Jennifer Lopez

Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez may be gone from American Idol, and chatter may already be buzzing over their replacement (Adam Lambert? Mariah Carey? Aretha Franklin?), but these judges will never be forgotten.

By their now-former co-star at least.

"Steven and Jennifer are truly two of the most talented and consummate professionals I've worked with," Jackson told Gossip Cop in a statement. "I was friends with them before we hopped on this crazy journey together and I have no doubt our friendships will continue long after. I will love them for life."

Lopez confirmed her departure to Ryan Seacrest on Friday, while Tyler released his own statement earlier in the week.

There's been talk that the series is now looking to start over and will next give Jackson the axe.

What do YOU think, THGers? Which of the following stars would you most want to see as a Season 12 judge?

American Idol needs judges! Just a day after Steven Tyler announced he will be leaving Idol, Jennifer Lopez has decided to hand in her notice as well.

Lopez teased the decision on The Today Show yesterday morning, but now it's official. Just like Tyler, Lopez cites a desire to focus on other things as her reason for leaving.

The singer told Ryan Seacrest this morning on his radio show, "I honestly feel like the time has come for me to doing the other things I do that I’ve kind of put on hold."

So who will take the places of the departed judges? Adam Lambert seriously wants the gig, with Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and - why how when why WHY!?? - Charlie Sheen also being thrown around.

What do you think the judge's table will look like for Idol Season 12? Let us know in the comment section!

Expect those American Idol judging rumors to only grow louder now.

Appearing this morning on The Today Show, Jennifer Lopez was asked about her status on the Fox smash and told Natalie Morales:

"I love everybody, I love the guys [Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and host Ryan Seacrest], but I am thinking it's time for me to go and do other things I love to do like films."

This isn't the first time that J. Lo has hinted at a departure, though it was seen as a contract negotiation a year ago.

However, following a disappointing ratings season, producers may want to go in a wholly different direction on Season 12. Potential replacement, according to recent chatter, include Adam Lambert, Miley Cyrus... and Charlie Sheen?

Do you want to see Jennifer Lopez as a judge next season?

Jennifer Lopez is a really big fan of boyfriend Casper Smart. She believes he's a good egg.

But that doesn't mean the singer/American Idol judge is ready to walk down the aisle for a fourth time, regardless of any bling that may be on her finger. After all, remember the refrain from a certain 2002 J. Lo single?

"Rumors!!!" Lopez wrote on her website Friday of chatter that she and Smart were engaged. "Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got."

Lopez and Smart got together last fall, and their relationship has only heated up since, both personally and professionally.

Smart, in fact, will anchor an upcoming reality show that follows around Lopez and her backup dancers during their world tour.

You might wanna avert your eyes, Casper Smart.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony took the stage Saturday night at the Mandalay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas because they brought their American Idol-like reality competition, Q'Viva!, to Sin City.

A program that seeks to find the very best Latin American talent, Q'Viva! will feature a number of its top contestants throughout its run in Vegas, with J. Lo and her ex helping tickets sales by performing separate acts during the show's opening week.

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Casper Smart will be accompanying Jennifer Lopez on tour this summer. But you won't need to purchase a ticket in order to see this dancer in action.

E! News has confirmed that Oxygen has purchased a reality show from J. Lo that centers around her dancing tour troupe, and will be led by the singer's 25-year old boy toy.

As the group's supervising choreographer of the group, Smart will be highlighted on the series, but he won't be the only mover, shaker and grinder to appear on the show. Look for it to take viewers behind the scenes of Lopez's tour.

It's unknown if Jennifer herself will make any appearances, but the program will premiere in early 2013. Think you'll tune in?

[Photo: WENN.com]

Many questions can be raised about last night's American Idol finale. To wit:

Should Phillip Phillips have defeated Jessica Sanchez? Should Diana DeGarmo have accepted Ace Young's proposal? How incredible is Jennifer Holliday?!?

But THG is focused on the truly important issue of the night: With both Rihanna and J. Lo taking to the stage and performing a couple sexy, scantily-clad singles, the topic can no longer be ignored. Which of these beauties would you prefer to bang?

Study their finale outfits and vote now.

While Jennifer Lopez has publicly said she has yet to make a decision about her future, numerous sources say she's all but officially leaving American Idol.

Having just been ranked as Forbes' most powerful celebrity in large part because Idol revitalized her career, J. Lo may be ready to take her talents elsewhere.

"She's just too busy," one source said, and with a tour with Enrique Iglesias kicking off this summer, with plans to go worldwide in the fall, there's no doubting that.

If nothing else, the next round of Idol auditions would begin while she's overseas, and all that time away from her kids is said to be wearing on her too.

"It is just like any working mom's dilemma," Lopez, who can also been seen in What to Expect When You're Expecting, told E! News this week.

"It's tough. You put them first and then you have all these other things that you have to do, and you have to make sure that they're OK. It's a balancing act."

One that may cause her to ride off into the sunset ... but not if Fox has its way. A network source said, "Fox does not want to let her go. They love her."

Enough to double her $20 million salary to keep her? Stay tuned.

[Photo: WENN.com]

With $52 million in earnings over the last 12 months and a huge amount of fame, Jennifer Lopez is No. 1 on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list for the first time.

A few years ago it looked like Lopez was done, too. Her albums failed to find the broad audience she once enjoyed, and several of her movies were flops.

Then in 2010 the singer landed a judge's chair on American Idol. The job gave her a platform to promote her music and turn her image around. She did.

She also split with husband, Marc Anthony, a move that, while said, gave J. Lo even more media attention and subsequent big-money endorsement deals.

With contracts for L'Oreal and Gillette, a line of clothing at Kohl's, a fragrance, and a whopping $20 million Idol salary, she's got it made here in 2012.

Her 6.6 million followers on Twitter and 12 million fans on Facebook are a testament to her social popularity, as well, cementing her #1 Forbes ranking.

Lopez unseats Lady Gaga, who topped the list last year.

The pop star slides to fifth place this year with $52 million in earnings, down from $90 million last year (the Gaga didn't tour much in the last 12 months).

In second place is Oprah Winfrey, whom Gaga unseated for No. 1 last year. Winfrey had a rough 12 months, too. Oprah's down years are #2 overall.

Ranking third on our list is Justin Bieber, with $55 million in the past year thanks to touring and record sales. Rihanna came in at #4 in the rankings.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Hollie Cavanagh may have been eliminated from American Idol last night, but a great deal of buzz surrounding the show afterward centered on Jennifer Lopez and, specifically, her very sexy rendition of "Dance Again."

Alongside boyfriend Casper Smart.

"I don't think we'd work together if we didn't work well together," Lopez told Ryan Seacrest this morning about grinding all up on her 25-year old man in front of millions. "It has to be easy or it's not worth it."

Lopez her certainly made her two years on American Idol worthwhile, using them to kickstart what had been a floundering music career.

So we'll see back for season 12, right? Not so fast. Let the contract negotiating begin

"I don't know," J. Lo said. "I have some movie things in the works and I have the tour. I love the show and it hurts me to think about not doing it, but I'm just taking it kind of day by day. We'll see."

Do you want to see Jennifer Lopez as an American Idol judge on season 12?