R&B star Mary J. Blige will be the second celebrity to sit beside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi during this summer’s auditions for season 9 of American Idol.
Natalie Eshaya, Ryan Seacrest’s radio show producer, tweeted the news earlier today with the message: “Mary J Blige, guest idol judge in atlanta monday!” A rep for Idol then confirmed the news.
Last week, Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham was the guest judge for the auditions in Boston. Katy Perry has also signed on to be a guest judge, but her date or location of auditions has not yet been confirmed.
Even with Paula Abdul leaving Idol with her spot in the judges’ table, expect more guest judges to be filling in her spot. Though some people still hope or speculate that Paula will return as soon as the show starts in January, the nationwide auditions must go on without her.
Idol execs are bringing in several more judges for auditions around the US, but there is still no plan for a permanent fourth judge.
Ann Cook says: 