'American Idol' names new judges for the show's 12th season

Nicki Minah and Keith Urban have joined the judging panel of "American Idol" Sunday to complete the four-person panel of judges when the show debuts on January 2013.

Minah is a popular rapper, singer-songwriter and voice actress, who shot to prominence with her debut album Pink Friday last year, becoming number one on the US Billboard 200 and a certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Her rapid rise to stardom with her kind of unique musical style made her the first female solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100 to have seven singles at the same time. New Zealand-born Keith Urban is a popular singer and songwriter and a husband to the popular Australian actress Nicole Kidman. Urban is a country music artists who has received numerous musical awards including his latest Grammy award win as the Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "'Til Summer Comes Around" last year. Fox reality programming chief Mike Darnell said "Idol" now boasts "one of the most exciting judging panels around," Reuters writes. "Nicki's an unbelievably captivating international phenomenon who has made an indelible mark on rap and pop. And Keith is ... one of the biggest stars in country music and I know that our fans and contestants will fall in love with him," Darnell said in a statement. Urban and Minaj will join old timer judge Randy Jackson and newcomer Mariah Carey in the judges panel of the 2012 season of the famous singing talent show on television. Season 12 will now have four judges which include Randy Jackson, Maria Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj. Carey is reportedly getting $18 million for her one year stint as Judge in the show, the highest ever paid for a reality show judge, according to sources quoted byTMZ. Ryan Seacrest will continue as American Idol season 12 host.