Australian Idol is turning up the heat with international country music star Morgan Evans joining the judging panel when the hit star-making series returns to Seven and 7plus in 2027.
The celebrated singer-songwriter will take his place on the Idol panel as the show’s third judge, sitting alongside Idol OG and pop legend Marcia Hines and TV WEEK Logie Award winner and acclaimed recording and touring artist Amy Shark.
Together, the new-look judging panel will search far and wide across the country for the next Australian Idol.
With a passion for nurturing new artists, Morgan is excited about his return to Idol, having performed his hit single Letting You Go on the show’s 2026 grand finale.
“I’m stoked to be joining Amy, Marcia and the Idol crew next year! I reckon if you’ve got music in you, that’s something the world needs to hear, and I’ve enjoyed helping new artists find that since I was teaching guitar in Newcastle.
“I’ve learned a lot in my travels, some of it the fun way, some of it the other way, and look forward to sharing what I can. Can’t wait to hear what Australia’s got!” said the singer who divides his time between Australia and country music mecca, Nashville.
Seven’s Director of Content, Unscripted, Majella Hay, said: “It’s a new era for Australian Idol. Morgan is the real deal. He’s one of the few home-grown artists to crack Nashville, and with more than a billion global streams, he is an Aussie success story. He’s the perfect addition to the lineup.”
Growing up in Newcastle, New South Wales, Morgan has taken his music around the world and will bring his extensive expertise as a multi-award-winning singer, songwriter and performer to the Australian Idol stage.
Morgan first burst onto the scene with his self-titled debut album in 2014 and has built an extraordinary global career across multiple albums and EPs, amassing more than one billion streams worldwide.
His 2018 album, Things That We Drink To, catapulted Morgan to international acclaim, delivering his first country radio #1 with the 3x platinum Kiss Somebody, alongside 5x platinum fan favourite Day Drunk.
Morgan has headlined some of the biggest stages around the world, including Australia’s premier country music festival, CMC Rocks, in 2022, and has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe.
Following the release of two more EPs, Morgan reached a new career high with the raw and viral Over For You, culminating in two sold-out performances at the iconic Sydney Opera House and his album Live at the Sydney Opera House in 2024.
Morgan’s sophomore album, Steel Town, released in 2026, was inspired by two years spent reconnecting with his industrial hometown. A mix of modern country and rock, with his flair for pop nostalgia, the album explores themes of home, healing and renewed hope.
Since its global debut in 2001, the Idol franchise has been a powerhouse for discovering superstar talent, launching the careers of countless multi-award-winning artists including Aussie favourites Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Matt Corby, Anthony Callea, Stan Walker, Casey Donovan and Courtney Act.
Internationally, music icons including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert also began their incredible careers on the Idol stage.
Australian Idol is hosted by multi-platinum-selling, ARIA Award-nominated singer-songwriter Ricki-
Lee, who was discovered on Australian Idol in 2004, alongside internationally renowned entertainment presenter Scott Tweedie.
