Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesR&B superstar Mary J. Blige will be the latest celebrity to sit at the judges table during this summer's auditions for season nine of American Idol.
Ryan Seacrest's radio show producer, NegativeNellie, tweeted the good news today: "Mary J Blige, guest idol judge in atlanta monday! Via @PeopleMag." A rep for American Idol has confirmed the news to us as well.
In case you haven't been keeping up, here's where we're at...
Though some still speculate (or have high hopes) that Paula Abdul will return to her judging post at the 11th hour, the show must go on without her for the time being. Nationwide auditions are going on as we type, and the producers are bringing in an array of artists to help in that phase of the judging process.
So far, Victoria Beckham (aka former Posh Spice) was the guest judge for the Boston auditions, and Katy Perry is set to judge but her date has not been confirmed yet. And we are told there will be more guest judges coming soon as well. As of now, though, the guests are just that: guests. There are no plans yet for a permanent fourth judge to sit alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi come next season.
Who do you think should guest judge? What about a permanent new judge? Sound off in the comments below.
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