IT'S OFFICIAL--Nicki Minaj Is New "American Idol" Judge, Banks $8 Mill For The Gig

Sep 16 | by Natasha

Host Ryan Seacrest tweeted the official word today that Nicki Minaj will indeed be sitting next to Mariah Carey on the next "American Idol" judges' panel.

Deets & the panel's first group pic inside...

After a month of swirling rumors, it's official. Mariah Carey will be joined by Barb chick Nicki Minaj, country superstar Keith Urban and "Idol" vet Randy Jackson (who is also Mariah's co-manager) on the judges' panel for the new season of "American Idol."

"Idol" host Ryan Seacrest tweeted the above pic saying:

It's official, your new #IdolJudges are @MariahCarey, @NickiMinaj, @KeithUrban & @Yo_RandyJackson!...Everyone gave a heartfelt toast about being on the show after we ate last night. Cant wait to see the first contestants today. #IdolJudges

While we already know MiMi is taking home about $18 mill for the gig, Nicki is reportedly getting paid a cool $8 mill. Ryan Seacrest is keeping his $15 mill salary. All judges are on a 1-year contract, according to THR.

Clearly "Idol" is going for judges--sometimes regardless of talent level--who have a large following that they hope will translate into large ratings. But as long as folks are banking dollars, it's all good right?

Auditions for the 12th season kick off today (Sunday) in New York. And "Idol" returns to Fox in January.

Congrats all around. Thoughts?

Categories:

TV Fab

PREVIOUS: DADDY'S DAY OUT: Djimon Hounsou Shops It Up With Kiddies Kenzo, Aoki & Ming Lee

NEXT: VIDEO FAB: Frank Ocean's New "Pyramids" Vid

Comments

WANT YOUR OWN AVATAR? GET IT HERE.

Maybe Nicki Minaj is on the

Maybe Nicki Minaj is on the show to help the ones without singing talent auditioning create a career out of gimmicks like she has done because I don't get why she's there. I have a feeling that she and Mariah who likes to be Queen Bee and who probably thought she would be the only Queen on the panel will CLASH. I can hear and see the little biting remarks now and the competitiveness now.

by Marek's Wifey
10:43 am - Sep 17, '12

Congrats Nicki!!

by diamond2012
8:36 am - Sep 17, '12

Ugh.....you gotta be fucking

Ugh.....you gotta be fucking kidding me. I WON'T be tuning in to this BULLSHIT.

by sianna1
5:14 am - Sep 17, '12

Congratulations!

by Stan Thompson
11:18 pm - Sep 16, '12

Really? You created an

Really? You created an account just to say that? Shame on you Stan. Lol

by Ms.Thangfromthe...
11:52 pm - Sep 16, '12

Who still watches AI? It's

Who still watches AI? It's rigged. How can Ncki Minaj, a pop star gimmick, judge talent? Only TALENTED experienced veterans or experts in talent scouting should be on the panel. This just goes to show you that AI is all about ratings and publicity, just like the rest of those so called talent search reality shows.

by MasterClass
10:00 pm - Sep 16, '12

I usually only watch the

I usually only watch the auditions, but was planning on watching the entire season because Mariah would be on, but now since they've added this COON MINAJ, I'll pass. Adding her has cheapened the show, sorry Mariah.

by My Moniker Is...
8:56 pm - Sep 16, '12

American Idol Is FINISHED

American Idol Is FINISHED Just Like 106 & Park. She Better Cap Off As Much As She Can Cus She Just Entered Her 15th Minute Of Fame.

by FckYoComment
7:38 pm - Sep 16, '12

What's next??? Mama Dee

What's next??? Mama Dee illiterate a$$ gonna be judging SPELLING BEES (B.I.C.T.H. smh)??

by tori
7:46 pm - Sep 16, '12

I will NOT be watching!

