Kara DioGuardi Leaves 'American Idol', Jennifer Lopez to Join Judges Panel

The tenth season of FOX's American Idol will be a season of change indeed. With the departure of both longtime judge Simon Cowell and one season wonder Ellen DeGeneres, two Idol judges slots have been open for most of the summer.

But according to The New York Post, judge Kara DioGuardi is now also out the door.

DioGuardi's official statement went like this: "I felt like I won the lottery when I joined 'American Idol' two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave."

So did DioGuardi leave on her own accord or did she have a little coaxing from the Idol execs? With a vague statement like that- and after a summer full of rumors that she was being replaced- it sounds like she was voted off of the show.

The sweeping changes on the American Idol Season 10 judge's panel don't come as a surprise, especially with Nigel Lythgoe and Jimmy Iovine now on board at the show's helm. Lythgoe has long been vocal about wanting to shake up the judge's panel and has even expressed a desire to go back to the original 3-judge format.

If that's the case, who will fill DioGuardi's spot? With Randy Jackson and Aersomith rocker Steve Tyler already reportedly on the Idol panel, DioGuardi's departure has fueled more talk that pop singer/actress Jennifer Lopez will be the third Idol judge.

While FOX made no official announcement regarding the American Idol 10 judges panel, CBS News reports that the J.Lo deal is imminent, despite back and forth rumors about it all summer. With J.Lo and Steven Tyler as Idol newbies, Randy Jackson will be the only seasoned judge. Take that, Dawg!

So with all this change at American Idol, will season 10's motley crew of judges recharge the show ? Or could this be the beginning of the end for American Idol? I guess America will have the final vote.

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Sources:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/idol_judge_kara_out_with_lo_on_the_g1mP83jfOkHFoXXJzbHcwI

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5657524/nigel_lythgoe_jimmy_iovine_on_board.html?cat=9

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20015557-10391698.html