All of the American Idol Judges Who Have Left The Present

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 current 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 affix the enjoyable.

Discover out why these judges give up American Idol via the years…

Paula Abdul

Seasons: 1-8

Paula Abdul appeared on American Idol for eight seasons however she admits she virtually give up on her first day. She says she grew to like the present however after eight years, she knew it was time to depart.

“The reality is, it was time for me to depart. I would by no means had the identical job for eight years. I felt that there have been adjustments occurring, and it did not really feel like the identical present. I wanted to return and do issues I wished to do, and being in that contract with the present didn’t enable me to do many issues,” Paula informed Leisure Weekly.

She continued, “It was a daring choice to make, however I’ll at all times have large gratitude as a result of it was an incredible expertise for me. I used to be a giant a part of historical past. And the present did change after I left.”

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. Trying 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 trustworthy 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 via the purple interval with the artists that I’m nonetheless mates with now. And we’ve got remained amazingly good mates, we communicate, hangout and speak. So I had the great years!”

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 “gained the lottery.” Following her departure, she defined that whereas she liked the present, she had loads occurring in her life when she made the choice to depart.

“The present was in transition, and, for me, it sophisticated a variety of issues in my very own life. I do not assume folks realized what number of jobs I had and the issues I used to be doing [outside the show], and when it seemed just like the present was in transition, I made a decision it was time for me to go. It was my choice. The transition made it onerous for me to not make the choice to depart” she informed The New York Put up.

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 fitting match for the present and her schedule turned too hectic with the filming of her personal speak present.

“A pair months in the past, I let Fox and the American Idol producers know that this did not really feel like the fitting match for me. I informed them I would not depart them in a bind and that I might maintain off on doing something till they have been ready to determine the place they wished to take the panel subsequent. It was a tough choice to make, however my work schedule turned greater than I bargained for,” Ellen stated in a press release.

She continued, “I additionally realized this season that whereas I like discovering, supporting and nurturing younger expertise, it was onerous for me to evaluate folks and typically harm their emotions. I liked 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.”

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 give up whereas he was forward.

“It got here across the month that I used to get cellphone calls, and I went, ‘Wait a minute.’ I known as Randy [Jackson] and I stated, ‘What is going on on? Am I getting thrown off?’ He goes, ‘They have not known as me…’ After which I known 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 in the future I simply went, ‘It simply do not feel proper. I am quittin’now. Then the following morning Jennifer give up, so what does that inform you? It simply didn’t really feel proper,” Steven informed Yahoo! Music.

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 stated she was leaving as a way to “get again to doing the opposite issues” in her profession, she later shared that Steven’s departure performed a giant position in her choice.

“We had magic. I do not know, with him gone, it could be a distinct components,” she informed ABC Information.

Jennifer ultimately returned for Seasons 13 via 15, leaving when the collection wrapped its run on ABC.

Randy Jackson

Seasons: 1-12

The final remaining authentic 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 depart American Idol. I am proud to have been part of a collection that found some unbelievable artists and can go down in historical past as probably the most profitable tv reveals ever. A real authentic, Idol began all of it. Onto what’s subsequent,” he stated in a press release.

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 finally determined to depart on the finish of Season 12, explaining on the time that she was specializing in her music profession. Years later, she known 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 assume that they had any intentions for us to have an excellent expertise doing that present. Pitting two females towards one another wasn’t cool,” she stated on the Kyle and Jackie O present.

She continued, “It ought to have been concerning the contestants as an alternative of about some nonexistent feud that become much more ridiculousness. I might by no means wish to be concerned with it once more. However all people else did prefer it.”

Nicki Minaj

Seasons: 12

Nicki Minaj left American Idol concurrently Mariah, solely showing on the present for one season. On the time, she said the present was a “life altering expertise” however she was leaving to “deal with 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 appearing crazier — which did not sit properly with Mariah.

Nicki later shared that she would return to the present for $30 million.

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 collection 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 implausible,” he informed Billboard.

Harry Connick Jr.

Seasons: 13-15

Harry Connick Jr. signed onto Idol throughout Season 13 and in addition 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.