ABC announced on Tuesday that American Idol will return for its seventh go-round on the network, with judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, along with host Ryan Seacrest. The show, ranked No. 1 in its time slot among adults 18-49, will be back in spring 2024, though an exact date wasn't announced.

In the meantime, the "Idol Across America" live virtual nationwide search will allow aspiring superstars to audition in front of a producer from anywhere in the country. Virtual auditions will start on August 2, with the First 700 VIP event, giving singers a chance to audition under their chosen genre for the first time in IAA history.

The announcement comes as most non-reality and sports TV production has stopped due to actors and writers strikes. Idol is produced under the SAG-AFTRA Network Code, set to expire in June 2024, and is not covered by any Writers Guild of America agreement, allowing its return even if the strikes aren't resolved by spring 2024.