Ellen to replace Abdul on 'American idol'
Ellen DeGeneres has danced her way into the fourth judge’s seat on 'American Idol'.
Fox announced the talk show host and comedian, who admittedly has no formal music experience, would join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for the ninth season starting in January.
The announcement all but sealed the departure of Paula Abdul, who announced she was quitting the show amid a contract dispute in July.
DeGeneres told her talk show audience in an episode scheduled to air today that she would not abandon her Emmy-winning chat show, but would have “a day job and a night job.
“The times we’re living in,” she quipped, “we’re all doing that.”
Abdul had been replaced by a succession of guest judges as American Idol started next season’s auditions.
Among them are Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Shania Twain – but not the 51-year-old DeGeneres.
