E! News has confirmed that singer Harry Connick, Jr. will join Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez as the third judge on Fox's "American Idol" when it returns for a 13th season in January.

Connick has served as a mentor and a guest judge on the show, and says of judging, "I think you need to be completely honest, and I think you need to be diplomatic. I think there's no reason to be mean, but it is called being a judge. You have to judge. That's what you do."

E! News also reports that former judge Randy Jackson will serve as a mentor for next season's contestants.

Fox has yet to comment on these reports.

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