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"&lt;strong&gt;&lt;img alt=\"0424-jennifer-lopez-mariah-carey-AI\" src=\"http://ll-media.tmz.com/2013/04/24/0424-jennifer-lopez-mariah-carey-ai-3.jpg\" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jennifer Lopez&lt;/strong&gt; has been approached by Fox execs to return to \"&lt;strong&gt;American Idol&lt;/strong&gt;\" for the balance of the season ... to replace&lt;strong&gt; Mariah Carey&lt;/strong&gt; ... sources connected with the network confirm to TMZ.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We've learned Lopez &lt;em&gt;will&lt;/em&gt; appear on the now ratings-challenged show on May 16 to debut her new single, but Fox has bigger ideas -- they want to stop the hemorrhaging quickly and bring the former judge back on the show.&amp;#160; The Hollywood Reporter &lt;a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/idol-panic-secret-plot-replace-444869\"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;first posted&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; the story that JLo could be returning.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And the show is in trouble.&amp;#160; Last week's ratings were the worst since the show debuted in 2002.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sources tell us Fox is scrambling to find a solution, and ironically they think Lopez could be the answer.&amp;#160; We say ironically because network execs would not ante up the cash JLo wanted to stay on the show this season.&amp;#160; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We're told as of now ... no deal has been made.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;UPDATE&lt;/strong&gt;:&amp;#160; A Fox spokesperson tells TMZ ... \"This is just another ridiculous \"Idol\" judge rumor, likely started by talks of Jennifer performing on the finale.\""^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.tmz.com/2013/04/24/american-idol-jennifer-lopez-mariah-carey/?adid=hero3>