I will NOT be watching! Well, I will continue to NOT watch because I haven't watched since soulful sounding Elliot Yamin who sang "Moody's Mood For Love" so impeccably lost to Joe Crocker sounding gray hair old man looking Taylor Hicks. I was done with American Idol after that poor choice.

by I_love_laughing
7:24 pm - Sep 16, '12

WTF?! This totally throws a

WTF?! This totally throws a dagger into me looking forward to seeing Mariah as a judge bc now I have to stomach watching Nicki Minaj's over-the-top, dramatic behind. UGH!! I hope this is the las season. So puts a damper on Mariah being a judge with that plastic sitting next to her.

by Elle
7:12 pm - Sep 16, '12

This will prolly be the last

This will prolly be the last season of idol. The show has fallen off and Nicki will make the ratings drop to the floor.

by Ethel thinks YB...
6:56 pm - Sep 16, '12

Im at a loss as to why this

Im at a loss as to why this show is still on the air. Hiring Gimmick Garbaj is a distint indication of just how desperate they are for ratings.

by Realist
5:09 pm - Sep 16, '12

"Gimmick Garbaj"...Hilarious!

by GJ
5:32 pm - Sep 16, '12

Have not watched since

Have not watched since Fantasia won, don't watch xfactor Brittany Spears and Nicki Minaj judging singing talent thats funny.

by Ms Nay
2:19 pm - Sep 16, '12

This is why I have no time

This is why I have no time for singing shows! I mean, Minaj trying to judge talent and you have Britney Spears trying to do the same thing on x-factor! I understand producers and such knowing singing ability, but Nicki Minaj and Spears telling people they can't sing good is ridiculous and a bit hypocritical.

by Coffy
1:21 pm - Sep 16, '12

Britney is an XFACTOR

Britney is an XFACTOR judge...as much as she can sing ...she has the 'XFACTOR' thats why she popular...the show is more about marketing than singing, thats why they do lots of productions and staging on live shows......now American idol on the other hand is more about the voice, therefore I dont know what Nicki is doing on the panel....

by HAPPY
2:26 pm - Sep 16, '12

There goes the neighborhood

There goes the neighborhood (throws hands up)!!

by tori
12:46 pm - Sep 16, '12

I thought the same thing...

I thought the same thing... I'm a Mimi-fan and all but this should be interesting....

by Peace Silas
2:55 pm - Sep 16, '12

nikki has 0% of talent. Not

nikki has 0% of talent. Not watching just like the X factory having those to non singers telling other people they can't sing. Child please, nope will be watching The Voice

by stepup2
12:38 pm - Sep 16, '12

I quit watching American Idol

I quit watching American Idol a long time ago. This just confirmed I made the right decision.

by THE BUSINESS
11:57 am - Sep 16, '12

I hope she makes Mimi

I hope she makes Mimi uncomfortable and often. Mariah freaks out if she can't control EVERYTHING (Crayonce' is the same way)

by LisaRaye's Subc...
11:56 am - Sep 16, '12

Nicki Minaj can' sing but

Nicki Minaj can' sing but neither could Paula Abdul or Jeniffer Lopez. So what the hell is the difference. Mariah knows what the hell she is talking about and Keith Urban's cure self has been around a while. I can live with this.

by Me Talk Pretty
12:01 pm - Sep 16, '12

They might as well pack it

They might as well pack it up...Idol is done...if they hadn't added Nicki's no talent ass it might have worked...

by Laia
11:37 am - Sep 16, '12

they lost a viewer, am not

they lost a viewer, am not going to watch a no talent clown judge someone no bueno

by lolo
11:29 am - Sep 16, '12

I don't even watch American

I don't even watch American Idol anymore, but this right here is preposterous. Since when did a singing competition become about the judges? I admit Simone used to have me lmao with his responses, but that was like 10% of why I watched. I watched mainly to see the bad auditions so that I could get my weekly dose of shits and giggles. Anywho...

by Ms.Thangfromthe...
11:28 am - Sep 16, '12

With Simon, at least he was

With Simon, at least he was behind some talent. Leona Lewis can sing her butt off and I think he helped put together One Direction who has these little girls going crazy. This broad is just hot garbage...

by Laia
11:36 am - Sep 16, '12

To be clear, when I said that

To be clear, when I said that this is preposterous, I was talking about the money that they're pumping out and the hoopla going on for someone who the show is not even suppose to be about (the judges). Nicki is pure garbage and the fact that they chose her is a joke that's not even funny.

by Ms.Thangfromthe...
11:02 pm - Sep 16, '12

Nicki has no talent. So how

Nicki has no talent. So how will she judge someone else's? Or lack thereof? Plus she hasn't been in the game long enough to be a judge on AI, or any other show for that matter.