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20 Feb 2026 10:43
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  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Randy Jackson thinks 'American Idol' needs go back to basics.

    The 56-year-old music producer - who recently confirmed he is leaving the reality show after 12 seasons - thinks the focus needs to go back to finding new talent rather than the drama on the show's ever-changing judging panel.


    He told 'Good Morning America' on Friday (24.05.13): "I've really always felt that people made too much of the judges, and not enough of the talent."

    But Randy, who has worked with nine different judges on the series, including Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, also admits he thinks the show originally became a hit because of the incredible chemistry between him and the other original judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul.

    He said: "We got so lucky. Anybody that says they knew the show was going to be a hit, knew we were going gel together is lying. None of us really knew. We hit the jackpot."

    Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson, who first found fame on the show, is the first high profile star to sign up to be a judge next season.

    The revamped judging panel is expected to be formed entirely of former 'Idol' contestants, with season three star Jennifer sitting next to international superstar Kelly Clarkson - who won the first series - and either Adam Lambert or Clay Aiken.

    The shake-up comes after Randy and his fellow current judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj announced they would not be returning next year.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

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