American Idol Top 24 Announced

"Will Jennifer find the strength to go on?" Ryan Seacrest asked at the start of Thursday's two-hour American Idol.

Wednesday night, you'll recall, ended with a sobbing Jennifer Lopez listing to the side, like a leaking ship sinking into a sea of tears, giving bad news to Chris Medina.

Within two minutes, Ryan answered as we expected he would: "Jennifer knows the show must go on."
Not only that, she looked fabulous. The hair! The luster!

And off we went as the judges rounded out the top 24 roster, 12 guys and 12 girls, teasing (or more likely torturing) each singer with feints and sighs before finally delivering a verdict.

"You're mean," said Laina Alaina, who looked as if she were about to drop dead before getting good news.

Here are some of the dramatic highlights of the episode:

Goodbye to Jacee: The one big twist came at the end of the night, when poor little Jacee Badeaux – I guess there's really no need to describe him that way – was sent home, along with Colton Dixon. The last male spot went to the very nice, very talented Brett Loewenstern. He also happened to be the most deserving, but ruling against Jacee somehow feels like ruling against a puppy, or baseball cards in the spokes of a shiny new bike, or the American flag.

Country showdown: Scotty McCreery, who sang a great, old-fashioned cover of "Long Black Train" for the judges, made it through. They loved his classic country voice, of course, but also his decency – he's still apologizing for not sticking up for Jacee in the group round. But John Wayne Schulz and his big black hat hit the trail. Not too surprising, considering how he's barely been on camera since his audition. You had to keep an eye out for him from week to week.

Worst birthday ever: The last female spot came down to Thia Megia, who so far seems pretty much perfect, and Jessica Cunningham, who's auditioned seven times before. And Jessica was rejected once again – on her 25th birthday, unfortunately. She (jokingly?) made a rude gesture to the cameras. But she could have meant it and you wouldn't have blamed her.

Mr. Sunshine: Given good news, Jacob Lusk, the nightingale with the lungs of steel, stood up and let whoop with a high note, then hopped, danced, ran and whooped some more. He must have been especially stoked that Randy Jackson called his Hollywood-week version of "God Bless the Child," the "single best performance ever on Idol." If he actually wins, he'll spontaneously combust.

In general, the night's other winners were the obvious ones, and included Stefano Langone, James Durbin ("I don't think you'll ever be selling pizza," Steven Tyler told him.), Jordan Dorsey, Julie Zorrilla, Lauren Turner, and Casey Abrams ("I don't think we've ever seen a musician as talented as yourself," Randy said. "It's like three people in one"), who was so excited he accidentally knocked his chair off the stage. Also vying for your votes: Tim Halperin, Tatynisa Wilson, Robbie Rosen, Rachel Zevita, Pia Toscano, Paul McDonald, Naima Adedapo, Kendra Chantelle, Karen Rodriguez, Jovany Barreto, Haley Reinhart, Clint Jun Gamboa and Ashthon Jones.

American Idol Adding Online Voting Via Facebook

Will you accept American Idol‘s friend request?

The Fox hit will soon announce that it’s adding online voting for the first time.

Here are the details: Users will be able to use their Facebook accounts to reach a dedicated Idol voting page that will include all the current contestants. Each fan will be able to vote 50 times during a telecast’s voting period. Viewers will still be able to vote via text messaging and toll-free phone calls as well.

The Idol plans have been in the works for awhile, though Fox hasn’t commented. Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe leaked plans to introduce a form of online voting earlier this week, followed by somebody leaking plans to introduce Facebook voting for next fall’s The X Factor.
Idol creator Simon Fuller has been pushing for the show to embrace online voting as part of its widespread overhaul of season 10. With Idol still dominating in the ratings and viewers embracing Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez as judges, the industry consensus seems to be that the show has managed to pull off something that many thought impossible — soldiering on successfully in the wake of Cowell’s departure.

