American Idol's game of musical chairs may have taken another casualty as new reports claim Randy Jackson is vacating his post as judge - a spot he's held since the singing competition premi猫red in 2002.
Jackson is reportedly stepping away from the judges' table but would continue to play a role in the show as a mentor to the contestants. No word on what capacity that mentorship would be.
Speculation over who will occupy the judges' table when the competition kicks off its 12th season in January went into overdrive the moment Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler announced their departures after two seasons.
Pop diva Mariah Carey became the highest paid judge in reality TV when she inked a deal, reportedly worth $18 million, to replace Lopez. Carey remains the only confirmed judge.
