Ellen DeGeneres is now the new “American Idol” judge, replacing Paula Abdul and joining Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson, and Simon Cowell. Fox announced DeGeneres as the fourth American Idol judge last Wednesday.

New American Idol judge Ellen DeGeneres.

Ellen DeGeneres admitted being a longtime fan of American Idol and will be a permanent judge unlike temporary AI judge Victoria Beckham. These temporary Idol judges like Victoria Beckham replaced Paula Abdul momentarily, who earlier announced she was quitting Idol because of a contract dispute. DeGeneres stated about her judging stint:

“Hopefully, I’m the people’s point of view because I’m just like you. I sit at home and I watch it, and I don’t have that technical … I’m not looking at it in a critical way from the producer’s mind. I’m looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person.”

DeGeneres will still host her daytime talk show as she takes on the role of new American Idol judge. With DeGeneres’ entry, Kara DioGuardi, who just joined the American Idol judges’ panel last year, is no longer the newest AI judge.