Mariah Carey Is Reportedly In ‘Serious Talks’ To Judge ‘American Idol’

Now that Jennifer Lopez has officially, officially revealed to Ryan Seacrest that she is definitely, definitely leaving American Idol (after it was reported that she was seriously, seriously considering leaving the show a few weeks ago) and her fellow judge Steven Tyler has also confirmed that he, too, is leaving the show it would seem that American Idol is in desperate need of new judges (it’s being reported that even Randy Jackson might not return to AI either). A new report today claims that pop star Mariah Carey is in “serious talks” to join Idol as a new judge. HMMM. Click below to learn more about Mimi‘s possible new musical projects.

Upon Steven Tyler’s confirmation that he will not return to the American Idol judges’ table – and amid buzz that Jennifer Lopez is likely following in his footsteps – Carey, 42, may be making her way to the Fox singing competition. “She’s in play,” an insider tells PEOPLE. “They are in serious talks.” Since the show began switching up the panel when Paula Abdul left in 2009, the only original judge on the panel is Randy Jackson, who has collaborated with Carey throughout her career. Not that is seems like a bad gig: “I love everybody. I love all the guys on the show,” Lopez told the Today show upon hinting, “I am thinking that it’s time for me to go.”

HMMM … not much actual news from this source but it does make sense that AI would go after a powerhouse like Mariah. I expect it will cost a lot of money to get Mimi to judge American Idol and my guess is that J. Lo is not returning because producers wouldn’t/couldn’t meet her fee. I believe entirely that J. Lo would stay on to judge Idol if the price was right. It sounds like AI is cleaning house and trying to revamp the show but, IMHO, the show lost its lustre years ago. Still, I would LOVE to see Mariah Carey in the judges chair so … this might be a smart move on Idol‘s part … IF they can seal the deal. Even if they do get Mariah to join, they will likely have 2 more judging spots to fill … I wonder who else is on the short list.

Mariah has been tweeting like mad lately, so even if this AI thing doesn’t work out, we still have something to look forward to. You may recall she teased us a few weeks ago with the suggestion that she may be releasing new music this Summer. We know she’s been hard at work in the studio, why, just yesterday she was working with her old collaborator Rodney Darkchild Jerkins:

In the studio with RJ-yeaah, having a nice time! / Tonight was a stone winner with the massively talented @RodneyJerkins

Mariah Carey is bizzy, y’all. She’s workin’ up some new tunes for us so it’s possible she may not even be seriously interested in judging American Idol. But, now that AI is looking for a new judging panel, they have folks talking about the show. I guess we’ll have to wait and see but … would YOU like to see Mariah Carey on American Idol?

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