Mariah Carey On American Idol

After a devastating blow losing judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, American Idol needed to pull a rabbit out of it's hat before next season.  They responded in kind by pulling off the biggest upset in singing competition history.  Mariah Carey was rumored to have been sought after by Simon Cowell for X Factor, but those rumored proved to be false.  Now, it appears American Idol did what X Factor could not, they pulled one of the biggest names in music history onto their team.  Mariah Carey is the newest judge for American Idol. 

American Idol after signing Ryan Seacrest for a two year deal after season 11, was not going to just lay down and die, but to pull a big name like Mariah Carey as a judge shows just how powerful the most popular singing competition on television is.  Not only did they sign Mariah Carey, but they got her for far less than Simon Cowell paid Britney Spears ($16 million), at a contract reported to be worth around $12 million. 

Mariah Carey does have close ties to American Idol, as her husband Nick Cannon is the host for America's Got Talent and both shows are share the same producer, but she also has ties to Simon Cowell, as she was supposed to make an appearance on X Factor's first season.  If the rumors were true and Simon Cowell was looking to sign her, hearing that she signed with the competition is sure to be a big upset. 

Regardless of the what ifs, Mariah Carey has signed with American Idol, and she is sure to give Idol fans a big rush next season.  American Idol has one more spot to fill, and rumors are circulating around Miley Cyrus, and Adam Lambert.  Both names would go far to revitalize the show, and hopefully they can make it happen.  One thing is for certain though, American Idol is not going down without a fight.  .