‘American Idol’ finalists discuss the judges

Since the inaugural episode of “American Idol” aired in 2002, a variety of celebrities have served as judges, including Simon Cowell, Jennifer Lopez, and Katy Perry.

Speaking to Insider for the 20th anniversary of the Fox-ABC show, numerous former candidates revealed what the judges were truly like off camera.

According to a Season 11 runner-up, Lopez was “drop-dead stunning” in person. Jennifer Lopez, according to Jessica Sanchez, has a strong work ethic.

Photograph by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

During her five-season tenure as a judge on “Idol,” Lopez became known for imparting her knowledge as a successful musician with Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler.

Season-11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez stated that she “adored” Jackson and Tyler, but was most delighted to meet Jennifer Lopez for the first time.

Sanchez remarked, “She is insanely beautiful, talented, and has an insane work ethic.”

Sanchez stated that the “Idol” judges are often too busy “working” and “grinding” to build relationships with participants. However, Lopez went out of her way to bring Sanchez back as a backup vocalist in a subsequent season, according to Sanchez.

Even away from the cameras and such after the concert, she was incredibly lovely, according to Sanchez.

One singer admired the ‘constructive’ nature of Harry Connick Jr.

From seasons 13 to 15, Connick Jr. joined the judging panel and rapidly became known for his candor and wit.

Season-13 runner-up Jena Irene Asciutto stated that she frequently took the feedback of the judges with a grain of salt because she focused on the feedback of her voice teachers.

However, Asciutto stated that among all the judges on her season, Connick Jr.’s feedback on her performance was her favorite.

Even though it wasn’t always what I desired to hear, it was always constructive, stated Asciutto.

Asciutto stated that Connick Jr. and his fellow judges’ comments impacted her more when she was in the bottom three.

Asciutto told Insider: “I thought, ‘Oh sh*t,’” “‘I must weigh what they say more heavily in order to determine what they want from my next performance.’”

A finalist described Lionel Richie as a “living legend.”
Season-16 runner-up According to Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Lionel Richie was not one for conventional pleasantries.

Kelsey McNeal/Getty Photographs

After “Idol” joined the ABC network in 2018, Richie joined the judging panel and has maintained his position since then.

Seventh-season victor According to David Cook, Richie gave him wonderful advice: “If you’re nervous, it means you’re going to do something great.”

Season-16 runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson lauded the renowned musician as “a walking legend” who “exists on a realm of existence that average people simply cannot comprehend.”

The “Idol” contestant added that interactions with the judge could take unexpected twists at times.

“He does not ask, ‘Hey, how are you?’” Hutchinson revealed to Insider. “He’ll just stroll up and start chatting — ‘It was 1976, and Michael Jackson wanted a cookie’ — and he’ll proceed to tell the entire narrative.”

Hutchinson stated that all of his season’s judges, notably Luke Bryan and Perry, made a lasting influence on him.

Hutchinson stated, “We don’t do brunch or anything, but I have nothing but positive things to say.”

Contestants assert that Jackson is precisely what fans anticipate

After beginning season one alongside Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson remained a judge on “American Idol” for 12 seasons, making him the longest-serving judge in the show’s history.

According to a number of vocalists, Jackson frequently shared his knowledge as a record producer and advised them on how to break into the industry.

“Randy is usually full of enthusiasm,” Asciutto told Insider, adding that the judge was continuously encouraging contestants with the phrase “You’re in it to win it.”

Crystal Bowersox, the runner-up of season nine, feels that Jackson has always conducted himself with genuineness.

“Randy is who he claims to be, and I adored him,” said Bowersox. “I admire him a lot.”

Despite his reputation for being tough, Cowell is one singer’s “favorite judge.”
Some vocalists were unfazed by Simon Cowell’s reputation as a severe judge.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Over the course of his eight-year tenure as a judge on “American Idol,” Simon Cowell earned a reputation for providing severe criticism. However, for some singers, this simply made him more endearing.

Melinda Doolittle, a season six finalist, exclaimed, “Oh, I adore him!” I may have had a minor crush on her.

Doolittle stated that Cowell was her “favorite judge” because she believed he critiqued the singers because he knew they could push themselves to do better.

Doolittle stated, “You realize at the end of the day that he was essentially furious with us because he understood we were superior to what we were showing on television.”

Bowersox remarked that other candidates “cower[ed] when it came to Simon,” but she did not.

Bowersox stated, “I had a great deal of respect for Simon because he was someone who spoke his mind and the truth.” “He never sugarcoated anything; always spoke the truth. And I truly value that in others, even if it’s not always what we want to hear.”

One contestant stated that Ellen DeGeneres was “extremely sweet.”

DeGeneres temporarily replaced Abdul on the judging panel during season nine.

Bowersox said that DeGeneres was “extremely sweet” in 2010 when she was a guest judge on the show.

Bowersox told Insider, “She did not intend to be impolite to anyone.” I admired the fact that she always had something kind to say.