Jennifer Lopez Leaving American Idol: ‘Something Has To Give’

“American Idol” is losing another judge.

After Steven Tyler announced his exit on Thursday, Jennifer Lopez called in to “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS FM morning show on Friday to say she too will be bowing out.

“I honestly feel like just the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I’ve put kind of on hold because I love ‘Idol’ so much,” J.Lo told Ryan.

The superstar said making the decision to leave was heartbreaking.

“Even last year when I had to make the decision, it was super tough… I felt like for six months it was fine, but then to go back and do it again was like, oh God – I have my movies and my music,” she said. “It gets just more complicated… it started feeling like it was a lot.”

Adding, “Something has to give. That’s where I am right now.”

Jennifer, who first joined the FOX hit for Season 10, said she’s leaving on great terms and will be happy to return when needed – just not for every show.

“No matter what you guys need over there, I’m always gonna be there,” she told Ryan. “I feel like there’s just that tie there.”

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Steven announced he would not return as an “Idol” judge for the show’s upcoming twelfth season.

“After some long… hard… thoughts… I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress ‘American Idol’ before she boils my rabbit,” he said in a statement released to Access Hollywood on Thursday. “I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I’m back – but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band.”

“American Idol” returns to FOX in January 2013.

— Erin O’Sullivan

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