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American Idol brings back Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson after 20 years for reunion special
Entertainment
Published on 5 May 2026
Simon Cowell skips the reunion while Paula and Randy step in
Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson returned to American Idol after two decades for a Class of 2006-themed episode. Simon Cowell did not appear, but Paula joined the current judges while Randy mentored the top five finalists. The surprise reunion marks 20 years of the show’s defining performances and its role in launching new talent.
- Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson reunited after 20 years on American Idol
- The episode is themed around the Class of 2006
- Paula joins the current judging panel; Randy mentors top five finalists
- Simon Cowell was absent from the reunion
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times