“I’m here to help” Lin-Manuel Miranda is revealed to be the next guest mentor on American Idol

American Idol Season 23 continues to bring star power to its mentorship lineup with the announcement that Broadway legend and Disney soundtrack maestro Lin-Manuel Miranda will guide contestants through upcoming Disney-themed episodes.

The news came during Monday's broadcast when viewers got their first glimpse of Miranda's upcoming appearance:

"I know my way around a Disney song, I'm here to help," Miranda said in a video preview.

Cheekily adding:

"Let's see how far you'll go."

The multi-talented creator behind Hamilton and contributor to Disney hits like Moana and Encanto will mentor the American Idol Top 7 contestants during what the show's Instagram describes as a "two-night Disney celebration."

These crucial episodes, airing next Sunday and Monday, will determine which hopefuls advance to the season finale scheduled for May 18. Miranda joins an impressive roster of previous mentors this season, including James Taylor, Josh Groban, Ashanti, and former Idol winner Fantasia.

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America’s favourite musical powerhouse joins American Idol

Miranda's selection as mentor comes at a perfect moment for the Disney-themed episodes. His credentials in the Disney universe are substantial, having written songs for Moana and contributed to the wildly popular Encanto soundtrack. This expertise positions him ideally to guide contestants through performances of Disney classics.

The timing is strategic as well. These episodes of American Idol represent the final hurdle before the season finale, raising the stakes for remaining contestants. Miranda's experience creating character-driven music could help singers find emotional connections to their Disney selections.

His mentorship adds to an already impressive season of guidance. Earlier episodes of American Idol featured Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee James Taylor, R&B star Ashanti, country artist Josh Groban, and past American Idol winner Fantasia offering their expertise to contestants.

The Miranda announcement followed Monday's 'Judges' Song Contest' episode, where the panel's song suggestions tested contestants' decision-making abilities. Each judge anonymously proposed selections for the Top 8 performers based on their vocal strengths and performance styles.

Judges earned points when contestants selected their suggestions, with Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan tying at three points each by the episode's conclusion. The format challenged singers to make strategic choices without knowing which judge recommended each option.

This competitive element continues as contestants enter the Disney rounds, where song selection will prove even more crucial with the finale on the horizon.

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Is a new Lin-Manuel Miranda project underway?

While Miranda focuses on mentoring "Idol" contestants, his creative wheels continue turning elsewhere. The acclaimed artist is reportedly developing a film about the Molina brothers from Vega Alta, Puerto Rico—three baseball catchers who made MLB history:

"I'll tell you something I'm working on: the Molina brothers, who are from my dad's hometown of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico," Miranda has revealed about the project.

The brothers José, Bengie, and Yadier achieved the unique distinction of all winning World Series rings during their careers.

This project showcases Miranda's continued interest in storytelling across various media while celebrating his Puerto Rican heritage. However, his immediate focus remains guiding American Idol hopefuls through the critical Disney rounds that will shape the Season 23 finale.

With Miranda's track record of creating memorable musical moments, viewers can anticipate performances that might just go the distance, perhaps even "how far they'll go."

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American Idol Season 23 airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.