Nicki Minaj Officially Joins American Idol Judging Panel Alongside Mariah Carey
17 September 2012, 07:32 | Updated: 17 September 2012, 11:00
The 'Super Bass' rapper and country music star Keith Urban are the show's newest additions.
Nicki Minaj has been officially announced as the newest member of the American Idol judging panel after weeks of speculation about the show's vacant positions.
The 'Starships' rapper was confirmed to have joined the show by FOX yesterday (16th September), in an announcement that also saw country music star Keith Urban added to the now four person panel.
Hip-hop star Nicki and veteran musician Keith will join Mariah Carey, who was announced for the revamped panel back in July, and returning judge Randy Jackson four the show's twelfth season.
Nicki Minaj tweeted fans to confirm the news last night as auditions for the show's new season officially kicked off yesterday in New York City.
View a picture of Nicki Minaj at the panel announcement for the new season of American Idol below (Credit: Getty):
"It's official, your new #IdolJudges are #MariahCarey, @NickiMinaj, @KeithUrban & Yo_RandyJackson!" returning host Ryan Seacrest tweeted, alongside a picture of the new panel enjoying the announcement.
"New York auditions today & tomorrow! See ya there barbs!!!!!! #American Idol," Nicki also posted, before adding: "It's a wrap!!!!! It was… interesting."
Check out a picture of Nicki Minaj on the new judging panel alongside Randy Jackson, Keith Urban and Mariah Carey below (Credit: Twitter):
The new American Idol judging panel follows the departures of former judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, who announced their decision to leave the series earlier this year after two years on the panel.
Other names rumoured to have been in contention for the vacant seats included Pharrell Williams, Nick Jonas, Adam Lambert and Kanye West.
Nicki Minaj is currently preparing to release her sophomore album as a new repackaged edition retitled Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded: The Re-Up this November.
