Jennifer Lopez to Quit as 'American Idol' Judge

Jennifer Lopez will not be returning to "American Idol."

According to Fox News, the Latin Diva will not return to the TV show despite Fox's best attempts to keep her there.

The news is the latest in the soap opera that centers around Lopez's return to her spot as a judge on the prime-time show.

Lopez's uncertainy over returning has been well-documented since she mentioned in an interview with Ellen Degeneres last month that her children are making her reconsider her decision to return to the show.  "I miss doing other things," Lopez told Degeneres. "It really does lock you down, which was nice the first year with the babies being three and four. Now they are going to school. I just don't know."

Then came news that her decision might come down to finances and taking the upper hand in the rivalry with Britney Spears. According to MTV, Lopez had been holding out on making a final decision on an "American Idol" return to make producers increase her pay and put her over Spears' $15 million dollars. According to TMZ, Spears was demanding $20 million dollars for one year on the Simon Callow production of "X-Factor" but eventually had to settle for $15 million. Jennifer Lopez had been paid $12 million during her first season of "American Idol" and was looking to make even more than Spears.

The latest news however makes the whole point moot as it seems that either the producers were unable meet her demands or that Lopez was never really interested in making a return.

However, Lopez's return may also prompt other judges Randy Jackson and Steve Tyler to abandon the program says Fox News. Her exit gives the program a gaping hole in competing with "The Voice," which employs diva Christina Aguilera and "X-Factor" which has Spears. Spears was brought onto "X-Factor" to give the program an iconic diva to compete with Lopez and Aguilera, but it now looks like "American Idol" will be the show at a disadvantage.

Reports indicate that Season 8 winner Adam Lambert may be in the running to replace Lopez. Hollywood Life also mentions Miley Cyrus as a potential replacement.

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