Photo by Broadimage/REX
Famed record producer and long-time American Idol judge Randy Jackson, 58, announced on Tuesday November 11 that he will not be returning for season 14 of the show.
In May 2013, Jackson originally announced his departure from the show as it seemed to be slipping with lower ratings and tense relationships between new judges, but he ended up returning to Season 13 although as only a mentor, not a judge.
“After 13 seasons, I felt now was the perfect time to leave American Idol. I’m proud to have been a part of a series that discovered some incredible artists and will go down in history as one of the most successful television shows ever. A true original, Idol started it all. Onto what’s next,” he said in a statement through his publicist.
Fox network and the producers of Idol released a statement regarding Jackson’s departure, “Randy has been such an integral part of American Idol since day one, both as a judge and as a mentor. He’s provided great advice and support, shaping the success of so many Idols we have discovered over the years. We wish him all the best in his next chapter. Randy will always be part of our Idol family and we hope he’ll visit from time to time.”
With Jackson leaving the show, only host Ryan Seacrest will be the last original on-screen member going into the 14th season.
Ryan along with judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell were all on the show until season nine when Abdul left with her seat being taken by Ellen DeGeneres for only one season.
After Cowell’s departure in 2011 several celebrity judges rotated in, including Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr.
Urban, Lopez and Connick Jr. will be returning as the judges for season 14 which will air on January 14, 2015.
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