Harry Connick, Jr. Joins ‘American Idol’
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.