This latest change, online voting, is expected to go into effect during the performance show on Tuesday, March 1th.

Jennifer Lopez's forthcoming album 'Love?': Producer RedOne spills on the sound

American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez’s long-gestating album Love? is currently slated for a March 29th release, and one single, the Pitbull-infused, “Lambada”-riffing “On the Floor” has already hit radio (although not the Billboard charts in the U.S….yet).

So we’ve gotten a taste of what’s possibly to come, but what’s up with the rest of the forthcoming album? Lopez is reportedly using music that she recorded for the album back when it was in the works at Sony and songs that she’s newly recorded with producers Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, and RedOne.

Which is interesting considering RedOne came down the red carpet at Sunday evening’s 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, where he spilled some details about what to expect when Love? drops next month. “I did about half of the album and I am one of the executive producers with LA Reid,” Red One told Entertainment Weekly. “The first song, ‘On The Floor,’ is already blowing up and the rest is even better. Lots of dance songs.”

The sound, as you might guess, nods to Lopez’s roots — but it’s more than that. “A little bit of the Latin flavor is infused in it,” RedOne explains, “but I would describe it more as a global sound. It is all about love and covers all emotional sides of Jennifer. She is in a good place.”

How does Lopez’s role as a new judge on American Idol fit into her new musical iteration? “Most of the album was done before she started Idol so I don’t think that will influence her sound, but I think it has probably been a great experience for her to be reminded what it is like to just be starting out and to be excited when everything is new,” RedOne offered. “She is an icon because she had a dream and a passion and then she worked really hard to attain it. But I think she was the perfect choice for a new judge. She knows what it takes to make it.”

Jennifer Lopez & Steven Tyler a Hit on Idol

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler's debut as American Idol judges has proved a hit with the critics.

Season 10 of the TV talent show got underway on Wednesday night with Tyler and Lopez replacing Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell on the hit show - and the two superstars wowed contestants and TV critics with their enthusiastic response to wannabes at auditions in New Jersey, which were taped last year.

The Los Angeles Times' Mary McNamara writes, "Moments into Wednesday night’s season premiere, it was gratifyingly clear that for the first time in a long time the fumblings and flailings of contestants fighting to find their feet on stage will not be mirrored by the judges' table.

"Not only are they great to look at, Lopez and Tyler are long-time stars who have nothing to gain, or lose, by being part of American Idol."

She adds, "Their natural confidence in front of the camera was such a blessed relief that it was hard to miss even the bracing ballistics of Simon Cowell."

New York Post critic Linda Stasi agreed, calling the duo's "instant chemistry" with existing judge Randy Jackson "so right, they couldn’t have created it in a lab".

She continues, "Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are not and will never be Paula (Abdul, another former judge) and Simon. They didn’t do the brother/sister love/hate thing - and didn’t try to. And that was great. They did something completely different. They were themselves - two superstars fully engaged and absorbed. And not with themselves, but with the contestants. Perfect."

However, the show lost a few viewers - the premiere opened to the lowest ratings since season one.

Jennifer Lopez: Why I Had the Twins Pose for Gucci

Jennifer Lopez has gotten twins Emme and Max started early in modeling, but it was all for a good cause.

The actress-singer recently posed with the twins, who will be 3 next month, in ads introducing Gucci’s new kids’ line of clothing.

She did so because there was a strong charity connection, not because Emme and Max were clamoring for the gig.

“They’re like, ‘Mom, hello! Hair and makeup!’ ” Lopez, 41, jokes in Tuesday's interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“No. Actually, Frida Giannini from Gucci said she was going to launch the Gucci’s kids line, and they were going to do it in conjunction with a big donation, and they were going to do it with [the United Nations' children's charity] UNICEF, and would we do it?”

Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony, were torn, but eventually agreed. “Marc didn’t really want to put the babies in an ad or anything like that,” Lopez says. “And I was just like, if they do it, I’d want to do it with my kids because it is for the kids. That’s the connection. That’s what makes it real. We don’t really parade them around like that, so it was for a good cause.”

