It's official: Jennifer Lopez returning to 'Idol' (AP)

NEW YORK – If there was ever any doubt, it's gone now. Jennifer Lopez will be back at the judge's panel for the 11th season of "American Idol."

The Fox network has made Lopez's return official, along with her fellow judges, Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler and record producer Randy Jackson. In addition, Fox said Wednesday that Ryan Seacrest will be back as host.

Singer-actress Lopez debuted as a judge this past season. But in recent weeks, she had publicly been coy about whether she would stay with the hit musical competition.

Any lingering skepticism was dispelled last week by "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. He declared, unofficially, that Lopez would be back while interviewed on Seacrest's radio program.

"American Idol" begins its new season Jan. 22.

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Producer says Jennifer Lopez will return to 'Idol' (AP)

NEW YORK – An executive producer of the hit musical reality TV show "American Idol" says celebrity judge Jennifer Lopez will return for another season. Lopez hasn't said anything.

But executive producer Nigel Lythgoe (LITH'-goh) was on the "On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" program on Wednesday morning and made the announcement. He acknowledged it wasn't official. But he added he was "delighted to say that all three judges" and the show's "brilliant host" are back for the next season.

Seacrest is the show's host. Singer-actress Lopez debuted as a judge this past season. The other judges are Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler and record producer Randy Jackson.

"American Idol" is due to return to Fox television in January for its 11th season.

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Fox stays mum on Jennifer Lopez, "Idol" talks (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Jennifer Lopez's future as a judge with "American Idol" is still up in the air, after Fox television on Friday declined to confirm or deny reports that she had signed on for a second season.

Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly told a meeting of TV critics he had no headline-making announcements -- "maybe like confirm Jennifer Lopez or something. No luck there."

The return of Lopez for the upcoming 11th season of "American Idol" has been in doubt after the singer said earlier this summer that she was undecided about doing a second year.

Several news reports, all citing unnamed sources, have reported that Lopez is ready to sign up, and this week, showbiz website TheWrap.com said a deal had been finalized that would pay Lopez just over $20 million.

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and veteran record producer Randy Jackson are already confirmed as judges when the talent contest resumes on Fox in January.

Lopez and Tyler joined the judging panel this past season, helping to boost flagging viewership for the aging "American Idol" and maintain its status as the most-watched show on U.S.

TV.

The show has also been good for Lopez. She topped People magazine's "most beautiful" list earlier this year and had a top 10 hit with her dance single "On the Floor."

However, Lopez announced in July that she was divorcing her husband of seven years, Latin singer Marc Anthony, with whom she had twins in 2008.

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Jennifer Lopez, "American Idol" judging deal is done (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Fear not, Jennifer Lopez fans: the singer is returning to "American Idol" to judge for at least another year, TheWrap has learned through two individuals familiar with the deal.

The pop star will be returning to the television singing competition with a contract with the Fox Broadcasting Network that's "a smidge over" $20 million, according to one of the individual.

Both insiders said the deal is complete but has not yet been signed.

The $20 million was apparently the base minimum for Lopez, and after tough negotiations with Fox, ended up just above that number.

It's a considerable raise from the $12 million she reportedly raked in for handling judge duties last season.

The only hurdle left to be cleared in the deal, according to one of the individuals, is scheduling. Lopez will be working on two major productions -- the romantic dramedy "What to Expect When You're Expecting," which is slated for a May 2012 release, and the thriller "Parker," currently in pre-production -- which will most likely necessitate a shift in audition dates for the upcoming season.

Lopez, whose gig with the revamped reality series began last January, told the BBC earlier this year that she was "on the fence" about returning for another season. Unlike her fellow new "Idol" judge, Aerosmith warbler Steven Tyler, Lopez only signed up for a year.

"I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it, but I have a lot of other things happening, and it's going to come down to making a choice of really what I want to do for the next year," Lopez said. "We're not really at the breaking point of 'You have to make a decision right now!' So I'm not. I'm really enjoying the time of just waiting -- and seeing."

TheWrap has also confirmed that Lopez plans to continue with the talent-search series "Q'Viva!" The series will feature Lopez and her now-estranged husband Marc Anthony scouring Latin America for the hottest vocal talent in the region. The series is co-created and co-executive-produced by Lopez, Anthony, "American Idol" producer Simon Fuller and Jamie King.

Fox, which airs "Idol" and a representative for Lopez had no comment for TheWrap on this story.

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Jennifer Lopez talks about split from Marc Anthony (AP)

NEW YORK – Jennifer Lopez tells Vanity Fair magazine that she still believes in love despite her split from her husband of seven years, Marc Anthony.

The singer and actress gave the publication her first interview since announcing her divorce earlier this month.

Lopez says she is an "eternal optimist" and describes love as her "biggest dream."

The 42-year-old, who has had a string of high-profile relationships, says she's learned to walk away from something when it isn't right.

One thing Lopez says she and Anthony do right is work together, saying "together we make magic."

The couple has two children, twins Max and Emme.

The September issue of Vanity Fair goes on sale nationwide Aug. 9.

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Judge backs Lopez over home video row with ex (AFP)

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – A US appeal court sided with superstar Jennifer Lopez in a privacy dispute with her ex-husband over the use of the former couple's home videos.

The singer and actress, who annnounced last week that she was splitting from actor husband Marc Anthony, is seeking $10 million from her ex, Ojani Noa, and writer Ed Meyer.

Lopez says the video footage, which is not of a sexual nature, contains private information about her and her relationship with Noa, whom she married in 1997 but divorced 11 months later.

The 42-year-old, who originally sued Noa and Meyer in November 2009, alleges that the pair plan to make a movie she says is to be called "How I Married Jennifer Lopez: The J. Lo and Ojani Noa Story."

