Ryan Seacrest To Host 'American Idol' Reboot

Ryan Seacrest

As widely expected, Ryan Seacrest will back as host of “American Idol” when the singing contest jumps to ABC next year.

His return was announced Thursday on “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” Disney|ABC’s nationally syndicated talk show. The ABC network is owned by Disney.

Seacrest has hosted “American Idol” since it started in 2002 on Fox and steered the show through 15 seasons on that network.

Auditions for the 16th season start Aug. 17 in Orlando, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Seacrest will have a very busy schedule. He will...

• Continue to host “Live with Kelly and Ryan” with Kelly Ripa from New York.
• Host “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” on ABC.
• Host “On Air with Ryan Seacrest,” his nationally syndicated L.A. morning drive-time radio show on KIIS 102.7 FM, and his nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show from his iHeart studio at New York’s ABC7

“It’s genuinely hard to put into words what ‘American Idol’ means to me,” Seacrest said in a statement. “I’m so grateful for the show and all the career and life opportunities it’s allowed me to experience. It’s been an incredible journey from day one. To be asked to return this year, at my new home at Disney|ABC, is an honor, if not a bit surreal. I believe ABC is the perfect home for ‘Idol,’ and I’ve every confidence the show’s legions of fans will love it — especially ‘Idol’’s best traditions of showcasing heartwarming stories, remarkable talent discovery, and, best of all, making dreams come true.”

ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey said much of “American Idol’s” success can be attributed to Seacrest.

“We are thrilled to be ushering in this new era of ‘American Idol’ with Ryan at the helm,” Dungey said. “So much of ‘American Idol’s’ overwhelming success can be attributed to Ryan, whose larger-than- life personality and laudable dedication to creating quality entertainment has made him a true master of his craft. His talent is limitless, and I can’t think of a more appropriate person to honor the ‘Idol’ legacy as it takes on new life than the man who has been there through it all.”