Australian Idol 2027 shake-up: Country singer Morgan Evans to join new-look judging panel in 2027

Australian country music star Morgan Evans will join the Australian Idol judging panel in 2027 after Kyle Sandilands announced his exit last month.

Evans will take his place on the Idol panel as the show’s third judge, sitting alongside Idol OG and pop legend Marcia Hines and Logie Award-winning 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, Evans said he was excited about his return to Idol, having performed his hit single Letting You Go during 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,” he said.

“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!”

Seven’s Director of Content, Unscripted, Majella Hay, said next year was 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,” she said.

Evans, who splits his time between Australia and Nashville, has taken his music around the globe and is set to bring his extensive expertise as a multi-award-winning singer, songwriter and performer to the Idol stage.

Growing up in Newcastle, he burst onto the scene with his self-titled debut album in 2014.

His 2018 album, Things That We Drink To, catapulted Evans to international acclaim, achieving his first country radio hit with Kiss Somebody, alongside fan favourite Day Drunk.

No stranger to the big stage, he has headlined Aussie country music festival CMC Rocks in 2022, and has toured throughout North America and Europe.

Since its international debut in 2001, the Idol franchise has been a powerhouse for discovering new talent, launching the careers of Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Matt Corby, Anthony Callea, Stan Walker, Casey Donovan and Courtney Act.

Globally, music icons including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert also began their incredible careers on the Idol stage.

The 2026 season of Australian Idol was won by 21-year-old Kesha Oayda from Jindabyne, who walked away with $100,000 in prize money, an exclusive recording package with Hive Sound Studios, the opportunity to attend a songwriting camp with Sony Music Publishing, marketing and social media support from The Annex and VIP tickets to the ARIA Awards and Logie Awards.

Australian Idol, hosted by Ricki-Lee and Scott Tweedie, returns to to Seven and 7plus in 2027.