The Fox show has proven that it can last through changes already, so here we go again.  It looks like the two super-star judges will not return for the new season.  Now the question returns to, “who will replace them?”

They’ve tried different angles for judges with comedian-tv-talk-show-host Ellen DeGeneres for a season and 2 seasons of songwriter Kara Dioguardi.

Simon Cowell has moved on and I don’t expect they’d return to any past judges at this point anyway. 

So, who will judge American Idol with Randy Jackson next season?  Jennifer Lopez announced that she’s leaving and the official announcement from Steven Tyler is expected any moment. 

Those are big shoes to fill, but there is an avenue they’ve never travelled.  Country super-stars!  I’d like to throw out REBA’s name as a choice, but there are many qualified artists who could do the job. 

It’s always going to be tough to keep working artists on a demanding schedule like Idol requires, and Blake Shelton is dealing with it first hand working on The Voice too.

I know that many people watched American Idol the past two seasons only because they wanted to see Jennifer Lopez or Steven Tyler and the show could take a hit with the loss of those viewers. 

Not to mention, Idol has set the bar so high that they now have serious competition in other shows with names like Kelly Clarkson, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Nettles, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Cee-lo Green and many more in the mix. 

As for me, I love Idol and I’m interested to get a new take and fresh judges.  I think Gene Simmons would be a great replacement for Steven Tyler and if Reba’s too busy, how about asking Carrie Underwood to sit in for a season?  Hmm.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see.