Noa and Meyer deny they are planning a tell-all movie and say it would not have the title stated in the lawsuit.

On Friday, a three-justice panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal, reversing a lower court's ruling, said Lopez can force Noa and Meyer to resolve the case by arbitration.

The lawsuit was the second Lopez filed against Noa after their divorce: in 2007 she won $545,000 and legal costs for breach of contract over a planned ghostwritten tell-all book.

The book, which was blocked from being published, reportedly recounted how Lopez had had multiple affairs, including with her current husband Marc Anthony whom she is now leaving after seven years of marriage.

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Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony say they will divorce (AFP)

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Superstar singer and actress Jennifer Lopez will split with her musician and actor husband, Marc Anthony, after seven years of marriage, the couple revealed to People magazine in a joint statement Friday.

"This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters," they said in the statement.

The couple had dated briefly in the 1990s and then rekindled their romance in 2004. They were married in a June 2004 secret ceremony at Lopez's Beverly Hills home.

They are parents to 3-year-old twins Max and Emme, who were born in February 2008.

"It is a painful time for all involved, and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time," the statement added.

Also known as J.Lo, Lopez made her leading lady movie debut in "Selena," in 1997, and went on to become a Grammy-nominated singer.

Her first studio album, "On the 6," was released in 1999 and spawned the number one hit single, "If You Had My Love."

Anthony has sold more than 11 million records, kicking off his career as a salsa musician and Spanish-language performer. His 1999 hit single "I Need to Know" was his first English-language crossover success.

This year the 41-year-old Lopez topped People's magazine's annual list of the most beautiful people.

After taking time off to become a mother in 2008, the Bronx, New York-born, Puerto Rican actress returned to the public eye earlier this year with a star turn as one of three talent judges on "American Idol." She also released her seventh studio album, "Love?" in April.

She is scheduled to star in next year's film adaptation of the best-selling book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting," which will begin shooting in this summer, according to Lopez's website.

The New York-born Anthony currently plays Detective Nick Renata on the TNT drama TV show, "Hawthorne." According to his website, he will begin a US concert tour in September of this year.

In 2006, the couple co-starred in "El Cantante," a biopic about salsa legend Hector Lavoe. Anthony played Lavoe and Lopez played Lavoe's wife, Nilda "Puchi" Roman.

As recently as May, Lopez and Anthony had been scheduled to film a new show together where they would travel to 21 Latin American countries in search of talent, according to People magazine's website.

It was the third marriage for Lopez and the second for Anthony, 42.

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Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony call it quits (AP)

NEW YORK – With three failed marriages between them, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony finally seemed to find true love together when they married seven years ago. They had twin children, went on tour together, did a movie together and even planned a music-based reality show they were working on together.

But on Friday, the pair announced they were no longer together.

"We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision," the couple said in a statement by Lopez's publicist. "We have come to amicable conclusion on all matters. It is a painful time for all involved and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time."

It was a surprising split for one of Hollywood's most high-profile couples. They seemed inseparable: Lopez even danced in the background for her crooner husband when he performed on "American Idol," where she debuted as a judge this past season.

The pair, both of Puerto Rican heritage, married in 2004 after years of knowing each other. He was ending a marriage to former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, while she had recently endured a high-profile breakup with Ben Affleck.

Lopez had been married twice before in brief unions to Ojani Noa and Chris Judd and had a famous romance with Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Her union with Anthony was her most enduring public relationship. The pair did a joint tour together and starred in the movie "El Cantante" in 2006.

They also had two children, twins Emme and Max. They were Lopez's first children; Anthony had a child from Torres and another from a previous relationship.

In April, the pair, both 42, announced plans for a television show together, "Q'Viva! The Chosen," with Simon Fuller, the creator of "Idol." The show was to feature the superstar couple as they traveled the world to find the best performers in Latin music, dance and other arts with the goal of creating a live extravaganza.

The show had no airdate, and it's unclear if it will continue.

Lopez released her latest album, titled "Love?" this year. Her career, which lulled in recent years, has surged since she became an "Idol" judge.

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Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony call it quits (AP)

NEW YORK – With three failed marriages between them, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony finally seemed to find true love together when they married seven years ago. They had twin children, went on tour together, did a movie together and even planned a music-based reality show they were working on together.

But on Friday, the pair announced they were no longer together.

"We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision," the couple said in a statement by Lopez's publicist. "We have come to amicable conclusion on all matters. It is a painful time for all involved and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time."

It was a surprising split for one of Hollywood's most high-profile couples. They seemed inseparable: Lopez even danced in the background for her crooner husband when he performed on "American Idol," where she debuted as a judge this past season.

The pair, both of Puerto Rican heritage, married in 2004 after years of knowing each other. He was ending a marriage to former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, while she had recently endured a high-profile breakup with Ben Affleck.

Lopez had been married twice before in brief unions to Ojani Noa and Chris Judd and had a famous romance with Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Her union with Anthony was her most enduring public relationship. The pair did a joint tour together and starred in the movie "El Cantante" in 2006.

They also had two children, twins Emme and Max. They were Lopez's first children; Anthony had a child from Torres and another from a previous relationship.

In April, the pair, both 42, announced plans for a television show together, "Q'Viva! The Chosen," with Simon Fuller, the creator of "Idol." The show was to feature the superstar couple as they traveled the world to find the best performers in Latin music, dance and other arts with the goal of creating a live extravaganza.

The show had no airdate, and it's unclear if it will continue.

Lopez released her latest album, titled "Love?" this year. Her career, which lulled in recent years, has surged since she became an "Idol" judge.

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