As had been rumored for a while, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj have both publicly confirmed that they are leaving 'American Idol' after this season, following the announcement that Randy Jackson was also retiring. This leaves Keith Urban as the last judge standing, though perhaps not for long.
It was recently revealed that the folks behind 'American Idol' were planning to wipe their entire judges table clean and start anew admist plummeting ratings. But with the series at a personal all-time low, could a past 'Idol' standout reinvigorate it? It's been revealed that former contestant and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson has signed on as judge for the next season.
Ryan Seacrest is apparently the most powerful man in reality television.
So says The Hollywood Reporter, who ranked the 'American Idol' and radio host number one on its fourth annual Reality Power List.
Seacrest, who is poised to make over $55 million this year, according to PopEater, ironically dethroned former 'Idol' judge Simon Cowell, who dropped to number six on this year's list.