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    Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj & Keith Urban Talk American Idol Judging Style

    Access Hollywood – Mon, Sep 17, 2012

    What should contestants on "American Idol" Season 12 expect from the new panel of judges? With Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban joining returning judge Randy Jackson, the singing hopefuls will get plenty of honesty, support and maybe some "mentally unstable" moments.

    The "Idol" judges spoke to the press on Sunday in New York City following the official announcement from FOX.

    PLAY IT NOW: What Kind Of A Judge Does Mariah Carey Want To Be On American Idol?

    "I won't be judging, I'll be guiding," Mariah explained.

    The R&B superstar said she's not worried about being dubbed the "nice" or "mean" one on the panel.

    VIEW THE PHOTOS: American Idol Team Over The Years: Then & Now

    "What I want to be is honest and someone contestants can look to for guidance as opposed to... the mean one, the nice one. It's not about that," she continued. "I'm me. I am who I am, I'm a producer, I made a lot of records in my life, I know the studio, I live there. I performed all over the world, so it's not about me, me, me it's about them."

    And should contestants attempt to belt out a Mariah song?

    "They can sing anything that moves them, as a songwriter I would be honored," Mariah said.

    VIEW THE PHOTOS: Nicki Minaj: The Outrageous Styles, The Amazing Outfits & The Colorful Personalities

    As for Nicki - who is known for channeling numerous personas - "Idol" contestants should prepare for something a little crazy if they take a crack at one of her hits.

    "I'll probably crack up laughing sometimes because I'm mentally unstable sometimes," the chart-topper said when asked about contestants performing her music. "But they shouldn't be afraid -- it's gonna be fun and pumping!"

    VIEW THE PHOTOS: Mariah Carey: From ‘Someday’ To Mom & ‘Idol’ Judge

    Keith added, "I'm just grateful I get to do it. I'm grateful that they asked me and I'm really looking forward to it. It's gonna be a lot of fun."

    Season 12 of "American Idol" will premiere this winter on FOX.

    -- Jesse Spero

    Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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