AI Watch:Steven Tyler Jennifer Lopez In,Kara Dioguardi, Ellen Out

by NowPublic Staff | July 30, 2010 at 07:09 am

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American Idol Judges: Rumors Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez Hired, Kara Dioguardi Fired. Fact Ellen Degeneres Quits

First there was Simon Cowell not coming back as judge on American Idol and now there is the bombshell from Ellen DeGeneres that she will not be coming back either for another season.

A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the not right fit for me,” she says in a statement. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for.”

The news of Ellen DeGeneres leaving comes at the same time of news that Kara Dioguardi has been fired after two seasons of being an American Idol judge - reports say she never could live up to the high profile position.

Now with Kara Dioguardi and Ellen DeGeneres both leaving American Idol reports are surfacing that Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler and underemployed pop superstar Jennifer Lopez will be taking over as judges.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Lopez -- a 41-year-old mother of twins who previously served as a guest mentor to contestants in 2007 -- snagged the deal thanks to manager Benny Medina, who orchestrated a meeting with Idol producers about a month ago. Negotiations have been ongoing ever since, the site reported late Thursday.

The site also reports that Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has been offered the spot to replace Simon Cowell,