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Jackson won't be back as 'Idol' judge

Randy Jackson attends the 42nd NAACP Image Awards Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on March 4, 2011. UPI/Phil McCarten

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Published: Aug. 31, 2012 at 10:21 AM

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Randy Jackson will serve as a mentor, not a judge, when "American Idol" returns next season, show sources told TMZ.

Jackson has been a judge on the singing competition series since its first season in 2002.

Jackson's latest fellow judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler recently announced they would not return to the show next season.

Recording star Mariah Carey has signed on to fill one of the vacancies and TMZ reported singer Nicki Minaj is close to a deal to fill a second slot.

The celebrity news Web site said the show's producers would like to have someone from the country music world replace Jackson.

Topics: Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj

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