Jennifer Lopez is ready to call it quits at “American Idol,” according to a report yesterday.
The Web site for cable channel E! is reporting that — despite J.Lo’s public statements about not making up her mind yet about next season — she is ready to leave.
The report cites only unnamed sources.
“She’s just too busy,” the source said.
“Idol” judges are notoriously coquette-ish about saying whether they will return to the show — if only to preserve their ability to bargain for a bigger contract next time around.
Fox declined to comment on the report last night but made it clear they would like to see her back.
Lopez starts a long, international tour this summer and, according to the report, will be out of the country next fall when auditions are set to begin taping.
It is, however, not unprecedented for the show to find a guest judge or two to fill in for an absent judge during the audition phase — as long as the three-judge panel is back in place in time for the live shows to begin sometime in late February or early March.
Lopez earns an estimated $12 million for five months of work on the show.
The show also gave Lopez’s flagging career a new shot of life — giving her a platform to launch new records and grab product endorsements.