Keith Urban Officially Returning to 'American Idol'

The country star will remain a judge for the second season

Photo: FOX

Though the end of American Idol‘s twelfth season brought a swath of high-profile departures, there will be at least one familiar face on the judges panel: Keith Urban.

“Thrilled to be back on @AmericanIdol with my pal @RyanSeacrest and dying to know who the other judges will be!!!!” the country star, 45, Tweeted.

Earlier in the day, PEOPLE broke the news that another Idol alum –Jennifer Lopez– is “very close” to returning as well, according to a source very near to the star. “She couldn’t return last year because she had committed to a world tour,” the source said.

On Thursday, Fox chairman Kevin Reilly confirmed Urban’s return, and regarding other judges said, “most of what you’ve heard and read about has merit.”

He mentioned talks with Lopez while some reports name Jennifer Hudson, who performed on last season’s finale episode and competed on the show’s third season, as another contender.

– With reporting by Aili Nahas