Ranking Every Single American Idol Judge

American Idol has had fourteen judges in total – but who were the best, and who should never have got the gig?

You Are Reading :Ranking Every Single American Idol Judge

Through American Idol’s 18 seasons to date, including the 15 for the original series that aired on Fox from 2002 to 2016 along with the resurrected version on ABC that just wrapped up its third season, there have been a total of 14 judges who have sat on the panel.

In almost every case, the judges work in the music industry, as a musician and/or behind the scenes. But they have ranged from pop to country, R&B, and rock stars.

Some judges fit like a glove and it out of the park. Others, not so much. How do they rank? Here’s a list.

14 Ellen DeGeneres

Even DeGeneres herself admitted that she wasn’t a good fit for the series. While she was a huge fan of the show and of music itself, she isn’t a musician nor does she work in the music business. She’s clever and witty with jokes but she really didn’t have anything insightful to offer the contestants.

She only lasted a single season, replacing the massive hole left by Paula Abdul. Thankfully she went back to focusing on her wildly successful daytime talk show instead.

13 Mariah Carey

In theory, Carey sounds like the perfect judge for a show like this. She has an incredible vocal range and was one of the most iconic musical artists of the ’90s. There was a lot she could teach the contestants.

But she just didn’t jive well with the gig and spent more time fighting with fellow judge Nicki Minaj than actually offering constructive criticism. She has the gift of song but not the gift of gab. Thankfully, she only lasted a single season.

12 Nicki Minaj

Minaj spent most of the time on the judges panel beefing with Mariah Carey, which took focus away from the actual competitors who were looking to fulfill their musical dreams.

She knows the business and had a unique opinion given her massive success as a female rapper. But how many rappers do we see on American Idol? She wasn’t the right fit and was, not surprisingly, gone after a season.

11 Harry Connick Jr.

Connick Jr. is a wonderful singer but in a genre that doesn’t really translate to the typical pop, country, and R&B singers we see on Idol. He is a fun and engaging personality. He did have his own talk show, after all. So he did a decent job.

He remained on board for three seasons and while he was a great judge, he still doesn’t rank among the top five.

10 Kara DioGuardi

There was something interesting about having DioGuardi on the judging panel because she wasn’t really a known face. But she had been an influential songwriter in the music business for decades, so she added another dynamic.

She only stayed for two seasons but she proved her worth in helping the contestants improve and not being afraid to say what she really thought. Even though it initially seemed out of place to have a fourth judge.

9 Keith Urban

Urban provided some much-needed country representation on the judging panel, and as a mega-star, he also had a lot of heart. He lasted four seasons, from season 12 through to the final season.

He interacted well with the contestants, provided great feedback, and seemed to truly care about them and their journeys.

8 Luke Bryan

A current judge in the resurrected version of the show, Bryan is as genuine as they come. He isn’t afraid to get up and sit behind a piano to help a contestant during their audition, sing a duet with them, and give praise when it’s due.

But he doesn’t seem to really offer much criticism unless it’s for the obvious duds in the initial auditions who have zero talent. He’s one of those judges who says every performance is magic even if it isn’t. But he’s so darn lovable, you almost don’t care.

7 Lionel Richie

He’s an icon. How can Richie not be among the top judges ever for the series? The fact that he would even take the job speaks to the influence and importance of the show in helping launch music careers for talented, aspiring singers.

He shows emotions and truly connects with contestants and their back stories. He won’t mince words and while he isn’t overtly critical, he lets you know how he feels.

6 Katy Perry

In terms of entertainment factor, the new show wouldn’t be what it is without Perry. She is a huge pop star and her quirky personality shines through. Sometimes, you want to pay more attention to her than you do the people who are singing.

But she also makes sure to place the spotlight on the contestants and give them criticism when they need it and praise when they earn it.

5 Randy Jackson

“It was a little pitchy, dawg.” Jackson ended up coining so many catchphrases as a judge, he was hilarious on the panel. Like DioGuardi, he wasn’t a big known star even though he was a major star behind the scenes. He produced for artists like Mariah Carey (and dropped her name numerous times on the show to make sure no one ever forgot.) And he played for bands from Jon Bon Jovi to Bruce Springsteen.

It was a sad day when he left after 12 seasons, though he did stay on temporarily as a mentor.

4 Jennifer Lopez

Lopez was probably the biggest surprise because she is painted as a diva yet came across as anything but on the judging panel. She often told contestants they gave her “goosies,” pointing to the goose bumps on her arms from their magical performances.

Most contestants were simply starstruck to see her, but she felt their emotions and stories and cried many times listening to them talk and perform. She was a judge on season 10, left and returned for the final 14th and 15th seasons of the original show.

3 Steven Tyler

It surprised many that this icon would take the gig and he proved to be a worthy addition. Not only were contestants so nervous and shocked to meet him in person, but he played it up every second he got.

He was a judge on season 10, along with Lopez, and stayed on for two seasons. They were among the best as Tyler used his signature style and zero filter commentary to entertain viewers.

2 Paula Abdul

Viewers were angry when it was announced that Abdul would not be returning as a judge on the series after eight seasons. She provided the sometimes unintentional comic relief with her nonsensical commentary.

Her riffing with fellow judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson made the judging panel more entertaining than the show itself. What people really loved was when Simon Cowell insulted someone and Abdul came to their defense, or Abdul said something Cowell proceeded to mock. When the two went at it, it was thoroughly entertaining.

1 Simon Cowell

There’s no way any judge can compare to Cowell, the original judge who was on the panel for the first nine seasons. He was typically British, crass and unapologetic. He didn’t care about hurting anyone’s feelings or crushing their dreams and viewers ate up his brutal honesty. He said what everyone was thinking.

Cowell was a judge on the original U.K. version of the series on which American Idol is based, Pop Idol. And his harsh nature translated perfectly to the American audiences. There has never been a judge like him since on the show. And sometimes with the lacklustre performances that receive glowing praise, his no-filter commentary is sorely missed. Even though he can now be seen as a judge on America’s Got Talent, he’s softened a lot.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/ranking-every-single-american-idol-judge/