Star Search Adds Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Chrissy Teigen as Judges on Netflix - Netflix Tudum

  • News

    Star Search Adds Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Chrissy Teigen as Judges

    The iconic talent competition premieres live on Netflix on Jan. 20.

    Jan. 16, 2026

Ahead of its Jan. 20 live premiere on Netflix, Star Search kicked off the new year by revealing a legendary panel of judges.

Grammy Award–nominated artist Jelly Roll, Golden Globe–nominated and Emmy-winning actor Sarah Michelle Gellar, and television personality and NYT bestselling cookbook author Chrissy Teigen will bring their diverse experiences and opinions to the iconic talent competition series.

Star Search which helped launch the careers of global icons like Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, and Dave Chappelle, among others — returns after 20 years to provide a global platform to the next generation of talent.

What’s new about Star Search?

Hosted by Emmy and Golden Globe–nominated actor Anthony Anderson, Star Search will air live Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT and will include real-time voting to let the viewers help determine which contestants move forward. Viewers watching live can vote with their remotes, or by tapping the screen if watching in the Netflix mobile app.

  • News
    Star Search Is Back, and It’s Live on Netflix — Here’s Everything to Know
    The five-week live event premieres on Tuesday, Jan. 20
    By Amanda Richards and Chris Hudspeth
    Jan. 16
  • News
    Ahead of the live event, the climber talked preparation, fear, and what’s different this time.
    By Amanda Richards
    Jan. 24
  • Who’s Who
    Get to know the boy band hopefuls in the music mogul’s new docuseries.
    By Melanie Whyte
    Feb. 12

“The live voting feature is a total game-changer,” Anderson previously shared with Tudum. “Knowing that fans from all over the world can cast their votes in real time adds a whole new layer of excitement and participation to the mix. It’s like we’re all part of the show and get to be one of the judges.”

What type of performers will be featured?

Each Star Search episode will highlight up-and-coming performers in numerous categories — music, dance, variety, comedy, magic, and juniors — as they compete head-to-head for their shot at stardom. With an arced competition structure and weekly eliminations with real-time global voting, the series builds dramatic momentum, making every live episode an unmissable event.

Who produces the new Star Search?

The return of Star Search comes from Jesse Collins Entertainment — the team behind Rhythm + Flow, the Primetime Emmy Awards, the American Music Awards, the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and Hollywood Squares. Executive producers include Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Madison Merritt, and Elaine Metaxas.

Stay tuned to Tudum for a detailed how-to guide for Star Search on Netflix, with all the info on explaining how to vote, when to vote, and how the live experience works across devices.

Star Search judges and hosty
Teigan: Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic/Getty Images

All About Star Search

  • News
    “This is the real magic right here.”
    By Michael Ehrlich
    Feb. 19
  • Explainer
    The outcome was decided by fans at home using Netflix’s new voting feature.
    By Amanda Richards
    Feb. 18
  • Who’s Who
    In the finale, the power shifts to the audience — every vote comes from viewers.
    By Amanda Richards
    Feb. 16
  • What To Watch
    From a talent competition to TV and film.
    By Ashley Lee
    Jan. 20

Shop Star Search

GO TO NETFLIX SHOP

Discover More News

  • News
    Time to unleash the drama.
    By Amanda Richards
    Yesterday 11:27 pm
  • News
    The showrunners promise the “satisfying finale Mickey Haller deserves.”
    By Ruth Kinane
    Yesterday 10:20 pm
  • News
    Love begins anew.
    By Ariana Romero
    Yesterday 9:25 pm
  • News
    The series chronicles a disturbing  event that unfolded at a fertility center.
    By Thea Glassman
    Yesterday 8:01 pm
  • News
    Get ready to get real with the social media phenom and her family in Earle Meets World
    By Melanie Whyte
    Yesterday 7:46 pm
  • News
    As you wait for the Gaang’s return, check out all the Season 2 news and a funny bone–bending blooper reel.
    By Christopher Hudspeth
    Yesterday 7:45 pm
  • News
    Watch an exclusive clip for the new chapter, which comes out on July 2.
    By Brookie McIlvaine
    Yesterday 7:45 pm
  • News
    The Never Have I Ever joins Hasan Minhaj’s comedy film.
    By Brookie McIlvaine
    Yesterday 7:45 pm

Discover More Reality

  • News
    Season 11 lands in New England this fall.
    By Olivia Harrison
    Yesterday 6:50 pm
  • News
    The superstar is ready to bring the world into the chaos of his modern blended family.
    By Melanie Whyte
    Yesterday 6:49 pm
  • Who’s Who
    “Everyone’s changed since graduation. The difference is who actually grew and who just got older.”
    By Melanie Whyte
    Yesterday 6:03 pm
  • Interview
    “This is me … without James.”
    By Olivia Harrison
    Yesterday 3:41 pm
  • Status Update
    Find out where all of your favorite Netflix Reality Universe singles are now.
    By Laura Bradley
    Yesterday 3:23 pm
  • Deep Dive
    Get ready to ship a new group of reality TV’s most eligible singles. 
    By Melanie Whyte
    Yesterday 3:18 pm
  • Who’s Who
    What happens when stars from Love Is Blind, Vanderpump Rules, and more collide? 
    By Olivia Harrison
    Yesterday 7:00 am

Popular Now

  • Deep Dive
    Find out the connection between Tova, Cameron, and an octopus named Marcellus.
    By Jean Bentley
    Yesterday 6:49 pm
  • News
    A room full of expert flamethrowers gave Hart absolutely no peace.
    By Amanda Richards and Chris Hudspeth
    May 11
  • News
    Plus, Man on Fire stays hot in its second week, and Remarkably Bright Creatures makes waves.
    By Ananda Dillon and Ashley Lee
    May 12
  • New on Netflix
    Stream Remarkably Bright Creatures, Swapped, Lord of the Flies, and more.
    By Ashley Lee
    April 30