Mariah Carey is New American Idol Judge for Season 12

It's official! Mariah Carey will be a judge for the upcoming 12th season of American Idol, Fox confirmed. The network announced on Monday, July 23 that Mariah Carey has officially signed on as an American Idol judge.

Mariah Carey will be replacing Jennifer Lopez, who, along with Steven Tyler quit the show to focus more on their singing careers (read story here). Mariah, before being a judge served as a mentor in Idol's Season 7, seeing the win of David Cook who impressed Mariah with his own version of the latter's hit Always Be My Baby.

Mariah Carey welcomed the new assignment and shared her excitement of joining the panel of judges for American Idol's next season.

“I am so excited to be joining Idol. I wanted to be there today and I wish I could have been there myself to tell you. I can’t wait to get started in a couple months,” said Mariah Carey in a phone call to Fox boss Kevin Reilly at the Fox TCA summer press tour in Beverly Hills, California shortly after the big announcement.

According to Reilly, Randy Jackson, who's a co-manager of Mariah Carey was an instrument in bringing the diva to the show. Additionally, he also said that these changes in American Idol is necessary to keep things fresh as competition is stiffer this time.

It is expected that the identity of the remaining American Idol judges for it's 12th season will be revealed by the coming weeks. Names like Adam Lambert, Charlie Sheen and Fergie of Blackeyed Peas were popping as new additions to the panel.

Are you excited to see Mariah Carey as American Idol 2013 judge? DO you think the producers made the right choice and will save Idol from year-by-year viewership drop?

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Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez Quit American Idol

American Idol judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are not coming back on the Season 13 of the said Fox hit singing competition. Both Tyler and J-Lo had confirmed quitting American Idol to pursue their "first love."

Steven Tyler first confirmed that he will not return as an American Idol judge. In a statement released by Fox, Steven said:

“After some long…hard…thoughts…I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress American Idol before she boils my rabbit. I strayed from my first love, AEROSMITH, and I’m back — but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band. The next few years are going to be dedicated to kicking some serious ass — the ultimate in auditory takeover…On Nov. 6, we are unleashing our new album, Music from Another Dimension on the Earth, Moon, Mars, and way beyond the stars…IDOL was over-the-top fun, and I loved every minute of it…Now it’s time to bring Rock Back. ERMAHGERD.”

Meanwhile, a day after Steven Tyler announced he was leaving Idol, Jennifer Lopez also said that she was exiting the show. In an emotional chat with American Idol host Ryan Seacrest on his On-Air radio show July 13, J-Lo said that she will quit Idol, too.

''Something had to give, something has to give. I was really dreading this phone call with you. I honestly feel the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that you do, and you have to pay attention to that, too. I could keep doing Idol for the rest of my life, but that would be giving up a bunch of other things. I feel like we had an amazing run.''

Although J-Lo may not return w a judge, she said she will always be around whenever the show needed her, probably as a mentor for the contestants.

''No matter what you guys need over there, I'm always going to be here. I feel there's that tie there. I just can't be there every day like I was for the last two years. It's just one of those special things in your life you don't want to walk away from.''

Both Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez had spent two years in the show and with the two quitting Idol, judge Randy Jackson's future on the show is also unsure. There are rumors that Randy is also not coming back for Season 13 in an attempt to freshen up the format.

If Randy will be gone too, then host Ryan Seacrest will be the only person left from the original run since it started.

Who will replace the judges, then? There were rumors that Adam Lambert, Charlie Sheen and Mariah Carey will be seating on the judges' table when American Idol returns this 2013 for Season 12.

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American Idol 2012 Top 4 Gears Up for California Dreamin' Theme this May 9

American Idol 2012 Top 4 will be returning to the Idol stage this May 9 for a California Dreamin' themed performance show. Your American Idol Season 11 Top 4 - Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez and Hollie Cavanagh will step it up to sing for your votes now that the finale is just 2 weeks away.

American Idol Season 11 Top 4 -
Phillip Phillips, Hollie Cavanagh, Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez

On May 9, the American Idol 2012 Top 4 will again sing 2 songs, one from bands or singers from California (California Dreamin' theme) and one song the idol hopefuls wish they had written (Songs I Wish I Had Written).

On the live results show the following night, May 10, another American Idol alumnus will fire up the Idol stage. This time, Season 7 American Idol winner David Cook will be returning to sing his brand new single, The Last Song I'll Write For You.

American Idol judge and global superstar Jennifer Lopez is also set to perform her new hit song, Dance Again, the video of which premiered last April 5 on American Idol results show.

Watch Jennifer Lopez' Dance Again music video below:

With only three performance shows left, the competition gets more exciting. Don't miss the California Dreamin'-themed performance show on May 9 and the live results show on May 10 as we finally welcome the top 3 American Idol Season 11 finalists who will return to their hometown to see their family, friends and fans.

Also watch out for the American Idol 2012 Live! Tour this summer. Your American Idol Season 11 Top 10 will perform in cities near you starting this July until September. Check out the tour schedule here. Tickets will go on sale this May 11.

Photo courtesy of Americanidolnet.com

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