Jennifer Lopez has announced she is quitting the judging panel of American Idol - just one day after Steven Tyler also revealed he was leaving. The 42-year-old made the announcement on Ryan Seacrest's radio show yesterday morning, and tearfully admitted it had been a difficult decision. "It's just going to be really hard for me to go," she said. "It's just one of those special things in your life that you don't want to walk away from." And she denied that wanting more money had led to her decision to quit. "It wasn't ever playing any games or doing more or wanting more and more money, it wasn't any of that," Jennifer insisted. "It was just being smart about making a business decision and I had to be really responsible in that moment. You don't want to shut the door completely but the time has come." The singer-actress went on to describe her time on the show as "amazing". Her departure follows that of Steven Tyler, who announced he would be leaving to focus on his band Aerosmith. "I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I'm back – but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I've got two fists in the air and I'm kicking the door open with my band," he said of his exit. Only Randy Jackson - who has been on the judging panel since the show began in 2002 - will remain on board for the next series, with rumours circulating that Mariah Carey is in talks to replace Jennifer.
