MYFOXNY.COM/AP -
After months of rumors and speculation – the judges' panel for American Idol has been finally announced.
Rapper Nicki Minaj and country singer Keith Urban will join superstar Mariah Carey and music industry producer Randy Jackson at the judges table.
The four judges made their first public appearance together at Lincoln Center Sunday morning.
The new judges say they're excited about the 12th season of American Idol and are looking forward to finding the next superstar.
The judges, along with host Ryan Seacrest, are in town for the first round of season 12 callbacks.
Auditions were held Sunday and will continue on Monday at "Jazz at Lincoln Center."
The makeup of the panel has been in flux since Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez announced their exits in July. Carey signed on later that month.
Minaj, 29, is known for her colorful hairstyles, wardrobe and antics. A native of Trinidad who grew up in New York, she has scored with hits like "Starships," "Turn Me On," and "Super Bass," her seventh single, which has sold more than 4 million copies.
She is the first female solo artist to have seven singles simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She released her second studio album, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded," in April, and since then it has sold 1 million copies worldwide.
Urban, 44, has four Grammy Awards and 14 No. 1 hits, and was named Male Vocal Artist of the Year three times, as well as Entertainer of the Year, by the Country Music Association. His latest CD, "Get Closer," has produced three consecutive No. 1 singles.
The New Zealand native is married to Australia-born film star Nicole Kidman.
