Paula Abdul’s contract negotiations to return for a ninth season as judge for American Idol have reportedly stalled. According to a spokeman for Abdul, the show refused to give her a “good deal” which is rumored to be $20 million a year.
Fellow judge Simon Cowell and Idol host Ryan Seacrest have both publicly supported her and hoped she would return.
Last year the show added a fourth judge, songwriter Kara DioGuardi, feuling specutaltion that Adul would not return. Idol has denied that hiring DioGuardi was to replace Adul.
The new season of Idol is set to air in January. The auditions for season 9, in which the judges and Seacrest travel to cities in search of talented singers, are expected to begin early next month.