American Idol Season 12 Judges Officially Announced! Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban Join Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson

American Idol Season 12 is now all set for its return January 2013. The judges for the new season were officially announced Sunday morning with the start of the auditions in New York.

Mariah Carey, who was the first judge to be confirmed will be joined by singer-rapper Nicki Minaj and Aussie country singer Keith Urban. Completing the judges panel for American Idol 2013 is Randy Jackson, the only remaining judge who's been with the show since the first season. 

After Idol season 10 and 11 judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez quit American Idol, Fox considered shifting Randy Jackson to a mentor role in an attempt to bring an all-new judges line up to freshen the format.  However, when the talks with Enrique Iglesias broke down, the network decided to bring back Randy to the judges' seat.

Here is an excerpt of Fox's press release confirming the new judges for American Idol Season 12:

Judges Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson Joined by Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban

When AMERICAN IDOL’s 12th season debuts in January 2013, superstar judge Mariah Carey – the best-selling female recording artist of all time – and returning judge Randy Jackson, a Grammy Award-winning producer whose expertise and beloved persona have been instrumental in discovering IDOL talent from the beginning, will be joined by two new judges: quadruple-platinum singer, songwriter, rapper and fashion icon Nicki Minaj; and Keith Urban, a four-time Grammy Award winner who has sold more than 15 million albums.

Are you excited with the return of American Idol this 2013 with the new judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban and returning judge Randy Jackson?

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Keith Urban to Judge American Idol Season 12 with Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj

Country singer Keith Urban is reportedly joining the 12th season of American Idol as a judge. Keith Urban, who is the husband of actress Nicole Kidman, is closed to sealing the deal with Idol producers according to several reports.

Keith Urban will be joining diva Mariah Carey and rapper Nicki Minaj at the judges' table of the hit FOX reality singing competition if deals have been ironed out for the latter. Nicki Minaj's PEPSI endorsement might hinder the deal as American Idol is sponsored by rival Coke. Mariah Carey is the only new judge which has been officially announced, though.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Keith Urban will be earning about $3-4 million for taking the third judges' seat on Idol while Nicki Minaj will be paid with $8 million. Mariah Carey will be receiving a whooping $18 million payday, reports claimed.

After the exit of previous judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez to focus on their singing careers, two seats on the American Idol judging panel have been vacated. The producers, according to sources wanted an all-new lineup so original judge Randy Jackson might be demoted to a mentoring role just like Jimmy Iovine.

There are no confirmations yet on the number of judges seating on the panel but the possibility of a 4th judge joining Idol is at large. Rumor has it that the producers are considering Enrique Iglesias and Nick Jonas for the role.

What can you say about the new American Idol judges line-up for Season 12? Do you think these judges will incorporate a fresh vibe on Idol to save the show from a big drop on ratings?

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Nicki Minaj is New American Idol Judge for Season 12?

Singer-rapper Nicki Minaj is reportedly the new American Idol judge that will be sitting on the judges' table when its 12th season opens.

The news was confirmed by two sources on US Weekly, saying that the Super Bass hit-maker is "100% confirmed to judge American Idol" while another source said that it's "not sure the deal is completely done yet, but yes, she is definitely doing it" with a "few more slight things to sign off on but it is happening."

One problem on the the deal could be Nicki Minaj's attachment to PEPSI as its newest endorser, while Idol is sponsored by rival Coca-Cola. So far, Nicki Minaj and FOX are yet to confirm the report. 

Nicki Minaj, if the deal pushes through will be joining Mariah Carey as a new judge on the revamped American Idol 2013. It can be recalled that judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez resigned on Idol to focus more on their singing careers.

Judge Randy Jackson's fate on American Idol is not yet confirmed but sources say that he might not join the judges' panel in Season 12 but instead embark on a mentor role in an attempt to freshen up American Idol's  format.

Other rumored judges include Adam Lambert, Nick Jonas and Pharrell Williams but sources claimed that it would be most likely that Keith Urban and Enrique Iglesias will join the panel.

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