One thing Lopez and Anthony haven’t committed to? Having more kids themselves. “I don’t know. As soon as I had the babies, I thought to myself, ‘I want to do this a thousand more times. I love this. This is life,’ ” she says. “And now that it’s like three years in, I’m like, ‘Can I do that again?’ It’s funny. But yes, if I got pregnant, I would be extremely happy.”

New Judge Jennifer Lopez Feels 'Anxious' Before American Idol Eliminations

Jennifer Lopez is finding out just how hard it is to be an American Idol judge.

"I get very involved and attached to the kids, in the sense of their trajectory and watching them," Lopez, 41, said after Idol's Tuesday's Television Critics Association's press panel, in anticipation of having to eliminate 50 percent of the contestants during a taping later in the day.

"I feel really anxious about cutting half the kids today, I really do," the pop star added. "I'm really not looking forward to it. You want to pick the right ones and you want to see who's really going to make a great show, and at the same time, be great artists. But I feel like we have so many good ones that we're going to lose some good ones today. And that's what bothers me."

And like a lot people starting a new job, Lopez says she has work on her mind even when she's not at the "office." "I realize that when we went away before we did Hollywood Week, I was thinking about the kids so much before we went back for the [Las Vegas round]," Lopez said. "I was just like, 'Oh, my God, I hope that so-and-so does good, and I wish this one would just let go a little more ... ' You just get involved ... You hope that they do great."

But Lopez says her soft-heartedness doesn't mean she's already filling the shoes of former judges Paula Abdul and Ellen DeGeneres, who were both known for being encouraging and sympathetic to the show's singers.

"I can't really say I would be like any one judge," Lopez said. "I think that I have a combination of qualities that make me who I am and gives me a specific style of how I deal with the kids and how I dish out the truth – and also dish out the comfort. That's just part of who I am."

American Idol's 10th season premieres next Wednesday at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX.

Ryan Seacrest and Jennifer Lopez: American Idol Will Be an 'All New Show'

For American Idol veterans Ryan Seacrest and Randy Jackson, season 10 isn't the same without former judge Simon Cowell.

"There are less clouds of smoke," Seacrest tells Entertainment Weekly in a new cover story about the show. "We start earlier. There's less – what is that English dish he always ordered for lunch? Shepherd's pie? He loves shepherd's pie."

"No, it's the blood pudding," Jackson jokes, then adds, "we definitely miss [Cowell], but it's a different kind of vibe. It's a different energy now."

"It's going to be an all new show," Seacrest says.

Jennifer Lopez explains: "We're more of a collaborative judging group. We're always leaning over to each other and saying, 'Oh my God, I think she's good.' 'Or, I don't get it.' 'You don't like it?' " she tells the magazine. "We just have a totally different style than any of the past judging tables."

In addition to Cowell, new judges Lopez and Steven Tyler are filling the shoes of Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres, who both bowed out of the Fox show over the summer, signaling a nearly complete makeover of the panel.

"It's not about replacing [Cowell] or any of the others," Jackson says. "People have been saying to us, 'Who's mean?' We've traded off on that because I think you have to always give people the truth, no matter what."

When Idol's season 10 premieres January 19th, it's not just the judges' fans who will be watching. Tyler wants everyone to know the contestants this year are "just astounding."

"We throw the drift net out and look what comes up?" Tyler says. "Gold."

Big Changes Await American Idol in Season 10

From the new judges to the new set, the new bandleader to the music itself, American Idol is getting some serious work done for its tenth season. “We’re going ahead with a whole fresh change,” Idol executive producer Ken Warwick said to Entertainment Weekly exclusively, “simply because we never thought in our wildest dreams that any show would last ten years on American television.”

