They Belong Together

Mariah Carey To Judge 'Idol'

Fox entertainment president confirmed Monday.

In the game of American Idol judging musical chairs, Mariah Carey emerged the winner on Monday. Fox president of entertainment Kevin Reilly announced at the semi-annual gathering of television critics in Beverly Hills Monday that the network has signed the superstar to sit at the judge's table next season. Carey is the first judge the network has signed for its 11th season now that Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez have announced their exits. Reilly told a ballroom full of reporters that the deal with Carey was just finalized and did not allow time for Carey to attend the press conference herself. So he called her on a speaker phone. "I am so excited to be join Idol, she said. "I wanted to be there today...this all kind of just happened." Reilly said no decisions have been made about the return of Randy Jackson, who happens to be Carey's co-manager. The show premieres in January.