Songwriter/Producer Dr. Luke in Talks to Join AMERICAN IDOL Judges' Panel

According to US Weekly, Will.i.am. is out of the running to join AMERICAN IDOL - and songwriter/producer Dr. Luke (Lukasz Gottwald) is in.

A source tells the publication that due to the inability to reach a financial deal, negotiations with the former BLACK EYED PEAS lead "have stalled." Fox execs have reportedly been talking with Dr. Luke, the former lead guitarist SNL's band turned mega-producer, for quite some time.

Should he sign on, Dr. Luke would join season 12 judge Keith Urban, and returning favorite Jennifer Lopez, who's confirmation was inadvertently announced by her boyfriend, Casper Smart, over the weekend.

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Since departing SNL in 2007, Dr. Luke has worked on such songs as Flo Rida's "Right Round, Katy Perry's "California Gurls" and "I Kissed A Girl," Ke$ha's "Tik Tok," Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," and Taio Cruz's "Dynamite." He has also worked with Britney Spears, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj.

Photo by: REX USA/Everett Collection