stops at the following cities: Little Rock, AR, on Saturday, Aug. 17; Oxford, MS, on Monday, Aug. 19; Tuscaloosa, AL, onWednesday, Aug. 21; Knoxville, TN, on Friday, Aug. 23; and Chapel Hill, NC, on Monday, Aug. 26. Specific locations to be announced.

AMERICAN IDOL XIII hopefuls also can audition at www.americanidol.com, by submitting an audition video online. Entrants should demonstrate their stellar singing ability by performing a song of their choice a cappella. Videos are limited to one submission per person. Please visitwww.americanidol.com for submission rules and terms and conditions.

AMERICAN IDOL XIII is produced by 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group, and FremantleMedia North America. The series is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, CEO, XIX Entertainment. Cecile Frot-Coutaz for FremantleMedia; Trish Kinane and Per Blankens for FremantleMedia North America; and Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager for CORE Media Group, serve as executive producers.

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