‘Idol’ bets on Mimi for audience power

Mariah Carey will join “American Idol” as a judge next season, Fox announced Monday, bringing her star power to the show that remains a ratings leader but has seen its viewership and pop culture status diminish.

The show, which saw judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez exit at the end of last season, will be back on the air for season 12 in January.

As one of music’s best-selling singers, she could provide the clout “American Idol” needs to compete in an increasingly crowded talent show field. Besides Fox sibling “The X Factor,” which recently added Britney Spears and …

Mariah Carey will join “American Idol” as a judge next season, Fox announced Monday, bringing her star power to the show that remains a ratings leader but has seen its viewership and pop culture status diminish.

The show, which saw judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez exit at the end of last season, will be back on the air for season 12 in January.

As one of music’s best-selling singers, she could provide the clout “American Idol” needs to compete in an increasingly crowded talent show field. Besides Fox sibling “The X Factor,” which recently added Britney Spears and Demi Lovato as judges, there’s NBC’s “The Voice,” which boasts Christina Aguilera among its big names.

Speaking of Britney and Demi

Simon Cowell says Britney Spears and Demi Lovato are the tough cookies on “The X Factor.”

With the new “X Factor” judges at his side Monday, the reliably acerbic Cowell said Spears is “quite mean” and Lovato is “a brat.” But, Cowell added, he’s long wanted to work with Spears and said “there’s really something likable” about Lovato.

The pop stars are joining his “X Factor” for its second season.

Spears and Lovato replace judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who left after the show’s debut year fell short of the spectacular ratings Cowell predicted. Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Cowell will return as judges.

Actress Cybill Shepherd is hoping the third time’s the charm.

The 62-year-old’s publicist confirms Shepherd is planning to marry a former jeweler-turned-psychologist named Andrei Nikolajevic.

Shepherd was previously married to David Ford and Bruce Oppenheim and has three children from those relationships.

In an interview in March with the Associated Press for her TV show “The Client List,” Shepherd confirmed she had a boyfriend and said they “managed to stay under the radar.” She said she was “very happy” with her life.

The birthday bunch

Comedian Ruth Buzzi is 76. Actor Mark Goddard (“Lost in Space”) is 76. Comedian Gallagher is 66. Actress Lynda Carter is 61. Country singer Pam Tillis is 55. Actress-singer Kristin Chenoweth is 44. Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez is 43. Actress Rose Byrne is 33. Actress Anna Paquin is 30. TV personality Bindi Irwin (“Bindi: The Jungle Girl”) is 14.