Fox announced Monday that Mariah Carey will join "American Idol" season 12 as a judge next year. Carey said that she was very excited to be joining Idol and that, "this kind of all just happened really quickly ... I can't wait to get started in the fall," via Fox entertainment chief Kevin Reilly's cell phone to the Television Critics Association.
After announcing Carey joining the "Idol" team, Fox issued the following statement from Carey, "As a singer, songwriter and producer, it's going to be fun and rewarding to help find new talent and give back with 'American Idol. I'm currently in the studio working on my new album and its first single, 'Triumphant,' which will be out early next month. I can't wait to channel my creative energy as a part of this show which is a massive global phenomenon."
The popular reality tv show featuring American's brightest singing talent will see the departure of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. The exit of the two stars left the original judge, Randy Jackson alone with media speculation over who would be the next Idol judge.
With other popular reality singing shows like "The X Factor" which recently added pop-star Britney Spears and "The Voice" on NBC, which has Christina Aguilera amongst its judges, "American Idol's" decision to bring in Carey could be a very strategic move. They are still on the look out for a third host, says Reilly. "We have the biggest names in the business, like Mariah Carey, interested in doing this ... so for the next couple of weeks it will be a matter of picking the right one, with the right chemistry, making the deal, and finalizing this," He said to The Associated Press.
Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe said to press that Jennifer Lopez might return. She told host Ryan Seacrest that there was a 99 percent chance she was leaving, so that leaves a 1 percent chance that she won't, Lythgoe noted. However, Lopez' representative confirmed Monday that she was in fact leaving the show.
Reilly added to The AP about Tyler and Lopez' departure, "We came to a mutual decision with Jennifer and Steven," he said, calling it a "great experience with both of them. Creatively, we were all happy."
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