Many talented and charismatic judges have integrated the American Idol panel over the years, but the fans want to know which of these stars are the most popular on social media. From the original trinity of American Idol judges to the latest configuration of judges on the ABC reboot, the viewers have always trusted that these artists will find diamonds in the rough. So, which of these music industry legends have the most followers on Instagram? Let’s find out.
12. Randy Jackson (144,000)
The American Idol judge with the lowest number of followers on his Instagram profile is Randy Jackson, who has 144,000 followers. This is unfortunate given that Randy was a judge on the show from season 1 up until season 12.
11. Paula Abdul (328,000)
Paula Abdul was cast as an original judge on American Idol after having a very long and well-respected career as a singer, dancer, actress, and choreographer. Paula was in the American Idol judging panel between seasons 1 and 8, and as of 2021, she has 328,000 followers on Instagram.
10. Harry Connick Jr. (784,000)
Singer, composer, and TV personality Harry Connick Jr. was a judge on American Idol between seasons 13 and 15. On Instagram, Harry has as many as 784,000 followers as of this writing. In 2021, he made a surprise appearance on American Idol season 19 to perform a song.
9. Lionel Richie (1.2 million)
The legendary vocalist and songwriter Lionel Richie has been a mainstay judge on American Idol since ABC rebooted the series. The “Hello” singer has 1.2 million followers on Instagram, which means that generations old and new have found a connection with him.
8. Simon Cowell (1.7 million)
Simon Cowell isn’t very active on his Instagram, which is pretty on-brand for him. He will forever be known as the OG American Idol judge, having only left the show in season 9. All things considered, it is not surprising that Simon has 1.7 million followers on IG.
7. Steven Tyler (2.4 million)
Aerosmith frontman and a judge on American Idol for seasons 10 and 11, Steven Tyler is one of the most famous rockstars on the planet. On Instagram, he has as many as 2.4 million followers.
6.Keith Urban (2.5 million)
Keith Urban stayed aboard American Idol from season 12 up until season 15. He has 2.5 million followers on Instagram, making him an extremely popular country superstar.
5. Luke Bryan (5.7 million)
Luke Bryan is one of the three judges on ABC’s American Idol, sitting alongside Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. The country star has a whopping 5.7 million followers on Instagram.
4. Mariah Carey (10 million)
The one and only Mariah Carey had a very brief stint as an American Idol judge, given that she only appeared in season 12. On Instagram, Mariah has a massive fanbase consisting of 10 million followers.
3. Katy Perry (116 million)
The highest-paid female American Idol judge of all time, Katy Perry has 116 million followers on her Instagram profile. That’s not surprising at all considering that she’s one of the best-selling pop stars in the world.
2. Nicki Minaj (133 million)
Nicki Minaj was only a judge on American Idol for season 12. The rapper, who is currently pregnant, has an impressive 133 million followers on Instagram.
1. Jennifer Lopez (150 million)
As of this writing, Jennifer Lopez is the most-followed American Judge of all time on Instagram. The iconic J-Lo has 150 million followers on the social network, which is more than many of her famous peers that appeared in this ranking.
American Idol season 19 airs Sundays & Mondays at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.
