(NYTimes) - Katy Perry, who has served hit after hit to the pop market and climbed the musical ranks all the way to a performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, is to try her hand at a gig that's tested the mettle of many a celebrity before her.
She will serve as a judge on the revival of American Idol, part of ABC's 2017-18 season in the United States, the network confirmed on Tuesday (May 17). The show was previously on Fox, which cancelled it last year.
She will join a pantheon of musicians who have had judging stints on the show, including 80s pop icon Paula Abdul and singing diva Mariah Carey.
Where have past judges come from? And where did they go next? Here's a look back at the career paths of several American Idol judges:
Paula Abdul
The singer-songwriter had a moment of intense fame in the 1980s and early 90s but largely disappeared from the limelight until she took a role on American Idol in 2002. She stayed until 2009, and was well loved by contestants and audiences for her sunny and even-keel evaluations. She has stuck with judging, though, and has had guest appearances and recurring stints on shows including Live To Dance, The X Factor and Ru Paul's Drag Race.
Mariah Carey
Carey, who joined the show in its 12th season, called her participation the "worst experience of my life" in an Australian radio interview. The season's drama centred in large part on apparent tensions between Carey and her co-host, Nicki Minaj. In the same interview, Carey said she did not appreciate gossip about the feud between the singers, which she called "nonexistent", and resented having to manufacture criticism of performers she considered very talented.
Steven Tyler
The lead singer of Aerosmith served as an American Idol judge for two seasons but left in 2012, issuing a statement that likened the show to Alex, the murderous, spurned mistress played by Glenn Close in the 1987 movie Fatal Attraction.
He said at the time: "I've decided it's time for me to let go of my mistress American Idol. I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I'm back." This month, Aerosmith is kicking off its Aero-Vederci Baby! tour of Europe.
Jennifer Lopez
She served as an American Idol judge for five seasons, and used the show's 2016 finale to introduce her single Ain't Your Mama. A return to the show looks unlikely for now: She is currently judging and producing the new show, World Of Dance, which is set to premiere on NBC this month.
Harry Connick Jr.
Connick, a big-band musician, talk show host and erstwhile Will & Grace regular, spent several seasons on the American Idol panel. In an interview with Billboard magazine, he said he had no trouble critiquing contestants and didn't worry about what they thought of him. "I'm sure some people think I'm a jerk and some don't," he said. "It doesn't really matter." He hosts the daytime talk show Harry, and sang the national anthem at the Kentucky Derby this month.
