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.

    By Michael Ehrlich
    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.

  • 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
  • Ahead of the live event, the climber talked preparation, fear, and what’s different this time.
  • Get to know the boy band hopefuls in the music mogul’s new docuseries.

“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
Related Tags

All About Star Search

  • 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.

Shop Star Search

Go to Netflix Shop

Discover More News

  • Part 7 of the beloved series will be available worldwide in March.
  • Glimpse Kit Connor and Joe Locke in the finale film.
  • See the detective and her beau Tewkesbury in a brand-new trailer.
  • The legendary golf pro is hitting the road to promote his new Netflix series.
  • Steam power, lost dreams, and a forbidden future collide in this bold new anime.
  • “There’s a danger to romance. Here, that danger is material.”
  • The limited series explores one of America’s most scrutinized unsolved murders.

Discover More Reality

  • Plus I’m Not Afraid, Nothing to Lose, Hamnet, 80 for Brady, Memento, and more.
  • Las Vegas welcomes couples putting it all on the line for a chance at forever.
  • Stream Voicemails for Isabelle, Office Romance, a new season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and more.
  • Voicemails for Isabelle dials to the top, and Avatar: The Last Airbender debuts.
  • Are you ready to step back into a world of pure imagination this fall?
  • War drama Operation Safed Sagar, courtroom thriller Ikka, and so much more.
  • Tune in to some of the most compelling Bharat titles of 2026 — so far.
  • A new group of couples will soon be playing house with a trial spouse.

Latest News

  • Dark Winds Season 4 Is Now Streaming
    Smiling sheriff in uniform holding white hat stands in an office with filing cabinets, folders, a wall map, and windows with blinds in the background.

Popular Now

  • Zoë Kravitz, Sadie Sink, and Troy Baker star in a new immersive game experience.
  • The film’s writer, director, and stars name all the clues.