American Idol dropped a series twist never done before ... and host Ryan Seacrest has some thoughts about it.
The hit ABC series is coming back for an all-new season on March 9, and it is famous for bringing musical sensations in to coach competitors throughout different weeks of the season. But there has never been a well-known singer there to take the role of mentor and be by the contestants' sides throughout the entire competition ... until now.
In an announcement made by Variety on February 4, American Idol announced there will be an "artist in residence." This position will be "a permanent fixture this season and will work closely with the Idol hopefuls, giving them firsthand advice on how to navigate the journey" — and the first celebrity to hold the title is none other than country superstar Jelly Roll.
To confirm the news, Jelly Roll (who was also previously a mentor during the stage of competition held at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawai'i) and Ryan filmed a hilarious teaser that appeared on American Idol's official Instagram. As Jelly Roll proceeded to pick Ryan up and spin him around, folks got to hear just how thrilled Ryan was to see the "Save Me" singer take on this new role on the show.
"Jelly Roll!" Ryan exclaimed in the clip. "Good to see you buddy!"
"I'm American Idol's artist in residence!" Jelly Roll happily replied.
After all the antics finished, Ryan was curious to hear how Jelly Roll felt about being American Idol's first artist in residence. And to nobody's surprise, Jelly Roll was ecstatic to be someone the contestants could rely on throughout the season.
"How does it feel?" Ryan added. "You're shaping America's future."
"Yes! I feel like I'm giving them the energy they need," Jelly Roll responded. "I'm uplifting and trying to to get 'em goin'!"
