JENNIFER LOPEZ LEAVING ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ – MARIAH CAREY, ADAM LAMBERT RUMORED TO BE NEXT JUDGES

Jennifer Lopez said Friday that she’s quitting “American Idol.” Her official departure comes just one day after Steven Tyler also announced his exit as a judge on the show to focus on his music.

Lopez confirmed her exit to Idol host Ryan Seacrest during a call to his radio show, “On the Air.”

“Something has to give … I really was dreading this phone call … and you’re gonna make me cry. I honestly feel the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I have kinda put on hold because I love Idol so much… I could keep just doing Idol for the rest of my life but that would be giving up a bunch of other things… We had an amazing run.”

““It’s been a long thought process … I really have been torn. I have my movies and music and my this and that … and it gets just more complicated, as the kids get a little bigger. It started feeling like it was a lot, and something had to give. Something has to give. And that’s, I think, where I am right now.”

She added, “I feel like no matter what you guys need over there, I’m always gonna be here … There’s just that tie there; I just don’t know if I could be there every single day.”

But wait, there’s more! Is Randy Jackson the next ‘American Idol’ judge to leave? He is rumored to be on his way out as well and there are reports that he could move from judge to mentor.

Rumors are also circulating that Mariah Carey and Adam Lambert are in the running to step in as new judges of the ailing show. Mariah Carey is reportedly in serious talks to join AI as judge and it’s very close to being a done deal.