Being one of the original judges of Fox's reality singing competition 'American Idol', Randy Jackson has formally announced that he will not be coming back as a judge or mentor for Season 14.
Jackson will reportedly move on to produce movie and TV projects; the record producer is also expected to focus on artist management under his own Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment group.
"After 13 seasons, I felt now was the perfect time to leave American Idol," the 51-year-old singer and bassist explained. "I'm proud to have been a part of a series that discovered some incredible artists and will go down in history as one of the most successful television shows ever. A true original, Idol started it all. Onto what's next."
The former 'Idol' judge, who had been one of the original judges since the show began alongside Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, had announced that he will not be returning to the show after the twelfth season. Following this announcement, he was offered an opportunity to become a mentor and work with 'Idol' contestants, thereby taking the place of Jimmy Iovine.
Jackson's return to the show was highly welcomed by the 'Idol' team and fans alike owing to the fact that considerable changes were being experienced, including Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj leaving the show.
Fox already released an official statement about Jackson's departure from the show and his overall contribution to the show. The network emphasized his role as a judge and mentor, particularly his noteworthy advice and continuous support that contributed to the success of the future Idols.
With Fox's highly popular TV music competition getting ready for Season 14, show host Ryan Seacrest has now been left as the only original member since the series started.
Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban will be returning to the panel as the three judges whereas a new mentor is yet to be announced.