Contrary to recent web reports, however, the show will definitely not be introducing a new music video challenge. The idea had been floated as a possibility at one point, but exec producer Cécile Frot-Coutaz tells Entertainment Weekly that while contestants are already experiencing new challenges this season, “We’re certainly not going to do the music videos.” And exec. producer Nigel Lythgoe laughs off the idea that a country singer won’t be asked to do an R&B song. “If you do Motown, then I’m not sure [how] you’re going to sing an R&B song and give it your country flavor,” he said. “You can’t suddenly go [in a painful country twang] ‘Staaaaap! In the naaeeemeee of loooaahve’ — so it’s not going to be like that. They’ve got to be clever with it.”

A source close to the show also said to Entertainment Weekly that contestants will be limited to cover songs when singing for votes, and it is unlikely that voting will move online this season. And the source is quite firm that there was never a plan to bring Idol all stars back on the show in anything other than a performance capacity.

So what big changes are afoot this season on Idol?

One sudden death Top 20 round. Instead of a three-week top 24 round in which America votes, 60 contestants were flown to Las Vegas to sing Beatles songs on the same stage at the Las Vegas Mirage that Cirque du Soleil performs LOVE. “I think a few [contestants] knew ‘Hello Goodbye’ because it was used on a Target commercial,” chuckles Lythgoe, “which is frightening.” But that round only knocked the talent pool down to 40 wannabes. Yet another round in Hollywood will narrow the contestants down to 20 singers, and only then will America vote in a single sudden death round that will select the Idol finalists from among two groups of ten.

A Top 12…or a top 10. While some reports speculate the final group could be as high as 15 contestants, the Idol producers told Entertainment Weekly the finalists will either be a top 12 or a top 10. “It’s one of those situations where we’ll see what the talent’s like,” says Warwick. “We’ll see what cross-section of kids we end up with in that final elimination round. It will be up to the talent that’s there as to whether we go with 10 or 12.”

No gender parity. Say goodbye to Idol‘s often rigid practice of maintaining the same number of female and male contestants in their final group. Explains Warwick: “If I’ve got six fantastic boys and four average girls, I’m certainly not going to throw out a fantastic boy to put in another average girl, or vice versa.”

American Idol returns to FOX two weeks from tonight on January 19th.

For more on all the changes in Idol Land — and Entertainment Weekly’s exclusive roundtable interview with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler — check out this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands this Thursday and Friday.

Barbara Walters Reveals Her 2010 Picks for 'Most Fascinating People'

From the queen of Hollywood to a princess in waiting, Barbara Walters has revealed eight of the 10 names on her 2010 Most Fascinating People list.

Sandra Bullock and Kate Middleton are joined on the list by Justin Bieber, Betty White, LeBron James, Sarah Palin, new American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez and the cast of Jersey Shore.

As usual, Walters won't divulge the final names – or the overall Most Fascinating Person – until the special airs December 9th at 10:00 pm (ET).

Middleton was a prescient choice, having reportedly been selected for the list before word of her engagement to Prince William broke this month.

Palin, meanwhile, makes a return appearance, having been featured on Walters's 2009 list as well.

Walters has chosen a woman as her overall Most Interesting Person in each of the past five years: Michelle Obama (2009), Tina Fey (2008), J.K. Rowling (2007), Nancy Pelosi (2006) and Camilla Parker Bowles (2005).

Will Lady Gaga make the cut? Or will she go with the cast of Glee? Who is your top guess for 2010?

Jennifer Lopez & Her Twins Star in Gucci’s New Children’s Ad Campaign

After weeks of speculation as to whether or not Jennifer Lopez would star alongside her two-year-old twins, Emme and Max, in Gucci’s latest campaign, the fashion house finally confirmed this week that the beautiful threesome is indeed gracing the ads for the yet-to-launch line, which will hit stores in spring 2011.

“Jennifer Lopez stars in new Gucci children’s advertising campaign,” they Tweeted.

