The judging panel has seen its justifiable share of adjustments and replacements over the present’s 22 seasons.
American Idol has been discovering a number of the most proficient singers from across the nation since 2002. When the sequence first premiered, hopeful contestants gave it their greatest shot whereas auditioning in entrance of the present’s iconic unique judging panel: Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson. However by way of the years, the judging panel has seen its justifiable share of adjustments and replacements.
Since Simon, Paula, and Randy’s departure, there was over 10 different music business icons who’ve stepped in to find out who will get a golden ticket. However with Katy Perry’s latest announcement that she’ll be leaving the present after this season, it seems like there could also be an open spot on the panel for an additional business vet to hitch the enjoyable.
Discover out why these judges stop American Idol by way of the years…
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Paula Abdul
Seasons: 1-8
Paula Abdul appeared on American Idol for eight seasons however she admits she nearly stop on her first day. She says she grew to like the present however after eight years, she knew it was time to go away.
“The reality is, it was time for me to go away. I would by no means had the identical job for eight years. I felt that there have been adjustments taking place, and it did not really feel like the identical present. I wanted to return and do issues I needed to do, and being in that contract with the present didn’t enable me to do many issues,” Paula advised Leisure Weekly.
She continued, “It was a daring resolution to make, however I’ll at all times have great gratitude as a result of it was an amazing expertise for me. I used to be a giant a part of historical past. And the present did change once I left.”
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Simon Cowell
Seasons: 1-9
After 9 seasons, Idol’s most iconic choose Simon Cowell parted methods with the present. He went on to launch the American model of The X Issue and now seems as a choose on America’s Bought Expertise. Wanting again, he says one of many major causes he left Idol was the age restrictions for contestants, which wasn’t the case for his different reveals.
“How will you say, ‘You possibly can’t be a star [because of your age]’? And I discovered the phrase Idol obnoxious to be sincere with you. And why isn’t a 35-year-old as nice as an 18-year-old? I simply acquired to the purpose the place this isn’t actual, which is why I transfer on,” he defined to Hollywood Life.
He continued, “I imply I nonetheless just like the present, however I used to be fortunate as a result of I went by way of the purple interval with the artists that I’m nonetheless mates with now. And now we have remained amazingly good mates, we communicate, hangout and discuss. So I had the nice years!”
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Kara DioGuardi
Seasons: 8-9
Kara DioGuardi solely appeared on Idol for 2 seasons however says her time on the present made her really feel like she “received the lottery.” Following her departure, she defined that whereas she beloved the present, she had lots occurring in her life when she made the choice to go away.
“The present was in transition, and, for me, it difficult a variety of issues in my very own life. I do not suppose folks realized what number of jobs I had and the issues I used to be doing [outside the show], and when it regarded just like the present was in transition, I made a decision it was time for me to go. It was my resolution. The transition made it arduous for me to not make the choice to go away” she advised The New York Publish.
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Ellen DeGeneres
Seasons: 9
Ellen DeGeneres spent only one season as an American Idol choose, leaving after Season 9. She defined that she did not really feel like she was the proper match for the present and her schedule turned too hectic with the filming of her personal discuss present.
“A pair months in the past, I let Fox and the American Idol producers know that this did not really feel like the proper match for me. I advised them I would not depart them in a bind and that I’d maintain off on doing something till they had been in a position to determine the place they needed to take the panel subsequent. It was a tough resolution to make, however my work schedule turned greater than I bargained for,” Ellen mentioned in an announcement.
She continued, “I additionally realized this season that whereas I like discovering, supporting and nurturing younger expertise, it was arduous for me to evaluate folks and generally harm their emotions. I beloved the expertise engaged on Idol and I’m very grateful for the yr I had. I’m an enormous fan of the present and can proceed to be.”
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Steven Tyler
Seasons: 10-11
Steven Tyler admits he was getting paid an exorbitant amount of cash to be a choose on American Idol however he left the present after Season 11. He defined that on the time his contract was to be renewed, he had a way {that a} change was coming and determined to stop whereas he was forward.
“It got here across the month that I used to get cellphone calls, and I went, ‘Wait a minute.’ I referred to as Randy [Jackson] and I mentioned, ‘What is going on on? Am I getting thrown off?’ He goes, ‘They have not referred to as me…’ After which I referred to as Jennifer [Lopez], and she or he goes, ‘I do not know what I am doing.’ So there was a month of huh? So lastly someday I simply went, ‘It simply do not feel proper. I am quittin’now. Then the following morning Jennifer stop, so what does that let you know? It simply didn’t really feel proper,” Steven advised Yahoo! Music.
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Jennifer Lopez
Seasons: 10-11, 13-16
Jennifer Lopez had two runs on American Idol. She first appeared on the present for seasons 10 and 11 however then took a year-long hiatus. Whereas she initially mentioned she was leaving with a purpose to “get again to doing the opposite issues” in her profession, she later shared that Steven’s departure performed a giant position in her resolution.
“We had magic. I do not know, with him gone, it may be a unique formulation,” she advised ABC Information.
Jennifer ultimately returned for Seasons 13 by way of 15, leaving when the sequence wrapped its run on ABC.
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Randy Jackson
Seasons: 1-12
The final remaining unique choose, Randy Jackson, departed from the present after Season 12. He caught round as a mentor for Season 13 however formally parted methods with the present shortly after in 2014.
“After 13 seasons, I felt now was the right time to go away American Idol. I am proud to have been part of a sequence that found some unimaginable artists and can go down in historical past as probably the most profitable tv reveals ever. A real unique, Idol began all of it. Onto what’s subsequent,” he mentioned in an announcement.
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Mariah Carey
Seasons: 12
Mariah Carey solely lasted one season on American Idol, after a rumored feud with fellow choose Nicki Minaj all through her run. Mariah in the end determined to go away on the finish of Season 12, explaining on the time that she was specializing in her music profession. Years later, she referred to as the present “boring and so pretend” in addition to “the worst expertise of [her] life.”
“I’m not going to get into what it was, however let’s simply say I do not suppose that they had any intentions for us to have expertise doing that present. Pitting two females in opposition to one another wasn’t cool,” she mentioned on the Kyle and Jackie O present.
She continued, “It ought to have been in regards to the contestants as a substitute of about some nonexistent feud that changed into much more ridiculousness. I’d by no means need to be concerned with it once more. However everyone else did prefer it.”
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Nicki Minaj
Seasons: 12
Nicki Minaj left American Idol concurrently Mariah, solely showing on the present for one season. On the time, she mentioned the present was a “life altering expertise” however she was leaving to “give attention to the music.” Whereas there was reportedly pressure between Nicki and Mariah all through filming, she confirmed that she had undoubtedly felt “shade” from Mariah early on. In return, she “overcompensated” by performing crazier — which did not sit properly with Mariah.
Nicki later shared that she would return to the present for $30 million.
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Keith City
Seasons: 12-15
Keith City joined American Idol throughout Season 12 and caught with it till the top of the present’s run on Fox. When the sequence switched networks, a wholly new panel of judges was introduced on, leaving Keith behind. He later returned as a mentor through the Season 21 finale.
“I had a good time as a choose and being on the present. Each season was a blast for me, so to return again and get to mentor and carry out as properly feels unbelievable,” he advised Billboard.
Harry Connick Jr.
Seasons: 13-15
Harry Connick Jr. signed onto Idol throughout Season 13 and likewise remained with the present till its run on Fox ended. Whereas he wasn’t on the judging panel when the present moved to ABC, he did return to carry out on the present in 2021.
