Rush Limbaugh to be Miss America judge

LINWOOD, N.J., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The Miss America Organization announced Friday that conservative talk-radio host and author Rush Limbaugh will be a judge for the 2010 Miss America Pageant.

The event is to take place at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas Jan. 30. It is to be broadcast live on TLC.

"Limbaugh will be one of a panel of seven distinguished judges that will help decide which of the 53 contestants will capture the Miss America 2010 title and serve as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network, as well as introduce the first Go Green platform for MAO," the organization said in a release.

"We are thrilled to have Rush join us for our pageant this year," MAO President and Chief Executive Officer Art McMaster said in a statement. "We know that the 2010 Miss America Pageant will be filled with new twists and exciting opportunities with him as one of our national judges."