Can she bring the Sparks back to “American Idol?”
Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks says she wants to return to the reality show as a judge after Katy Perry announced she’s leaving her role on the judging panel later this year.
“Oh hiiii @AmericanIdol,” Sparks, 34, tweeted on Friday. “I hear a seat opened up at the judges table! I’m putting my name in the hat!”
Sparks’ public plea comes days after Perry, 39, told Jimmy Kimmel last week that the current Season 22 will be her last after seven years on the show.
“I love ‘Idol’ so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America. But I need to feel that pulse of my own beat,” the “Firework” singer explained, alluding to releasing new music and maybe even a tour.
Perry, Luke Bryan, 47, and Lionel Richie, 74, have occupied the iconic “Idol” judges’ chairs upon the show’s 2018 revival on ABC.
Richie also appeared on “Kimmel” last week and detailed the type of person that could replace Perry.
“This is a great show,” he declared. “And what I love most of all is that we’re artists, so we know what we’re talking about, and these kids are scared to death, so I love sitting there as the wise poo-bahs, the three of us, and we’re sitting there and we’re all kind of giving information that we know is real.”
Richie added: “So whoever’s coming on the show has got to be, well, to come past Katy, you’ve gotta be humorous forever, and, on top of that, knowledgeable.”
Sparks won “Idol” at age 17 in 2007, making her the youngest winner in the show’s history. Her self-titled debut album included hits “Tattoo” and “No Air” featuring Chris Brown. The latter earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
In 2010, she made her Broadway debut as Nina Rosario in the musical “In The Heights.” She also starred in the movie “Sparkle” in 2012.
Sparks released her latest album, “Cider & Hennessy,” in November 2020.
“American Idol” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.