After a weekend's worth of rumors, Fox announced today that Harry Connick Jr. and Jennifer Lopez will join Keith Urban as judges for the 13th season of American Idol, in the hopes that that line-up will fare better with viewers than bickering divas Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj did last season. This panel marks the first time in the show's history the judges have all been singers. Fox also announced that original judge Randy Jackson, who left along with Carey and Minaj, will be back in a new role as in-house mentor to the contestants.
Lopez returns to Idol after a two-season run as judge in 2011 and 2012 that helped the show and her career. Connick, a respected jazz singer and musician, proved adept as a mentor in several Idol appearances. Urban's return was announced last month by Fox Chairman Kevin Reilly, who said the singer didn't get a chance to show his personality in his first turn as a judge. Urban appeared overwhelmed last season by the Carey-Minaj crossfire that drew complaints from some viewers. (More American Idol stories.)
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