Production for the show is already underway with third-time judge Jennifer Lopez, second timer judge Keith Urban and former mentor Harry Connick Jr on board.
Jennifer Lopez, 44, is returning to the show after a year away from the show after judging on the show’s eleventh and twelfth series.
New Panel: Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr are judging the thirteenth series of the show
At the Altanta auditions, Jennifer said that first-timer Connick will appeal to fans, saying ‘His music education is so far beyond the normal person I think,’
‘What he has to offer to America ... is the art of singing, the art of playing, all of that ... It's gonna be something new for the show.’
JLo also spoke about rejoining the programme on Ryan Seacrest’s morning show, saying: ‘It was one of those things; it was so hard for me to leave the first time, [but] to be honest right now is the worst time for me to stop and do Idol!’
‘I’m doing two movies and I have my album coming out, but I’m doing it because I want to. I love it.’
She added: ‘I know people like to make a big deal about the money, but for me, it’s not about that.’
Her $17.5m salary is a big leap from the $12m paycheck J-Lo was handed for her first season of Idol in 2011. For her second season she was given a $3m raise to $15m.
Getting along: Judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr seemed to have warmed to one another
‘Country singer Keith Urban, 46, said in a statement of the new line-up: ‘I think this season of Idol is gonna be a blast.
'There's a lot of subtle change everywhere,’ he said. ‘Not just with us but with the way the show looks, the way it feels.’
New judge Harry Connick Jr., 46, added: ‘And I am honored that they’ve asked me to be a judge this season. As an entertainer, I am truly excited to bring my perspective to American Idol, and to help emerging performers find their way.’
Ryan Seacrest is also returning as host of the competition and said ‘a new superstar is within our sights’.
Fun: American Idol promises to have a cringe factor as contestants audition for a place on the show
Randy Jackson, who stepped down as a judge after the last season, has confirmed he will be returning as a mentor.
Ratings for the show, which is based on the UK Pop Idol series, have slumped in the US over recent years.
There were complaints last year over arguments between judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, who both announced they were leaving the show in May.
Affection: Jennifer Lopez receives a hug from her co-stars backstage
Chic: Jennifer wears a striped dress featuring contrasting prints
Mariah recently described working on the show as ‘hell’, while she promoted her new song The Art of Letting Go on New York radio station Hot 97.
She said: ‘Honestly, I hated it. ... It was like hell. Going to work every day in hell with Satan.’
Harry Connick Jr. responded to her comments on Twitter, writing: ‘when @MariahCarey spoke of "satan" she wasn't referring to @NICKIMINAJ. it was @KeithUrban. he's hot and plays the hell out of the guitar.’
American Idol is set to return for its thirteenth season in January 2014 and will be shown on channel 5* in the UK
Competitive: The judges take part in a friendly arm wrestle
Chilling out: The judges seemed to enjoy hanging out backstage
Glamour: Jennifer is set to wow viewers with an array of impressive outfits
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