Longtime fans of ABC’s singing competition American Idol were no doubt elated to hear that Ryan Seacrest would be returning to his rightful position as the reality TV show’s host. It was confirmed earlier this month that Ryan would be the host of the upcoming Season 24, where he will appear alongside veteran judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

Navigating personal life and career has been especially challenging for Ryan lately, who is responsible for the care of other family members. He opened up about what it’s been like to cover all those bases while still meeting the demands of the show.

Ryan Has Been Caring For His Sick Father

On top of his busy work schedule, Ryan has been looking after his 81-year-old father, who was battling prostate cancer and undergoing chemotherapy treatment over the summer.

In a conversation with E! News, Ryan recounted a terrifying moment when his fragile father contracted pneumonia, and his sister called him while he was in the middle of taping:

Ryan’s Plate Will Remain Full This Season

It seems like Ryan’s father isn’t out of the woods with his battle just yet. The host explained that his dad will go through some additional treatments to make sure that the cancer is completely eradicated, but Ryan remains hopeful that he will “get through this.” Most likely, Ryan will continue to fly back and forth between LA, where the show is filmed, and Atlanta, where his family resides.

He may also have other career obligations on his plate, too. Last year, he also served as the host of Wheel of Fortune, meaning he could very well continue filming both shows simultaneously if all goes well.

As of this article’s writing, the official air date for the upcoming season of American Idol has yet to be announced, but it will be sometime in 2026.