Nicki Minaj May Join Mariah on ‘American Idol’ Judges Panel
In the latest American Idol news, it looks like Nicki Minaj may be the newest star to join Mariah Carey at the judges table for the upcoming season of the reality singing series.
The Associated Press reports that a source close to the singer says the star is in advanced negotiations with executives and is close to signing a deal that would bring her to the Fox show, which has seen a major shakeup since the most recent season finale.
Judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez announced that they would not return for the upcoming 12th season of the show, and rumors of who would replace them began circulating immediately. Mariah Carey has been the only confirmed new judge, and it looks as though Minaj may be the next confirmed replacement.
“Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe had promised a shakeup earlier this year, and it is still unclear if the sole remaining original judge, Randy Jackson, will return to the judges seat this year. Most sources report that Jackson will likely stay on with the show not as a judge, but in some sort of mentoring role, though there has been no reports of what, if anything, current Mentor in Residence, producer Jimmy Iovine, would do in that situation.
Though “Idol” was the country’s most popular non-football program for the 2011-12 television season, ratings have fallen sharply over the past few years of the show. This year also marked the smallest audience ever for the season finale of the show.
Fox executives have said that host Ryan Seacrest will remain in his current position at the show, though they have said little else about additional upcoming plans. In the past few months, both Adam Lambert and Nick Jonas have been among the names rumored to be vying for another of the vacant judge seat.
