Mariah Carey in talks to join "American Idol": Report

Mariah Carey speaks onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012, in Los Angeles.

/ Getty

(CBS/AP) After Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler announced they were leaving "American Idol," there have been reports that pop star Mariah Carey might be stepping in.

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A person familiar with the show's negotiations says Carey is being pursued to join the judging panel of the Fox talent competition, according to the Associated Press. The source requested anonymity because of the private nature of negotiations, which were termed as serious. Carey has also been courted by other talent competitions, and her name has been thrown out in the past for "Idol" and other shows.

Lopez and Tyler made the announcement last week that they were leaving as judges after two seasons. Randy Jackson, who is a manager, producer and friend of Carey's, is the only judge left. There are reports that Jackson's role may shift as well.

If Carey were to join, she'd bring considerable expertise on hitmaking: The Grammy-winner is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with numerous No. 1 hits. She's currently working on a new album, her first since her twins were born last year.

Other names that are being tossed around as possible judges include Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Fergie and will.i.am, according to E! News.

Aretha Franklin told CNN over the weekend that she's interested in the job, but she wants Patti LaBelle by her side.

"American Idol" has been TV's most popular program for nearly a decade, but has had a marked downturn in its audience. Once a ratings juggernaut, its last finale drew its lowest ratings in its 11-season history.

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Mariah Carey

[tahoegeminii]

nice photo of MeMe promoting herself at the Whitney Memorial-obviously she did her "surprise" intro to promote herself using Whitney's death again!! much jealous of the 20 year old record sales MeMe?? And if MeMe thinks she is worth twice what they paid JLo-she is delusional -but she is delusional, not very educated and somewhat retarded so maybe she does actually think that-Idol is a sinking ship anyway and MeMe would be the final blow. Hopefully she does join and it could get rid of 2 poser loser birds with one stone-MeMe and Idol represent everything that is wrong and fake about the huge corporate pimp that is "pop music" everyone knows that the "real music" is not found on the pop charts -it is underground on the web where true talent and creativity can flourish without being ***** out to line some poser psycho like MeMe or Sony and Capital Records exec's pockets-think ratings were low last season-MeMe can't even finish a coherent sentence-or make it 20 seconds without looking at her own boobs or doing some pathetic lame "pose" for the camera's-besides the fact even the perverts won't be tuning in because she is a old fat cow and they have much younger skirts to look up

[wslol]

umm what have your ass done?well you be
majorly remember years after you have died?
have you made music history of any kind? have
you did music team-ups with some talented people?
are you on tv>the radio>in a magazine>in a movie?
have you every in your life won more then one award
of any kind?have you every been told by knowledgeable
music people that you are one of the best singers alive?
umm don't talk **** about someone who is highly successful
and is highly respected and looked upon as an example that
sometimes a person only needs a voice to be successful and
yea mariah is a diva and more but that old fat cow is a STAR-)