Jennifer Lopez Says Her Team Warned Against ‘American Idol’ Role

Jennifer Lopez Recalls Her Favorite AMAs Memories as Show Celebrates 50 Years

Earlier this year, Katy Perry announced her departure after seven seasons on American Idol, setting off a firestorm of speculation about her replacement. Jennifer Lopez made sense as a possibility after serving on the judging panel from 2011 to 2016. However, the “Jenny From the Block” singer recently revealed that her advisors warned against appearing on Idol the first time.

Jennifer Lopez Says ‘American Idol’ Risk Paid Off

When Jennifer Lopez joined American Idol in 2011 alongside Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler, she did so against the advice of her team.

“[All] of my advisors were like, “Don’t do this, you’re going to be reduced to just a reality star,’” Lopez told comedian Nikki Glaser in a conversation published in Interview magazine.


“It was looked down upon,” she continued. “’Don’t do that or nobody will ever hire you for a movie ever again.’”

However, the Selena star believed she had something to offer the show. “I love music and I love mentoring people, and I wanted to share the things that I knew about the business,” she said. “So it became more about, “What do I think I can do with this?’”

As it turned out, Lopez’s gamble paid off. The Idol stint breathed new life into the best-selling artist’s career. She released her seventh studio album, Love?, that same year. That record spawned the monster hit “On the Floor,” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“When I’m choosing things, even if they seem like not the best idea to everybody else, if I feel it in my gut that it’s the right thing to do, nobody can talk me out of it,” Lopez told Glaser.

Carrie Underwood Joins ‘American Idol’ Judging Panel

Jennifer Lopez served as a judge alongside Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban for American Idol’s final season on Fox. Two years later, ABC revived the show with Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as judges.

After Perry’s exit, Idol announced season 4 champion Carrie Underwood would take over her seat. And the “Cowboy Casanova” singer recently gave viewers a look into what they can expect from her as a judge.

“I think I can be honest and constructive, but still kind,” Underwood said. “And I think that’s the whole point, because people are coming in and it’s dreams. You’re part of somebody’s story from that moment on.”