Randy Jackson Officially Exiting AMERICAN IDOL After 13 Seasons

Just ahead of the show's fourteenth season, original judge-turned-mentor Randy Jackson is officially exiting AMERICAN IDOL, Deadline has confirmed.

"After 13 seasons, I felt now was the perfect time to leave American Idol," Jackson said in a statement. "I'm proud to have been a part of a series that discovered some incredible artists and will go down in history as one of the most successful television shows ever. A true original, Idol started it all. Onto what's next."

Jackson left the judges' panel after twelve seasons, taking on the role of mentor this year, while Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick, Jr. filled the positions originally held by Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Jackson.

"Randy has been such an integral part of AMERICAN IDOL since day one, both as a judge and as a mentor. He's provided great advice and support, shaping the success of so many Idols we have discovered over the years," FremantleMedia NORTH AMERICA and 19 Entertainment, producers of FOX and American Idol, added. "We wish him all the best in his next chapter. Randy will always be part of our Idol family and we hope he'll visit from time to time."

AMERICAN IDOL, the original music show phenomenon, is back with its search for a superstar. Returning in January 2015, hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featuring judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., AMERICAN IDOL XIV will continue to bring generations together to cheer and vote for their favorite contestants and crown America's next singing sensation.

IDOL is the gold standard and the only TV singing competition show to produce true superstars, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Phillip Phillips, Chris Daughtry, Adam Lambert and many more. A bona fide cultural phenomenon, IDOL's alumni have sold more than 60 million albums, have garnered more than a quarter billion iTunes downloads and have been certified with 20 Platinum and 10 Gold records; and more than 70 IDOL contestants have been on the Billboard charts with 420 songs being No.1 Billboard hits. IDOL contestants have conquered Broadway, television and film, and have won numerous awards and accolades, including American Country Music Awards, Country Music Awards, GRAMMY AWARDS and an Academy Award.

Every year, tens of thousands of hopefuls from across the nation audition for a shot to be the next singing superstar, but only a select few have what it takes to make it to the top. The show's judges will travel across the country, with stops in Kansas City, MO; Long Island, NY; Minneapolis, MN; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; and San Francisco, CA, searching for those who have the potential to transform from an everyday singer into a successful, Platinum-recording artist. Those who have the singing chops will be invited to Hollywood in hopes of making their dream become a reality. The judges have their say after every performance, but it's the viewing public that holds all the cards and determines who will advance to become a finalist and who will go home.

Eventually the competition is narrowed down to a winner, who is awarded a major recording contract with 19 Recordings and the AMERICAN IDOL title. Past winners Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, Scotty McCreery, Phillips, Candice Glover and Caleb Johnson, as well as fan-favorites Jennifer Hudson, Lambert, Daughtry and Katharine McPhee, have all become household names and made their marks on the recording industry.