And while Jennifer lends her flawless face and utterly adorable offspring to the campaign, in return, the fashion house will make a donation to UNICEF and the Maribel Foundation which Jennifer started with her sister Lynda, according to WWD.

Renowned fashion photographers, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot captured the campaign this summer on the beach in Malibu, California where the adorable pack, dressed up in Gucci, got glam in the sand.

Jennifer Lopez Putting American Idol Hopefuls 'Through the Wringer'

For American Idol newcomer Jennifer Lopez, the perfect pick-me-up during her first full day of judging was a fresh batch of eager contestants.

"It was a long day, but it wasn't tiring," Lopez, 41, said of her first day on the job in Jersey City, New Jersey. "I was energized by all of [the contestants'] spirits when they came in here – so hopeful about what could happen and how it could be. And it's exciting."

As the first round of auditions kicked off on Tuesday, the singer-dancer-actress is embracing her new role, describing her style as a mix between "tough, easy and fair."

And she's not letting anyone off the hook.

"I really want to put them through the wringer in the sense that I don't want to let anybody who's really great go ... because they're nervous or whatever and not get to see what they could've been," she said. "We worked with them a little more than maybe you’ve seen in the past. We give them more of a chance.”

Steven Tyler, the other panel newcomer, had advice for future Idol hopefuls: "Don't get mad at what we say – get better."

Veteran judge Randy Jackson also had some words of wisdom about rocking an interesting look: "Whatever you do, make it hot."

And with the show returning to Fox in January, host Ryan Seacrest was psyched about the three different styles the judges bring to the table.

"The chemistry is fantastic between these three," he said. "You know, they're having a good time."

Jennifer Lopez Keeps Her Ex, Ojani Noa, from Auditioning for American Idol

Jennifer Lopez's first husband Ojani Noa had planned to wait in line and serenade his former wife with one of her own songs when American Idol auditions opened in California last week.

However, J.Lo -- who was unveiled as a new member of the judging panel along with Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler -- told the show’s producers that the whole ordeal would make her uncomfortable. And ultimately, bosses told him he'd be arrested if he went through with his plans.

A friend of Ojani told RadarOnline.com: “Jennifer got Fox to make sure the screeners would not let Ojani anywhere near the auditions. Fox made it clear that he was not welcome and that he could be arrested if he showed up, so he backed-out at the last minute. It was a shame because all he wanted to do was to showcase his voice and show people that he can really sing too.”

Ojani Noa, 36, married Jennifer in 1997 after meeting her while working as a waiter. Their marriage lasted less than a year and they initially parted on good terms, but the pair have fallen out in recent years, after Jennifer hired and subsequently fired Ojani as head chef of her now closed Latin restaurant Madre's in 2002.

He has since been banned from publishing a tell-all book he wrote about the 41-year-old star by one court, and last year a judge ruled he was also not allowed to commercially release footage from the couple's honeymoon.

The source added: “Whenever Ojani tries to do something Jennifer just tries to block it any way that she can -- nobody really knows what she’s so paranoid about.”

Since divorcing Ojani, Jennifer dated rapper P. Diddy, married and divorced dancer Cris Judd, got engaged to actor Ben Affleck and finally settled down and married singer Marc Anthony, with whom she has two-year-old twins Max and Emme.

J.Lo Tells 'Extra' She'll Be Tough on 'Idol'

Newly crowned American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez won't be the next Simon Cowell, but she will be honest!" Extra's AJ Calloway caught up with Lopez right after the announcement that she, along with Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson, would be judging the show's 10th season, and asked her about how she'll handle her duties.

"I'm not one to stand down when I have strong beliefs about something," said the superstar singer. Lopez is excited that this season will really concentrate on the music. "Randy, myself, Steven... we take music seriously. It's our life." See photos of Jennifer Lopez through the years!

J.Lo talked about Interscope Records exec Jimmy Iovine being one of this season's mentors. His label has been home to the Black Eyed Peas, Mary J. Blige and Lady Gaga.

