Ellen DeGeneres Officially Replaces Paula on American Idol

Paula Abdul’s days as a judge on the popular, televised singing competition American Idol are officially over, as a statement from Fox indicates. The position left vacant when the singer said her goodbye on Twitter will now be occupied by talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, the statement posted on USA Today’s Idol Chatter indicates.

“Emmy Award-winning talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has joined American Idol as a fourth judge. DeGeneres will sit alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi and offer her own unique perspective to the contestants throughout the competition. The ninth season of American Idol premieres January 2010 on Fox. DeGeneres will join the judges’ panel after the auditions, which will feature appearances by guest judges Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Shania Twain.” the network says in the statement.

Ellen herself is extremely happy about the development, saying of herself she is the biggest fan of the show in the entire world, so, in a way, the position should have gone to her either way. She announced the big news during a taping for her own show, expressing her immense joy at finally getting the chance to be part of such a huge and, of course, incredibly successful project.

“I’m thrilled to be the new judge on American Idol. I’ve watched since the beginning, and I’ve always been a huge fan. So getting this job is a dream come true, and think of all the money I’ll save from not having to text in my vote! Hopefully I’m the people’s point of view because I’m just like you. I sit at home and I watch it. I’m not looking at it in a critical way from the producer’s mind. I’m looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person.” Ellen says.

DeGeneres will, of course, also keep working on her own show, telling the media she will have from now on both a night and a day job.