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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
Star Search Adds Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Chrissy Teigen as Judges on Netflix - Netflix Tudum
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.
The five-week live event premieres on Tuesday, Jan. 20
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“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.
Teigan: Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic/Getty Images
All About Star Search
“This is the real magic right here.”
The outcome was decided by fans at home using Netflix’s new voting feature.
In the finale, the power shifts to the audience — every vote comes from viewers.
From a talent competition to TV and film.
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