LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 01: Recording artist Nicki Minaj attends the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET) (2012 Getty Images)
The vibrant rapper Nicki Minaj is sealing the deal on becoming a new judge on “American Idol” says The Hollywood Reporter.
The Trinidad and Tobago native, who grew up in Queens, NY, will be joining superstar Mariah Carey on the popular singing competition, replacing Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.
The Hollywood Reporter says that according to insiders Minaj has been working out deals for weeks now with the show’s producers and will be cashing in about $8 million to guide the season 12 contestants.
Issues with Minaj’s sponsorship with Pepsi and “Idol’s” contract with Coke have been resolved, THR claims.
The entertainment publication also says that Minaj will receive extra allowances for her wardrobe, makeup and hair.
Like Minaj, country music star Keith Urban will also be on the judging table.
Urban is said to be receiving between $3 million to $4 million, according to an insider who spoke to THR. The deal with Urban comes just as fellow country singer Brad Paisley was no longer interested in becoming a judge on the show because he wanted to get the same amount that Minaj is said to be receiving.
THR says that veteran judge Randy Jackson is still on the fence about returning but he might be the fourth judge on season 12.
Mariah Carey finalized the deal to join “Idol” last month.
FOX Entertainment president Kevin Reilly confirmed that Jennifer Lopez is not returning and, in her place, Mariah Carey will be taking over.
"We do in fact have one judge whose deal closed very, very recently," The Hollywood Reporter quoted Reilly saying about Carey.
"I think it's the biggest recording artist that any of these shows have ever had. It’s an artist that many contestants have tried to emulate, have tried to sing [her] songs, have tried to hit the notes.Because [the deal] really only concluded hours ago, our new judge couldn’t be with us," he added.
"I am so excited to be joining ‘Idol,’" Carey said, according to THR. "I can't wait to get started.”
Deadline.com reports that Carey is getting paid more than $17 million to judge the 13th season.
Carey’s paycheck would be an all-time high for “Idol” judges salaries, the publication reports -- although that figure doesn't take into account Simon Cowell, who at one point was making a whopping $35 million a year before leaving tobe a judge on the “The X Factor.”
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