One of the worst kept Hollywood secrets is (sort of) officially confirmed: Jennifer Lopez is returning to "American Idol."
Lopez's boyfriend, Casper Smart, let the news slip to E! Online. When asked if the "Live It Up" singer was coming back to the "American Idol" judges panel for Season 13, Smart said, "Yes."
Us Weekly also previously reported Lopez's deal was final, but Fox has declined to comment on the reports.
Fox boss Kevin Reilly confirmed Lopez was in talks to return to "Idol" when he announced Keith Urban would return to the "American Idol" judges table at the Television Critics Association Summer 2013 press tour earlier this month. Urban joined the show for Season 12 alongside Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, but the other three judges have all announced they will not return to the show for Season 13.
"American Idol" also let go of longtime executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick and tapped new producers to help reinvigorate the long-running singing competition. "[The new producers have] come in with dynamic ideas to tinker with the format between the auditions and the live ... We want some judges that are good at the job, that people like, that will refocus our attention on the contestants. We want some comfortable judges who make it comfortable to view and make it comfortable for the contestants," Reilly said.
"American Idol" returns to Fox in the winter of 2014.
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