Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough will NOT be returning to America’s Got Talent when it returns to NBC next year for a 15th season, reports Variety.
Executive producer and judge Simon Cowell, comedian Howie Mandel and host Terry Crews are all expected to come back to the series, said one insider to Variety, familiar with the production.
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Season 14 was the first cycle for both Gabrielle and Julianne. That neither of them joined the America’s Got Talent: The Champions panel, airing winter 2020, was the first hint. Although it was easy to chalk up their absence to busy careers. Gabrielle is an NAACP Image award winner and prolific film and TV presence. Julianne is a triple threat–dancer, singer and actress.
Gabrielle and Julianne had replaced longtime judges Mel B. and Heidi Klum for the show’s 14th season. Heidi returned to the panel along with Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon and veterans Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel for AGT: The Champions. Perhaps this lineup will stay for the upcoming 15th season. Or not! Simon is notorious for mixing up his competition show panels from season to season. It’s also not unusual for him to cut a judge, only to bring them back after a season or two.
The two departing judges have plenty to keep them busy. Gabrielle is currently at work on L.A.’s Finest, a female reboot of the Bad Boys film franchise that helped make her a star. She also serves as producer and stars with Jessica Alba. Julianne’s next project is the Netflix original Heartstrings, a series based on the classic songs of country legend Dolly Parton. Julianne also recently released a pop single, “Transform.”
