It's not a secret that Ellen DeGeneres wasn't cut out for giving blunt critiques on Fox's "American Idol," but in a new interview with Parade magazine, she says there was more to her decision to leave the show.

DeGeneres lasted as an "Idol" judge for only one season, partly because as a self-described sensitive person, she likes to be "around kind, gentle people," she tells Parade.

"It was hard for me to judge people [on 'Idol'] and sometimes hurt their feelings," DeGeneres says.

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"90210" alum Shannen Doherty married photographer Kurt Iswarienko on Saturday, her rep confirms to CNN.

The wedding took place at sunset at a private estate in Malibu, California.

According to Us Weekly, the actress wore three different Monique Lhuillier gowns for her wedding, which was filmed for her upcoming We TV show, "The Shannen Doherty Project."

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Singer Paige Miles may not have won "American Idol" last season, but she has plenty of reasons to be thankful.

The Top 11 finalist from last year escaped a burning car Tuesday night after leaving a rehearsal in South Florida.

Miles told CNN she had been in rehearsals for the lead role in a production of "Beehive" when her mother's Envoy caught fire after the electrical system failed.

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In 2010, “American Idol” brought in the most money on television – a whopping $7.11 million every half hour, according to Forbes.

As successful as that sounds, the show is actually down 12 percent from 2009, but was still able to make the top of the list.

The future isn't looking too shabby, either. Although Simon Cowell has left “Idol" behind, Forbes notes that the show can still attract 24 million viewers. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez must be doing something right.

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Doesn’t sound like “American Idol’s” Nigel Lythgoe is going to miss Simon Cowell at all next season.

The producer tells Emmy Magazine that “If you like people being mean to people, you’ll miss it” – an apparent dig at the acerbic Cowell, who left the show last season.

Lythgoe returns this season to the show, which has seen its ratings dip from the ginormous numbers of the past. He told the publication he thinks the talent competition will go on even without fan favorite Cowell, and he praised new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

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Looks like “American Idol” may be trying to kick things up a few more notches.

According to “The Hollywood Reporter,” producers are considering several ideas for the upcoming season, including possibly having the Top 12 contestants live together in a house in the Hollywood Hills. No word yet on whether the show will feature behind-the-scenes footage of the Top 12 in their communal home.

Said contestants may also be more accessible to fans via social networking. Last season’s group started out the season on Twitter, but those individual accounts were eventually discarded for a main, show account.

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"American Idol's" already got new judges, new age limits, and a new night. Will there now also be new voting options?

The web has been abuzz ever since VoteForTheWorst.com announced they had received a tip that “Idol” will be allowing viewers to vote online this upcoming season.

“The online voting will take place at AT&T's website,” a story on the site said. “Auditions will take place for the first 6 episodes (California, Nashville, Milwaukee, New Jersey, Austin [and] New Orleans, in that order)."

Then, the site goes on to claim, "There will be 5 Hollywood episodes, a live voting kick-off episode that highlights the eligible contestants, a reveal episode to announce the top 12, and a wildcard episode to let 3 more people into the finals. The online voting may stay in place until the finals are down to 12.”

When contacted by CNN, representatives for Fox declined to comment about the accuracy of the report. “Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe recently told TVGuide.com that changes in the upcoming season include eliminating the top 24 rounds.

Should Simon Cowell be nervous?

TV Guide reports that former “Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi is penning a memoir. “A Helluva High Note: Surviving Life, Love, and American Idol,” is scheduled to be published by a division of  HarperCollins, a rep for the publisher confirmed to TV Guide.

DioGuardi served as a judge on the hit show for two seasons. After Cowell left and new judge Ellen DeGeneres announced that she would be leaving after only one season, the show revealed that DioGuardi was also making an exit. Rocker Steven Tyler and actress/singer Jennifer Lopez will serve as new judges along with original judge Randy Jackson.

DioGuardi is set to serve as a judge on the upcoming Bravo reality series, “Going Platinum.”

New judges aren’t the only changes coming next season on “American Idol.”

Speaking to TVGuide.com, producer Nigel Lythgoe said there will be some new challenges in the upcoming season including eliminating the top 24 rounds, and contestants having to market themselves and make the best music video.

Lythgoe, who is returning this season after having taken up duties on another hit fox show “So You Think You Can Dance,” said he’s happy to see the show go straight to the top 12 rather than dawdle with eliminating folks from the top 24.

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Looks like Kid Rock isn’t happy with Steven Tyler’s choice to join "American Idol."

Tyler, the Aerosmith frontman and rock legend – along with Jennifer Lopez – signed on to be a judge for "American Idol’s" 10th season, which starts in January. As if trying to fill the void left by the contentious Simon Cowell weren’t enough, Tyler is now faced with some heavy criticism from one of his peers.

“I think it’s the stupidest thing he’s ever done in his life,” Kid Rock told Entertainment Weekly in an interview set to hit newsstands next week. “He’s a sacred American institution of rock n’ roll, and he just threw it all out the window. Just stomped on it and set it on fire.”

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