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Jennifer Lopez on 'American Idol' future: 'Maybe it's time for me to go'

The only “American Idol” buzz currently bigger than which famous name might join the talent show’s panel next season is the speculation surrounding whether or not that celebrity -- or any of the current panelists -- will share a seat next to Jennifer Lopez. The singer-turned-actress-turned-talent-judge visited TODAY Thursday morning and addressed all the will-she-or-won’t-she-return talk.�

The only “American Idol” buzz currently bigger than which famous name might join the talent show’s panel next season is the speculation surrounding whether or not that celebrity -- or any of the current panelists -- will share a seat next to Jennifer Lopez. The singer-turned-actress-turned-talent-judge visited TODAY Thursday morning and addressed all the will-she-or-won’t-she-return talk.

“It’s been on my mind a lot, as you can imagine,” she admitted. “You know, I signed on to ‘American Idol' to do one year, and … I wound up doing the two years. And now it’s like, ‘OK, do we continue on this journey?’ I’ve loved it so much. I enjoy the show so much. I enjoy just the whole process of the show and the whole thing. So it’s a tough decision either way. But I have to say that there are so many other things that I do, and that I put on hold for that. At the end of the day, whichever way, it’s a heartbreaking decision if I’m going to have to go.”

But is it a decision she’s already made? As TODAY’s Natalie Morales pointed out, it sounds like J.Lo knows she’s ready to go.

“I know everybody wants that definite ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and ... all I can let you in on is my own thought process with it, because that’s where I truly am,” Lopez insisted. “And the truth is, I love everybody. I love all the guys on the show. I love the family that’s there. Like I said, I’ve just enjoyed it so much. But I am thinking that maybe it’s time for me to go and do other things that I really love to do.”

But just in case that last line sounded a little too certain, she added, “But then again I really love the show. So...”

While “Idol” fans still don’t know for sure if they’ll get to see Lopez when the show returns next season, they’ll definitely have opportunities to catch her elsewhere. They either can see her on her current world tour or hear Lopez in “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” which hits theaters nationwide on Friday.

Would you be sad to see Jennifer Lopez leave “Idol”? And if she does leave, who should replace her? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

 

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