Ryan Seacrest posted a statement about Ellen DeGeneres leaving American Idol on his Twitter. He is sad to see her go.

“Spoke with Ellen DeGeneres tonight. I will miss her on ‘Idol,’” he Twittered Thursday. “She’s one of the kindest and most talented people in Hollywood!”

According to sources Ellen has been wanting out for a while. She still hosts her daytime talk show which made her schedule, “more than I bargained for.” She knew she didn’t make a good fit with the show.

Source Bauer Griffin

Ellen DeGeneres has been a judge on American Idol for one season. She replaced Paula Abdul when she left the show. Now Ellen has also decided to make an exit from American Idol. This is what she had to say about her decision to leave.

“A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” DeGeneres says in the statement.

“I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next.”

“It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for,” the star continues.

“I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on Idol and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”

This was also Simon Cowell’s last season on American Idol. Names have been circulating on who his replacement should be. Those who have been said to be up for consideration are Bret Michaels, Harry Connick Jr, Elton John, Jessica Simpson, and Howard Stern among others.

I would love to see Bret Michaels or Harry Connick Jr be a judge, but really don’t want Howard Stern or Elton John. Who would you like to see as a judge? Are you sad to see Ellen go?

Source Bauer Griffin

After a season judging singers on “American Idol,” Ellen DeGeneres is delving deeper into the music business with her own label.

The talk show host announced on her show Wednesday that she is starting a label called eleveneleven. Her first act will be 12-year-old Greyson Chance, who recently became a sensation on YouTube with his piano version of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.”

There’s no word on when the label will start. It was formed with Telepictures Productions.

Besides DeGeneres, Greyson has some other strong people behind him: Madonna’s manager and Lady Gaga’s manager.

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The final performance of American Idol hasn’t even aired, and Simon Cowell has already predicted a winner. Out of Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze, he thinks that Lee will take the title.

“If you’d asked me five or six weeks ago, 100 percent I would have said Crystal. But now I’ve changed my mind. I think Lee is going to win,” Cowell told fellow “Idol” judge Ellen DeGeneres in an interview on her talk show, airing on Tuesday.

I have to say I agree with Simon. Crystal just doesn’t seem to want it as bad and Lee does.

We will learn if Cowell’s prediction is correct on the Wednesday finale. This will also be Simon’s last day to be an American Idol judge. In 2011 he will be bringing the X Factor to Fox. His replacement has not yet been named.

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It wasn’t a love for butchered cover songs that led Ellen DeGeneres to the American Idol judges’ panel — it was the result of a simple marital directive.

“I was like, ‘Honey, that’s it. Go get another job,’” Ellen’s wife Portia de Rossi tells People with a laugh. “I’m that demanding.”

Maybe it wasn’t that simple, but de Rossi, who was being honored with the Visibility Award at Saturday night’s Human Rights Campaign Gala in Los Angeles, points out that Idol has quickly gone from guilty pleasure to a family affair. “I’m a part of American Idol now,” she says with a sigh. “I’m actually going to every taping of Idol because it’s really fun to be there and it’s fun to support her. I’m just glad that I’m not a judge.”

The star of ABC’s Better Off Ted sees the toll that Ellen’s new job takes when a contestant goes for a note that they should have passed on, or when the irascible Cowell starts to clean his claws. “It’s hard, especially when the contestants don’t do that well,” de Rossi says, “because I know that she will be struggling to think of something positive to say to them.”

The problem, according to de Rossi, is that as much as Ellen may have coveted the role, her personality is diametrically opposed to the job. “She doesn’t judge people,” the actress says. “She’s a very positive person. She doesn’t like to criticize, so it’s kind of a difficult role for her to play. She wants to give them good advice, but she also doesn’t want to be negative.”

Still, DeGeneres, who is juggling her daytime talk show with the grueling Idol schedule, is happy with her new gig. “She’s doing two things that she absolutely loves to do,” the actress says with a smile. “She’s very busy but she’s very happy being busy. She’s loving it, and I think she’s doing amazing.”

So, as Ellen strives to play the ballast to Cowell’s bombast, does de Rossi want to step into Ellen’s shoes and be an Idol judge? “No,” the actress says. “If I was up there, looking into the eyes of those young kids, I would probably be a pushover. I would be like a water-downed version of Paula [Abdul]. All I would be doing is applauding and telling them that they were magnificent all of the time.”

Source, Bauer-Griffin

Ellen DeGeneres has been named Woman Of The Year by charity PETA.

The TV host was awarded the title by People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for her work in raising awareness of their campaigns promoting a lifestyle which is friendly to nature.

Tim Gunn, who appears on fashion show ‘Project Runway’ in the US, was named Man Of The Year.

PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk said: “Tim Gunn and Ellen DeGeneres show us that one person really can make a difference in the world by rejecting cruel deeds in favor of compassionate acts. Their message that animals must be treated kindly and respectfully has reached scores of people, and many of them have changed their buying habits, all because Gunn and DeGeneres spoke up for the voiceless.”

Ellen, who fronts a self titled show, said she was delighted by the honor.

She tweeted: “I’m honored PETA named me ‘Person of The Year’. I thank them for protecting animals every single day. Amazing.”

PETA said it gave its accolade to Ellen for being vegan and championing the meat and dairy-free lifestyle by inviting experts like Jonathan Safran Foer and Dr. Neal Barnard on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’.

Tim’s contributions include narrating the charity’s ‘Fashion Victims’ video, about extreme practices in the fur and reptile skin trade and for being creative director at fur-free fashion chain Liz Claiborne.

Both stars will be awarded plaques and a letter of appreciation.

Source, Bauer-Griffin

Ellen DeGeneres doesn’t mind a little mocking!

After Paula Abdul impersonated her American Idol replacement while hosting Thursday night’s VH1 Divas Live concert, the talk show host Twittered that she loved it.

“You’re hilarious,” DeGeneres, 51, posted Friday.

Abdul, who wore a blonde wig and DeGeneres’ trademark suit and sneakers, told the crowd, “All kidding aside, [I have] nothing but love for Ellen, and I wish you the best of luck and congratulations on your new gig.”

DeGeneres, who will be the fourth judge on the Fox show’s upcoming season, Twittered her respect to Abdul.

“You’ve left me some big shoes to fill…unfortunately I don’t wear high heels. Nothing but love for you too.”

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