Filed under: Television, News
Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi are all out as judges for the upcoming season of 'American Idol.'So who will be joining Randy Jackson, the only judge under contract for the top-rated music competition series this fall?
A few weeks back, the rumor mill buzzed that Jennifer Lopez was in the running to become a judge, but just as soon as the gossip began, the diva was out reportedly due to scheduling conflicts.
Now, comes word that Mariah Carey is in negotiations to join the fold.
The 'We Belong Together' singer has reportedly been inspired by what 'America's Got Talent' has done for her husband, Nick Cannon, and a source tells E! News, "She wants it...and thinks it will be a good career move."
On Thursday, Carey's rep did not confirm or deny the rumors, only saying, "nothing to report."
But earlier this week, Aerosmith front man Steve Tyler was said to have signed a contract to join the show as a judge.
Fox is reportedly waiting for the entire judges' table to be filled before making a formal announcement. And the four-person panel might be going back to its original three-person panel -- again.
Carey would be a perfect fit given her history with Jackson, who served as her musical director for years. The two remain close friends.
The 'Precious' actress, who previously guest mentored 'Idol' contestants in 2008, also has a supporter in her hubby.
Cannon previously told The Hollywood Reporter, "You know what? She talks about it. She says, 'I would love to do that.' She is one of the greatest singers of our time. She would be great." He added, "I don't know if she has enough time, though, but if they could work with her schedule, I know she would love to do 'Idol.' Let's start the campaign!"
Show creator Nigel Lythgoe is returning for the first time in two years as an executive producer of 'Idol' and tells MTV not to rule out Lopez despite the Internet spin.
"There was something in the press saying Jennifer Lopez is a diva. That woman is in no way a diva, they don't know what divas are if they think Jennifer Lopez is one. ... There is so much rubbish going on," he said.
Ultimately, he says the show's about the contestants.
"Don't forget, when I started 'American Idol,' I brought over Simon Cowell, who no one had heard of, and a young man called Randy Jackson ... and Paula Abdul, who a lot of people had said, well, her career is over," Lythgoe proclaimed.
"So it isn't just about what you've done in your career, it's about how you fit in with other people around you. And at the end of the day, it's about the contestants and their talent, and it's not about the judges."
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
Since releasing 12 albums and winning 5 Grammy Award, Mariah Carey has managed to stay afloat of her career in spite of surviving a highly publicized divorce, getting dropped from one of the most lucrative recording contracts in music history and even a stint of exhaustion. But she returned to the top of the charts with one of the most successful albums in the past five years. On the cusp of her new 'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel' album release, Blackvoices.com pays homage to the best-selling female artist of all time.
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
After receiving Mariah Carey's demo from singer Brenda K. Starr, then-Columbia Records head Tommy Mottola signed the five-octave singer on the spot. While recording her 1990 self-titled debut, Carey and Mottola became romantically involved and married two years later. The album, which spawned four number-one singles, earned Carey a best new artist honor at the 1991 Grammys, as well as a win in the best female pop vocal performance category for 'Vision of Love.'
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
Though the bi-racial beauty's 'Daydream' album included collaborations with Wu Tang Clan rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard on 'Fantasy' and producer Jermaine Dupri on her smash single 'Always Be My Baby, Carey's image really changed with her multiplatinum 'Butterfly' album. The debut single was a Diddy-produced track called 'Honey.' Perhaps most memorable was the Paul Hunter-directed video in which a previously conservatively dressed Carey escaped captivity and revealed a Bond Girl-inspired bikini.
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
Carey has consistently toured since launching her career. Here, the songstress performs selections from her 'Daydream' album at Wembley Arena in London on June 25, 1996. That record included the hit duet with Boyz II Men, 'One Sweet Day,' as well as the lead single 'Fantasy' featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard.
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
Cementing herself as a diva happened in 1998, when Carey appeared alongside Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Shania Twain and Carole King on VH1's 'Divas Live' special. The concert, which raises money for the network's Save the Music foundation, aired live from New York City's Beacon Theatre. Carey performed two of her hits, 'My All' and 'Make it Happen,' before joining Franklin for a duet of 'Chain of Fools' and the other 'Divas' performers for 'A Natural Woman.'
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
The early 2000s were a tough time for the 39-year-old. In 2001, she signed an $80 million contract with Virgin Records, but the label paid her $28 million to get out of the deal after a very public nervous breakdown, which Carey later attributed to exhaustion and lack of sleep. During the same time, she broke up with her boyfriend, Luis Miguel, and her acting debut in 'Glitter' was panned by moviegoers and critics alike. Nevertheless, in 2005, Carey bounced back with her highly successful 'Emancipation of Mimi' album and hasn't looked back since.
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
Throughout the years, Carey has balanced her music career with philanthropic efforts and civic initiatives. She helped get the word out about Diddy's "Vote or Die" awareness campaign in 2004. The Congressional Horizon Award winner also founded a sleep-away camp, called Camp Mariah, which supports children in the Fresh Air Fund. Carey has also worked extensively with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and VH1's 'Save the Music.'
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
2005's 'The Emancipation of Mimi, garnered 10 Grammy Award nominations - the most for any Carey album. The critically acclaimed record was helmed by Atlanta-based producer Jermaine Dupri and included songs from Kanye West and the Neptunes. Carey ended up taking home three Grammys for 'Emancipation' - one for best contemporary R&B album and two in the best female R&B vocal performance and best R&B song categories for 'We Belong Together.'
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
'The Emancipation of Mimi' was the best-selling album of 2005. So, it came as no surprise that Billboard gave Carey two awards - Female Billboard 200 Album Artist of the Year and Hot 100 Song of the Year for 'We Belong Together.' The Grammy Award-winning track, which spent 14 weeks at number one, also became the first song to simultaneously occupy the number-one spot on nine Billboard charts.
Mariah Carey: Through The Years
Sixteen months after the release of 'The Emancipation of Mimi,' Carey launched "The Adventures of Mimi: The Voice, the Hits, the Tour," which became the most successful jaunt of Carey's career. Despite a few cancellation dates, Carey successfully hit 40 cites. Behind the scenes, Spike Lee produced the tour's video vignettes. A DVD of the tour, titled 'The Adventures of Mimi,' was released in 2007.