Mariah Carey joins "American Idol" as judge
Fox has confirmed that Mariah Carey will join the judging panel on American Idol.
Entertainment Weekly reports thatthe 42-year-old pop diva's salary is likely between $12 million (the fee paid to outgoing judge Jennifer Lopez for her first season on the show) and $17 million.
"It’s the biggest recording artist than any of these [singing competition] shows have ever had,” Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly said during press tour in Beverly Hills on Monday (July 23). "It’s an artist many of these contestants have tried to emulate. [The deal] only concluded only hours ago. Not being the only game in town we need to keep things fresh."
The news follows Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler's exit from the show and the network being unable to sign Jennifer Lopez on for a third season. According to EW, execs were unable to meet the singer's salary demands, prompting her to announce to the press that she wouldn't return.
With Carey on board, however, Lopez is definitely out. "I think I can say it’s 100 percent that Jennifer won’t be back on the show," Reilly said.
"It's gonna be so much fun working on @AmericanIdol," Carey tweeted. "As a singer-songwriter, I'm excited to help find and nurture new talent."
Singer Randy Jackson is reportedly due to stay on as a judge, but the search is now on for a male judge to replace Tyler. So far, there are rumour that former Idol contestant Adam Lambert is in the running for the spot.
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Kevin Ritchie
Posted by: Denys Nelson | Jul 23, 2012 4:41:18 PM
WHY?????
Posted by: MB | Jul 23, 2012 4:55:01 PM
Im out!!! Thats it for me. Mariah scarey definately skanks IDOL for me. I wont watch again after being a fan from the beginning. The end is near!!!
Posted by: marie | Jul 23, 2012 5:15:21 PM
In my opinion the show was over when Simon left, they should just let it die before it really hits rock bottom. I have not watched the show since Simon left and have lost all interest in it. So have many other people I know. I think it has run its course.
Posted by: Steviedee | Jul 23, 2012 5:27:23 PM
I'm gonna miss Steven and Jennifer, but Mariah will do a great job. For one thing, she probably knows more about music than Jennifer ever will. And Adam Lambert....well....um....yup, sure gonna miss Steven Tyler....
Posted by: Rvtl | Jul 23, 2012 5:32:27 PM
Yes! Jennifer Lopaz can't sing. All of her music, if you can call it that, is machine made. I was embarassed, for her when she performed on AI. Jennifer doesn't realize that being on TV is the best place for her LACK of genuine talent. I hope she is planning to take a few years off because in her future is failure, dud, and red carpet apperances showing off her fake boobs and all the plastic she has inserted, injected into her body. Truly, she is a pityful spectacle. Mariah, whether you like her songs or not, can sing in tune and on key; is that too much to ask of our singing artists? Mariah, you will need to hire writers though. All Jennifer could say was 'That's crazy, I don't know it's crazy'. Enough said.
Posted by: Disappointed | Jul 23, 2012 5:38:03 PM
Well, I have to assume that the only reason she would do this is to save her friend and manager's job -- Randy Jackson.
Remember months ago when her HUSBAND, Nick Cannon went on and on and on about how his "wife is not about judging people" and that being a judge on one of these shows is for people whose careers are nose-diving???
She is THE VOICE and to me this is a huge step DOWN for her. She is still making great music! I would have been ok with it, if she came on as a mentor because that is where she would really excel and it wouldn't hurt her reputation.
American Idol was done years ago. Who remembers who won in the past 3 years and where are those winners today?
The show is awful. "It's pitchy." "I don't know, I just wasn't feeling it." Sooo constructive.
Let's hope Mariah at least brings some constructive criticism -- Simon could be cruel in his delivery, but I do believe his intentions were good. He was giving these kids a reality check and constructive criticism in most cases. I admit, in other cases, he was just mean and sometimes wrong (Jennifer Hudson??? lol).
Oh MC. I will watch a few episodes to see if she makes a positive difference in the show because the non-singers JLo & Paula were just AWFUL. Then they basically told Steven Tyler to tone it down to the point where he didn't give a crap. He just made benign boring comments that didn't help anyone after that. I don't blame him for not coming back and JLo used that show as a platform to BRING her back after getting out from under Marc Anthony's control. It served her well.
I hope this doesn't hurt Mariah in any way. I truly think this is a step down for her but I also believe she has a huge heart and is doing it for Randy.
Sigh....
Posted by: wutzup | Jul 23, 2012 5:50:20 PM
I guess with Mariah's ample b--bs, the producers are going to have to redesign the desk she sits at. Otherwise she won't be able to get close enough to the mike for anyone to hear her sing "money, money, moneeey, money!"
Posted by: Anita Erisman | Jul 23, 2012 7:16:12 PM
I think Idol has definately taken a nose dive, they dont even know how to pick a winner anymore, Adam Lambert was clearly the winner, that year, you dont even hear from whatever his name was,? thats how memorable he was! Jennifer is a dancer, not a singer, she was in her prime on In Living Colour, where she only danced, she should be a judge on a dancing show instead. Mariah has got the pipes, but I have also seen her take a nice song and crucify it For me my Idol days
are over, there is other stuff to watch on T.V
Posted by: whatever anita | Jul 23, 2012 7:31:42 PM
Anita - whatisname is phillip phillips and if you were on his twitter feed or his facebook page or any other form of musical information you would be aware that right now he is doing the idol tour has a cd out and is on his way to being a huge success because he is an original songwriter/artist...
Posted by: Amerk Idle | Jul 23, 2012 8:00:36 PM
FINALLY... an actual Grammy Winning, Multi-Million Selling Artist, Songwriter, Singer AND Producer... unlike the dancing queens (Paula and Jenny), the drama queen (Ms. Pussycat Doll) and another queen of sorts (Ellen Degenerating). NONE of the former 4 can hold a candle to Mariah... not even when spooned together. Now let's get a male equivalent... maybe Michael McDonald, Michael Bolton... too bad Phil Collins would cost too much.
Posted by: Whoo Hoo | Jul 23, 2012 8:05:18 PM
Thank God... at least we won't see the 2 fatty sistaas, Aretha Franklinstein and Patti LaButt.
Posted by: Maysie | Jul 23, 2012 11:15:11 PM
I haven't watched AI since Adam Lambert's season - and that too was by accident - I will definitely watch again if Adam is a judge on the show!!Mariah is great too but I foresee her being sweet and kind in her comments....but, who knows ?
Posted by: Cufflink | Jul 23, 2012 11:42:39 PM
I have always suuested four names as Judges on American Idol.They are:
a) Jennifer Lopez
b) Madonna
c) Mariah Carey
d) Vanessa Williams
Welcome aboard Mariah;although it's sad that "JLO" has left.An excellent male judge to replace Tyler is the Hon Tony Bennet (t)