Image: AP via CS-Monitor
American Idol has done quite an overhaul for the coming season, season 12. Not that they had any choice, really. Steven and Jenny did 2 years and were both ready to move on. Many say that their gig on the show helped propel both their careers — more like catapulted their careers forward.
With so many other talent shows to choose from, it’s not any wonder that American Idol is putting out the big bucks to bring in some judges. Competing shows like The Voice have a star studded cast (they’ve added some big name mentors this season), as does America’s Got Talent, and The X Factor has gotten loads of press for adding Demi Lovato and Britney Spears to their panel.
Here’s the latest on the line-up of American Idol Judges
Judges for American Idol Season 12:
- Mariah Carey – Rumor has it that pop diva Mariah Carey (whose husband, Nick Cannon, is the Ryan Seacrest equivalent on America’s Got Talent) is getting $18 Million for doing a year on American Idol.
- Nicki Minaj – The rumor mill has churned out the figure of $12 Million for Nicki’s one year commitment to the show. Reviews about this from viewers are mixed. Some are anxious to see what Nicki will have to say, given that she is so outspoken and flamboyant. Some express dismay and said they’d stop watching.
- Keith Urban – Not sure what Keith will be earning but it must’ve been an attractive offer to pull him away from Australia’s The Voice. Keith has plenty of music awards under his belt.
- Randy Jackson – Randy is the last remaining veteran judge. Many say he will take on more of a mentoring role. Many were wondering if he’d quit too but he appears, for the moment, to be staying on.
We’re expecting a similar format as last year with plenty of different mentors, although we don’t quite know yet what’s up the sleeves of the American Idol producers. New York auditions happened yesterday.
