God strike me dead, but I think this is fantastic news. Mariah Carey is one of the few superstars who won't skimp on candor or criticism when it comes to analyzing the singing contestants, and she'll probably be kind of funny, to boot. The woman has harvested a fanbase of "lambs," after all, and you can't get away with that unless you have a pseudo-sense of humor about yourself. She's also had major hits in the past five years (including the biggest radio single of the past decade, "We Belong Together"), which gives her a soupcon of credibility that American Idol panelist Jennifer Lopez could use right now.
And think of the professional experience Mariah can reference! "Honey, you have a good voice," she may coo to a raspy chanteuse. "But is your voice good enough to make Jermaine Dupri jump on the soundboard, gyrate, and cackle like a bipolar oil tycoon? Definitely not." I'm already craving her vicious barbs. "Girl, you really had a TRL meltdown up there," she might say, or "Son, please jump on a jet-ski and flee this world with Ma$e.
Cheryl Cole has been perfectly pleasant on the UK X-Factor (and she was adorable when mentoring last season's winner Joe McElderry), but for a pop star, the girl lacks fire. Mariah's got the magnetic energy, disapproving glance, and articulation to pull off the job. That already puts her five stiletto-aided struts ahead of Ellen Degeneres.
ยท Mariah Carey may judge U.S. 'X-Factor' [NY Post]