Marcia Hines returns to Australian Idol 2024 to replace Meghan Trainor

Marcia Hines to return to the judging panel for Australian Idol in 2024.

The American-Australian singer, 69, is a veteran of the singing competition having served as a judge for all seven seasons of the original series.

With Meghan Trainor stepping down after giving birth to her son Barry, Marcia will return to the show’s reboot for its ninth season, reported Announce sun on Saturday.

“I was surprised and delighted because I really like that performance. I don’t know if people realized how much it meant to me,” she told the publication.

‘Why? Because like me, they just want to sing, they want to find a career in singing.’

Marcia made a cameo in season eight alongside Kyle Sandilands, Amy Shark and Harry Connick Jr while Meghan, 29, was in New York.

The Never Knew Love Like This Before hitmaker acted as a judge in the top 50 rounds for three episodes, and is pleased to say it’s become a permanent fixture.

The big stir comes just days after a source suggested it was “unlikely” Meghan would return for the next season of Australian Idol.

“While nothing is finalized yet, it is unlikely that Meghan will return as she has just given birth and will have a newborn baby when the auditions begin,” the insider revealed.

“Producers are willing to do anything to put her back on and be as accommodating to her family as possible, but logistically it would be difficult because the days are so long on set.”

It seems that those negotiations, if any, have indeed failed.

The American-Australian singer is a veteran of the singing competition having served as a judge for all seven seasons of the original series. Pictured with Kyle Sandilands and Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson in 2008

Marcia and Kyle, 52, are the only two judges to have returned from the original series, much to the dismay of Mark Holden and Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson.

Dicko, 60, has been very vocal about his disdain for the new series after not being invited to the reboot.

He even went so far as to call on Mark, 69, to criticize the revamped show for using the iconic ‘touchdown’ catchphrase.

The media personality said he reached out to Mark, who came up with the iconic line, and said he was “deeply saddened” by the “f**ked” decision.

Dicko went on to say that Mark’s use of the memorable ‘touchdown’ phrase was ‘genius’, but the Seven Network reboot made it look ‘so shabby’.

With Meghan Trainor, 29, (pictured) stepping down after giving birth to her son Barry, Marcia will return to the show’s reboot for its ninth season, Herald Sun reported on Saturday

Marcia made a cameo in season eight alongside Kyle Sandilands, 52, Amy Shark, 37, and Harry Connick Jr, 55, while Meghan was in New York. All pictured

Despite his numerous complaints about the substandard “production values” and the lackluster voices of the competition, Dicko insisted he wasn’t bitter about not being invited back.

When asked if he was just mad about being snubbed as a return judge alongside Mark and Marcia Hines, he scoffed and said it would be ridiculous to return.

Mark also admitted to being “disappointed” by Australian Idol’s use of his catchphrase, which he once said “erupted” from him when a singer showed exceptional talent.

The former pop star told the Herald Sun in April that he is “hurt.” Channel Seven ignored him and used the line without his permission, twisting the original concept into something else.

New judges Amy, 37, Kyle, Harry, 55, and Meghan each had a ‘touchdown’ to use on a contestant, which quickly moved the singer into the top 12.

Marcia and Kyle are the only two judges to have returned from the original series, much to the dismay of Mark Holden, 69, and Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson, 60 (both pictured in 2004)

Dicko has been very outspoken about his disdain for the new series after not being invited to the reboot. He even went so far as to call out Mark for covering the revamped show for using the iconic “touchdown” catchphrase. Pictured together in 2004