Mariah Carey Tapped to Replace Jennifer Lopez as American Idol Judge

Mariah Carey in, Lopez out

Remember that story I posted about TMZ chatting with Nick Canon, who said that Idol execs would have to double what Jennifer Lopez got paid in order for Mariah Carey to judge the singing competition series?

It was confirmed yesterday that Mariah Carey will replace J Lo as a judge on “American Idol” next season, according to PEOPLE. Her payout was sweet. TMZ is reporting that Carey is now the highest paid judge in reality TV history at close to $18 million. 

The news was released via a dramatic announcement at the Television Critics Association summer tour in Beverly Hills as Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reily talked about the judges who are leaving.

“We do, in fact, have one judge whose deal closed very, very recently,” Reilly told reporters. “It's an artist that many contestants have tried to emulate, have tried to have sung the songs, have tried to hit the notes and because it really was concluded only hours ago, our judge couldn't be with us.”

He then put Mariah Carey on speakerphone where she addressed those in attendance.

“I am so excited to be joining Idol," she said. "First of all, I wanted to be there today and I wish I could've been there to tell you, but I think you know this all kind of just happened real quickly, so I can't wait to get started in a couple months.”

Steven Tyler has also called it quits but there’s no word on his replacement yet. But back to Mimi, can you imagine Queen Mimi sitting at the table, most likely dressed in all pink, telling people where to go with their horrible voices? I think she’s going to be brutal — not Simon Cowel brutal — but because this is the first time in the history of the show that a female judge can actually hold a note without digital enhancements, she won’t have to hold back or be super sweet. I promise I meant no shade by that digital enhancement comment. There’s probably one Paula Abdul song I enjoy and even a J Lo diddy here or there, but you know that neither one of those women are singers like that.

Anyway, what do you think of Mariah Carey as an “American Idol” judge.