When did Jennifer Lopez judge for American Idol? Singer reveals her team didn't want her to join the show

Jennifer Lopez has revealed that she took the opportunity to become a judge on American Idol despite warnings from her team, who were concerned that the role could damage her career. The 55-year-old singer-actress served as a judge on the hit competition show from 2011 to 2016, but her decision to join wasn’t easy, as her advisors were initially against the idea.

In a recent interview with comedian Nikki Glaser for Interview magazine, published on October 9, 2024, Lopez opened up about the pivotal moment in her career. She discussed how her advisors believed that accepting the judging position would pigeonhole her as a "reality star," potentially harming her prospects in Hollywood.

"I’ll do things that could be risky because I believe that they’re going to turn out okay," Lopez explained, reflecting on her career choices. "I’d done all these big movies and made these albums and now they’re asking me to do reality TV."

---

Jennifer Lopez’s team warned against her joining American Idol

Jennifer Lopez admitted that her team saw her participation in American Idol as a demotion from her film and music careers.

At the time of the incident, the singer was not working since she had just given birth to twin daughters Max and Emme in 2008. When she thought about going back into entertainment, American Idol was number one but reality was considered a no-no.

"It really comes down to, ‘What do I think I can bring to something?’ When all of my advisors were like, ‘Don’t do this, you’re going to be reduced to just a reality star.’ … It was looked down upon," Lopez shared.

Lopez ultimately had to go with her own guts when deciding to be a part of American Idol.

"And I was just like, 'No. I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen. I think I have something to contribute," she revealed.

Lopez said her desire to pursue music and supporting talents to achieve their dreams convinced her that the position was right for her.

Jennifer Lopez became a judge on American Idol during its 10th season in 2011, along with Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler. She was part of the panel in seasons 11, 13, and 16 when the show was still being aired on Fox.

Her American Idol stint came to an end when she was gearing up for one of her biggest hits On the Floor, released in February of the same year. It rode the world charts as her first top-five single in the US since All I Have two years prior.

Jennifer Lopez’s decision to join American Idol paid off, as her career continued to flourish. In addition to her successful music endeavors, she also proved her critics wrong by maintaining her acting career.

Years after her stint on the show, Lopez delivered one of her most critically acclaimed performances in 2019’s Hustlers, which earned her nominations at the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Reflecting on her career decisions, Jennifer Lopez emphasized that trusting her gut has always helped her.

"When I’m choosing things, even if they seem like not the best idea to everybody else, if I feel it in my gut that it’s the right thing to do, nobody can talk me out of it," she said.

Jennifer Lopez also pointed to her Las Vegas residency as another example of her willingness to take risks. She headlined a two-year residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino from 2016 to 2018, despite advice from others who believed performing in Vegas would harm her career.