LOS ANGELES -
American Idol returned to FOX on Wednesday with its new lineup of judges. Randy Jackson returns for his twelfth year, and with him are new judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban.
Good Day's Paul Milliken was in Los Angeles last week and had a chance to speak with the judges.
"When you see that raw talent, and the people that just have it, that's a great thing," said Carey.
Surprisingly, Minaj says she's nervous about the live shows. She says she is a very unpredictable person, and doesn't like that in herself.
Urban got his start on a talent show, and says the contestants who come to American Idol, dreaming big, are the real stars.
"I love watching people come through that have something really special and they just need some guidance, and some breaks, and a bit of confidence, and to watch them go on. It's magical," said Urban.
(IDOL EXTRA: Keith Urban talks about the difficult part of judging)
When Randy Jackson visited Atlanta last year, FOX 5 asked him if he knew anything about Mariah Carey becoming a judge for the show. He said no and on the same day, it was announced she was named as a new judge. It robbed FOX 5 of a scoop!
"What? I would never rob you guys! I don't rob," said Jackson.
There was talk of a feud between Minaj and Carey. Both say what they do is never scripted.
"Someone asked us earlier, 'Is this staged? Is this scripted?' I couldn't be part of anything like that if they paid me to," Minaj said.
As season 12 hits the airwaves, Carey says her only focus is on this stage.
"There were certain singers who were just obviously born to sing. They have God-given talent, and that's what I look at and am in awe of," said Carey.
For her part, Minaj says she didn't expect fireworks though she knew there might be sparks.
"Idol happened to pick the nicest boys for this season, Keith and Randy, they're so easy to get along with. They're the best, and they happened to also pick, I'm going to make up a new word here, the diva-ist of divas," said Minaj.
(IDOL EXTRA: Nicki Minaj says 'Idol' debut is 'like a long overdue baby')
American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. on FOX 5.
Click the videos above to watch Paul Milliken's full interviews!
For more information on American Idol, click here to visit the official website!