Lopez said of this season's contestants, "They're going to get to work with the people who work with artists all the time and who expect a certain level."

The other bonus of doing Idol for the singer/actress is being able to stay in one place for awhile. "It's a lot on the family, the babies, packing up and bringing them everywhere, making sure we're all together. You know how much we travel," laughing, "AJ travels with us sometimes. He's like our third triplet!"

The new American Idol season premieres January 2011 on FOX.

Jennifer Lopez: Why American Idol is Right for Me

Jennifer Lopez is "excited" about her new gig as a judge on American Idol's 10th season, especially since it will allow more time at home with her family in L.A.

"We're really happy that we get to be in one place with the babies [2-year-old twins Max and Emme] for a while," she says. "This is going to put us here for like six months. It's unheard of for us. The babies can do dance class and soccer practice. We're excited about being a little bit of a normal family for a little while."

The move to Idol also demonstrates how Lopez, 40, and husband Marc Anthony, 42, make big life-decisions – like taking a new high-profile job – together.

"I don't know that we ever thought I'd do something like this," says Lopez. "But when I was a dancer, was I going to be an actress? Yeah. When I was an actress, was I going to be a singer? Yes. I just think this is another evolution of that – and [Marc] explained it to me like that."

Now that the announcement is official, Lopez is eager to get started on her new gig. "I'm going to give it my whole heart, soul and passion like I do with everything that I do," she said. "I'm looking forward to such a fun year."

Jennifer Lopez: I Won't Be a Diva on American Idol

Will having Jenny on the block drag down the neighborhood?

No way, says Jennifer Lopez, who laughed off reports of outrageous diva-like demands during negotiations to become a new judge on American Idol.

"After as many years as I've been in this business, I'm used to that kind of stuff," Lopez said Wednesday at an Idol press conference in Inglewood, California. "I'm used to speculation."

If anything, Lopez says, she felt she was dragging FOX into negative headlines.

"I was calming the FOX people down," she explained. "I was like, 'Listen, it'll be gone tomorrow. Once they hear who we are and what we're doing, it's going to be fine. Don't worry about it.' I was just looking forward to getting started."

Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe even poked fun at her reputation.

"I said to Jennifer today, we heard that she only likes yellow M&Ms," he said. "I'm thinking, 'Who's going to pick them all out for her?' She said, 'No, where did that come from?'"

Adds Mike Darnell, head of alternative programming on FOX: "I can tell you from the Fox standpoint, the deal was not tough. There were no diva demands. It was a really easy, comfortable deal with both parties."

Jennifer Lopez & Steven Tyler Announced as New American Idol Judges

It's official!

Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler will be joining Randy Jackson at the judges' table when American Idol kicks off season 10 in January.

"I'm looking for the next Michael Jackson," Lopez said before a screaming crowd at the Los Angeles Forum after Ryan Seacrest introduced her. "We're looking for the best American Idol ever."

The announcement was made during a live press conference Wednesday. Seacrest hosted the event, telling the crowd, "We are looking for the next star in music. We usually ask, who will be the next American Idol? We never asked this question, who will be the next judges on American Idol?"

Seacrest then introduced Randy Jackson, who told the crowd, "We found some unbelievable talent and I am calling season 10 the remix, baby!"

Up next, Tyler was introduced as a "rock legend." The Aerosmith frontman said joining the Idol family feels "fabulous."

"[It] feels like the perfect feathered nest," he said. "It's being a part of something much bigger than yourself. I want to bring some rock to this roller coaster."

Lopez, who dressed in a silver pant suit, was the last to be introduced.

"I love you guys. I am so excited," she told the crowd that included Idol hopefuls, there to try out for the show. "It is about concentrating in the moment, do the best you can. Just live! Just live, it's your moment."

The announcement comes with little surprise. In weeks leading up to the decision, sources said that Jennifer Lopez signed the deal worth $12 million. And Steven Tyler himself said he would "probably" be a judge when the show returned in the winter.

