What Former American Idol Judge Randy Jackson Is Up In 2021

Record producer and musician Randy Jackson is an American Idol alum who made a name for himself in the 1980s, and we’ve found out what he’s been up to this year. While he did have a public profile before the singing competition, he gained international fame when he began assessing performances on the show. As one of the original judges (and the longest-serving judge on the show), Randy Jackson critiqued and applauded many performances over the show’s first thirteen seasons. In 2020, the judge rejoined the rock group, Journey. Shortly after, he embarked on a health journey. In 2021, he is continuing on this path.

In the last year, many people have noticed a dramatic change in Randy’s appearance. The judge, who was known for his many funny quotes on the show, has lost a lot of weight since his time on American Idol. His physical transformation has sparked conversations among American Idol fans. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and realized that he needed to get his health in check. He began his health journey by opting for gastric bypass surgery. 

There is presently no cure for Type 2 diabetes and it can be life-threatening, but it can also be managed via the right lifestyle choices. Since prioritizing his health, Randy had been exercising and incorporating a variety of healthier foods into his diet. It has been all about balance for the former judge. He has been taking his health concerns very seriously. He sees his diagnosis as a big wake-up call to take control of his life and health, which is why he chose to undergo weight loss surgery and adjust his lifestyle. 

Randy was a part of the ultimate trio of judges, sitting next to Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. The original three American Idol judges helped the show to become a phenomenon. American Idol has jump-started the careers of many well-known artists who competed on the show. While he made a FaceTime appearance on the show this year, Randy does not intend to return to the singing competition full-time unless his fellow original judges join him. The competition is now judged by Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. 

Randy made his FaceTime appearance this season. He talked to the Top 12 competitors. While he was virtually a part of the episode, he has not physically returned to the American Idol stage. His fellow original host Paula Abdul was filling in for Luke Bryan, who was recovering from COVID-19 during the same episode. Randy mentioned that being on the show with Paula felt like “old times,” despite not being there in person and missing Simon. This was his first appearance on the show since season 12. 

After leaving American Idol, the former judge took some time to better himself and take care of some health concerns. It was important for him to prioritize his health. While it would be great to see Randy back as a judge on American Idol, he has been focused on other things. The last year has brought a lot of change for him, but he appears to be going in the right direction.

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