Randy Jackson Gives Up Judge's Seat on AMERICAN IDOL

According to TMZ, Randy Jackson has confirmed reports he will not be a judge on the next season of FOX's AMERICAN IDOL. However he will remain on the show in the role of a "mentor."

Sources close to the show reveal that some of the top execs at Idol are worried that Jackson "is not well-suited for the mentor role ... but they feel they need him because he's the glue that helps keep the show together."

In addition, negotiations to bring pop star Nicki Minaj to the judge's panel are "99% done ... but still not a sure thing just yet." TMZ reports that there is a current rift between confirmed judge Mariah Carey and Minaj, but the top brass are hoping that will make for good "conflict and tension" which will "be good for the show."

Earlier it was rumored that Idol will once again take on a fourth judge for the show's 12th season. Among the possible candidates are Nick Jonas, Diddy and Kanye West, although TMZ reports that Diddy and West are "definitely out of the picture."