J. Lo's Ex-Husband to Audition for 'American Idol'

Ojani Noa, a former waiter from Cuba who became Jennifer Lopez’s first husband when they married in 1997, is planning to sing on American Idol in Los Angeles. Apparently he'll even be serenading the rumored judge with one of her own songs.

The pop hopeful’s manager, Ed Meyer, said: “Ojani Noa will be in line at the Forum on September 22 to try out for American Idol in front of his ex-wife.

"He escaped Cuba and married Jennifer Lopez, now he wants to be the American Idol. Of course he will sing a Jennifer Lopez song.”

Ojani’s stunt is set to take place on the same day as the new judging panel for the show is officially unveiled by host Ryan Seacrest, which is said to feature Jennifer -- who has reportedly signed a $12 million contract to join the series -- alongside original judge Randy Jackson and two other new panel members.

Ojani, whose marriage to Jennifer lasted less than a year, initially remained on good terms with the singer-and-actress after they split. But the former couple have fallen out in recent years, after Jennifer hired and subsequently fired Ojani as head chef of her now closed Latin restaurant, Madre’s, in 2002.

He has since been banned from publishing a tell-all book he wrote about the 41-year-old star by one court, and last year a judge ruled he was also not allowed to commercially release footage from the couple’s honeymoon.

Since divorcing Ojani, Jennifer dated rapper P. Diddy, married and divorced dancer Cris Judd, got engaged to actor Ben Affleck and finally settled down and married singer Marc Anthony, with whom she has two-year-old twins Max and Emme

American Idol Season 10 Press Conference to Stream Live Today

American Idol fans will be able to get their own window into the action when today’s long awaited announcement of the show’s latest additions to the judges table is streamed live online.

Starting at 1:00 pm (ET), Idol fans can sign onto American Idol‘s website at http://www.americanidol.com/ to watch as Ryan Seacrest unveils the new lineup, and then stick around for the first press conference ever with Season 10′s squad.

This worst kept secret in the entertainment industry has several sources stating that Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joining Randy Jackson in judging this season's talent.

It's Almost Official:American Idol to Unveil Judges for New Season

Nobody has sung a note yet on TV, and American Idol is already set to announce next season’s big winners –- for seats at the judging table.

After weeks of speculation about who would replace Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi, the show will announce the new judges September 22nd at an event hosted by Ryan Seacrest in Los Angeles.

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler previously said he will “probably” be sitting at the judges’ table, while sources have said that Jennifer Lopez sealed a $12 million deal.

Shania Twain, Harry Connick Jr., Elton John and Chris Isaak have also been rumored to be possibilities.

Jennifer Lopez Agrees to $12M 'Idol' Contract

Jennifer Lopez looks like she'll be spending the next few months as an American Idol judge after all! It's been reported that J.Lo agreed to a $12 million deal to be on the show, following the departures of Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi.

It has been claimed by Deadline.com that Lopez was asking for $15 million to star on the series plus a guaranteed motion picture deal and a number of TV pilots from the companies which produce American Idol - Fox, Fremantle, and 19 Entertainment.

However, her demands for a film and TV programs were refused. An insider said: “She was angling for an overall deal at Fox, including a put picture, to keep her movie career going. But Fox said no."

Lopez’s manager Benny Medina arranged a meeting between the "Jenny From the Block" singer and producers in June and she accepted the judging role in July. She was also allegedly approached by Cowell to be a judge on the US version of his program The X Factor, which will air in autumn 2011 before committing to American Idol.

A source revealed: “I think it was just positioning. In the end, she didn't turn up her nose up at $12 million.”

The 41-year-old star – who was dropped by her record label Sony Music Epic Records last year – has also allegedly asked American Idol bosses to delay announcing the new judging line-up until later this month to coincide with the release of her new single, her first release on Island Def Jam.

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler is also believed to be joining Lopez on the panel.