"American Idol" is adding some big names for its 10th season, and Jimmy Iovine is one of them.

For those of you unfamiliar with Iovine, the Interscope Geffen A&M Records chairman has been a celebrated figure since the 1970’s, and has worked with artists such as John Lennon, U2, Eminem and 50 Cent.

Iovine joins "American Idol" as an in-house mentor, where he will lend his expertise and creativity to contestants backstage (Fast Company named him as one of the top 100 Most Creative People in Business this year).

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After the departures of Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi, Fox has tapped Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler to join the last man standing, Randy Jackson, at the judges' table for "American Idol's " upcoming season. In addition, legendary music producer Jimmy Iovine will serve as a mentor to contestants.

The news arrives after weeks of rumors, stories about divas and a member of Aerosmith saying “Idol” is just barely a step above “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

What do you think of the new judges panel? Will you be watching? Post a comment below or share an iReport.

Click here for the full story on today's 'American Idol' judges' announcement.

Her job as a judge on "American Idol" may not have worked out, but it's unlikely that Ellen DeGeneres is singing the blues. That gig helped the comedian land the top spot on Forbes's list of Prime-Time TV's 10 Top-Earning Women.

According to Forbes, DeGeneres raked in an estimated $55 million between June 1, 2009 and June 1, 2010, thanks to her brief stint on "Idol," her ads for American Express, CoverGirl and Vitamin Water, as well as her daytime chat show.

Coming in at No. 2 is Tyra Banks, who banked $25 million within the same time frame. Besides producing and appearing on "The Tyra Banks Show" and "America's Next Top Model," Banks also produced ABC's reality show "True Beauty" and recently signed a deal to release a teen book series called "Modelland."

Former "Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl comes in third with a cool $15.5 million, owing many of her megabucks to her success on the big screen. Because of hits like "Knocked Up" and "27 Dresses," Heigl, who co-stars with Josh Duhamel in the upcoming dramedy "Life As We Know It," now commands $12 million per picture.

Rounding out the rest of the list of gals who are in the green: Eva Longoria Parker ($12 million); Marg Helgenberger ($10 million); Mariska Hargitay ($9.5 million); Tina Fey ($7.5 million); Ellen Pompeo and Marcia Cross (tie; $7 million); and Jennifer Love Hewitt and Calista Flockhart ($6.5 million).

It looks like Fox is finally (finally!) getting ready to say who exactly will be on the “American Idol” judges panel, as host Ryan Seacrest has confirmed the impending confirmation.

"Looks like I have some new plans on wed!” Seacrest tweeted. “I will be able to introduce the @AmericanIdol judges panel! We will send u a pic! Can't wait"

Neither can we, Seacrest. Neither can we.

If it all goes according to media speculation, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler will be joining Randy Jackson for the next season of "Idol," THR points out. But, looks like we'll have to wait until Wednesday, September 22.

If you’ve always dreamed of performing live in front of millions and being judged on national TV by Randy Jackson and maybe J.Lo and Steven Tyler, you no longer have to leave the comfort of your own home to get the opportunity: “American Idol” is now accepting online auditions.

“In celebration of ‘American Idol’s 10th anniversary season, the No. 1 show on television is offering aspiring singers an additional opportunity to have their voices heard,” Fox said in a statement.

Starting September 15, “Idol” is accepting video auditions on MySpace from singers between the ages of 15 and 28. You have to sing acappella from an approved list of songs, and you only have a mere 40 seconds to blow the judges’ minds. Submissions will be judged pretty similarly to live auditions (does this mean we'll get to see the judges' "wtf" faces as they watch them at the start of next season?), and "a select number" will get to advance to the next round in Los Angeles.

This isn’t a terribly surprising turn of events, judging from the success other young singers have had by showcasing their talents on the Web. There’s that very obvious example, Justin Bieber, as well as Greyson Chance, whose video depicting his rendition of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" landed him a record deal with Ellen DeGeneres.

“Idol” is accepting video auditions until October 6.

Crystal “MamaSox” Bowersox may not have won last season’s “American Idol,” but she still has had to deal with some of the pitfalls of celebrity.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that employees of five police agencies, a municipal court and the bureau of motor vehicles used computers to access confidential databases to peek at the singer’s personal information.

Bowersox received a letter of apology from an Ohio Department of Public Safety official for the unauthorized breaches of her privacy and was informed that there was no evidence that she had become an identity-theft victim.

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At least one person isn’t thrilled about rocker Steven Tyler possibly becoming a judge on “American Idol.”

In an interview with the Calgary Herald, Joe Perry took a few swipes at both his band’s lead singer and the show that could very well be Tyler’s new gig.

"[‘American Idol’ is] a reality show designed to get people to watch that station and sell advertising," Perry told the paper. "It's one step above (Teenage Mutant) Ninja Turtles.”

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"American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is blaming Simon Cowell for Ellen DeGeneres's exit, claiming the talk-show host departed because she and the cranky Brit just weren't in tune.

"I'm sorry she's gone, to be honest with you," Lythgoe told Deadline.com, "because I think there's a place for Ellen DeGeneres on 'American Idol.' And that is being the voice of the people. She wasn't given a fair opportunity to serve that function. Ellen was constantly apologizing and overwhelmed, I think, by Simon."

According to Lythgoe, the 52-year-old comedian - who asked to be let out of her "Idol" contract a year before it expired - just didn't have chemistry with Cowell, 50, and fellow judges Randy Jackson, 54, and Kara DioGuardi, 39, though Lythgoe said it wasn't DeGeneres's fault. "She was misused," he explained. "And I'm sorry that turned out to be the case."

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So now that "Idol" has to replace not one, but two judges, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told CNN that the top priority for him is finding personalities that will make the perfect, watchable mix.

"There isn’t another Ellen DeGeneres or Simon Cowell," Lythgoe said, so "you’re looking for people that will have great chemistry." In the beginning, he pointed out, it was "that chemistry created that entire team."

While Lythgoe said he had "no idea" what's going to happen with Kara DioGuardi, he did say that they're going to have to nail down who will fill those empty judges seats soon - in about three weeks, as a matter of fact.

But one thing he's not worried about is former "Idol" judge Simon Cowell bringing "The X Factor"  over to U.S. shores. According to Lythgoe, there's plenty of room on the DVR for a few different singing competitions.

"That’s a bit like saying, do you mind another vampire drama on a network," Lythgoe said. "It’s just the same genre of shows, the public will decide if they like it or not."

The last time there were this many eyes on a major network decision, Conan O’Brien was still hosting “The Tonight Show.”

Since Ellen DeGeneres announced that she was leaving her post as an “American Idol” judge – on the heels of judge Simon Cowell's departure from the Fox show - everyone from Shania Twain to Chris Isaak to Jennifer Lopez has been named as a potential judge. (Talks with Lopez, however, were reportedly chilled because she had “too many demands.”)

One celeb who has consistently stayed connected to "Idol" in the headlines is Aerosmith's  Steven Tyler, and according to the band’s bassist, Tom Hamilton, Tyler's deal to judge the Fox competition is done.

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