LOS ANGELES 鈥� Luke Bryan says he's tested positive for COVID-19, which sidelined him from the season's first live 鈥淎merican Idol鈥� episode on ABC.
Paula Abdul, an original judge on the talent show when it aired on Fox, was announced as Bryan's replacement for Monday's show, joining Lionel Richie and Katy Perry on the panel.
鈥淚鈥檓 sad to say I won鈥檛 be a part of tonight鈥檚 first live @AmericanIdol show,鈥� Bryan tweeted earlier Monday. 鈥淚 tested positive for COVID but I鈥檓 doing well and look forward to being back at it soon.鈥�
A post on the 鈥淎merican Idol鈥� Twitter account said that Bryan was in quarantine and resting at home, adding, 鈥渨e鈥檙e wishing him a speedy recovery.鈥�
He was scheduled to be a remote part of Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards on CBS, but that pre-taped appearance has also been scuttled.
鈥淎merican Idol," in the process of winnowing its field of 16 performers down to the top 12, is following 鈥渟trict, rigorous, COVID guidelines鈥� on the production, with frequent testing for the virus, ABC and producer Fremantle said.
The Associated Press
