It’s official: J.Lo, Tyler on ‘Idol’
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler will join the judging panel of top-rated U.S. TV talent show “American Idol”, producers said Wednesday.
The official announcement ended months of speculation following the departure of old hands Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi and represents a major overhaul of the Fox TV show following a four-year slide in viewership.
“American Idol” has been a ratings juggernaut for advertisers and News Corp’s Fox, and has beaten the competition on rival U.S. networks for seven years. The singing contest returns for a 10th season in January 2011.
J.LO, TYLER QUICK FACTS
Pop singer/actress Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler have signed on as judges of “American Idol,” the producers of the top-rated TV singing contest announced Wednesday.
Taking over from Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi, they will join original judge Randy Jackson for the show’s 10th season, which kicks off in January after a round of nationwide auditions.
Following are brief portraits of the two new judges, who are coincidentally bouncing back from career setbacks and looking to establish themselves in a new arena.
JENNIFER LOPEZ
– Aged 41, born in New York City. Married to third husband, singer Marc Anthony, two children (twins). Also known as J.Lo.
– Her 2001 album “J.Lo” went quadruple platinum (U.S. shipments in excess of 4 million units). Topped Billboard Hot 100 singles chart four times between 1999 and 2002, including with “If You Had My Love” and “I’m Real.”
– Rose to fame as a dancer on TV show “In Living Color,” and made movie breakthrough in 1997 as title character in “Selena,” a biopic of slain Latina singer. Went on to make romantic comedies such as “The Wedding Planner” and “Maid in Manhattan.” Bombed at box office with most recent movie, “The Back-Up Plan.”
– Released debut album “On the 6” in 1999. Topped U.S. pop album chart in 2001 with “J.Lo” and again the following year with a remix spin-off. But 2007 album “Brave” failed to crack the top 10. Comeback last year marked by her falling on her bottom while performing new single “Louboutins” at the American Music Awards; the single did poorly and she was dropped by her Sony Music label. Scheduled to release a new album “Love?” later this year through Universal Music, which recently replaced Sony as the official “American Idol” label.
STEVEN TYLER
– Aged 62, born Steven Tallarico in New York. Twice divorced, four children, one grandson.
– Aerosmith’s 1975 album “Toys in the Attic” went eight-times platinum. Band topped Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1998 with “I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing,” went to No. 3 with “Angel” in 1988. Won four Grammys.
– Flamboyant showman, vocalist, drug-abuse survivor with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Aerosmith, which has sold over 150 million albums since 1970.
– Known as the “bad boys of Boston” for their prodigious intake of drugs and alcohol, Aerosmith enjoyed a charmed run as America’s hard-rocking answer to the Rolling Stones with hit songs such as “Walk this Way” and “Dream On.”
– Band fell apart in late 1970s, as two members quit and drugs took their toll, but it was back on top a decade later with a burst of ballads that appealed to fans of MTV.
– Aerosmith has not released a new studio album since 2001, and its future is in doubt with his new gig on ‘Idol’ and after Tyler’s bandmates sought to replace him last year, frustrated by his addiction problems and outside interests.
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