SIMON COWELL LEAVING AMERICAN IDOL GOSSIP

Simon Cowell

American Idol's Simon Cowell's brother says the next season of the hit television show will be the judge's last. Tony Cowell said in his weekly podcast, "The Cowell Factor," that a statement was being prepared that would certify that the acerbic British judge was leaving the popular Fox signing competition at the end of 2010. Simon Cowell will concentrate on bringing his popular U.K. talent show "The X Factor" to the U.S. next year, his brother said on the Saturday podcast, which has since been removed from the site. Simon has been with "American Idol" since the series debuted in 2002. His contract ends after the upcoming ninth season, which begins Jan. 12th. The judging panel was shaken up last year with the arrival of songwriter Kara DioGuardi and departure of singing icon Paula Abdul, who is being replaced next season by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
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