Emmy award winner Ellen DeGeneres called Ryan’s radio show Thursday, the morning after the news broke that she’d be joining American Idol as the fourth judge.

On her qualifications for being a judge:

“The people are the ones that choose the American Idol. Ultimately it doesn’t come down to some expert in the music industry, it comes down to everybody at home that says ‘that’s the person I relate to, that’s the person that I’m going to buy music from’.”

On her judging style:

“I’m not going to be mean, I hate when Simon [Cowell] is that mean. You can be constructive and criticize somebody that’s helpful instead of mean spirited.”

On Paula Abdul’s departure:

“I hope Paula [Abdul] is okay with it. I don’t want anybody to think I took Paula’s job away. I feel like she was gone and then everybody was looking for somebody else, then I stepped in. I certainly don’t want to be that person that is the evil taking Paula’s job away.”

Listen to the interview and read more highlights here!

Ellen DeGeneres is replacing Paula Abdul as the fourth judge on American Idol, Fox announced Wednesday night in a statement.

“I’m thrilled to be the new judge on American Idol,” DeGeneres says. “I’ve watched since the beginning, and I’ve always been a huge fan. So getting this job is a dream come true, and think of all the money I’ll save from not having to text in my vote.”

DeGeneres — who guest-judged on So You Think You Can Dance this summer — will continue to host her daily talk show.

“I’m going to have a day job and a night job,” she says. “The times we’re living in … we’re all doing that.”

The show’s creator and executive producer Simon Fuller says: “I could not be more excited to have Ellen join the American Idol family. Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel. I can’t wait for this next season to begin.”

In August, Abdul announced she would not be returning to the show on her Twitter page.

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return” to Fox’s singing contest, Abdul wrote. “I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon.”

DeGeneres will join the judges’ panel after the auditions, which will feature appearances by guest judges Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Shania Twain. The show’s ninth season kicks off January 2010.

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David Beckham is set to get a tattoo of Ellen DeGeneres.

The talk show host has urged the British soccer star – who already has several inkings on his body – to consider a new etching in tribute to her.

When Ellen made the suggestion, David laughed and replied: “I’m very tempted.”

During the interview, David – who got 10 roses tattooed on his arm in July to celebrate his 10-year wedding anniversary with his wife Victoria – revealed the former Spice Girls star loves it when he surprises her with thoughtful gestures.

He said: “I always seem to do pretty well. She always seems to be happy with the gifts that I get her. We always try to do special things for each other. It’s not always about buying gifts for each other. We just make sure that we spend time together or go for dinner together. That is important to us.”

The 34-year-old L.A. star went on to say he would love to work with Victoria on another underwear campaign for Emporio Armani.

David – who posed with his wife in several steamy shots for the fashion house – said: “We never get a chance to work together and when we do, it’s amazing. It was great to work with her on the day.”

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While most of Hollywood seems to be racing towards having babies and adopting children and denying pregnancy rumors, Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi haven’t caught the baby bug, and might never.

“No, I don’t think we’re going to have kids,” Ellen tells AOL’s Inside/TV when asked if they were going to be moms. ” We have animals, and we love them. They don’t talk back, and they don’t explore their vocal chords out in public.”

In addition, the newlyweds do have children in their life already, as Ellen explains they’re brand new aunts.

“[Portia's] brother and his wife just had a baby girl who’s a month old now, and it’s fun to be a part of that. But no, I think, you know, we definitely thought about it. And it’s something I think most people, as a relationship goes on, explore. But it’s just a huge responsibility, and I don’t know that that’s something we want to take on. We’re very happily married without children.”

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Five months after her wedding to Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi is declaring that marriage has “completely changed my life.”

“Marriage is a different way of being together,” the actress told PEOPLE Friday while promoting her upcoming ABC series Better Off Ted at the Television Critics Association event in Pasadena, Calif.

Even though the couple have been together since 2004, tying the knot strengthened their bond. “There’s a peace to [being married] and a sense of togetherness that we just didn’t have before. And I didn’t even realize it would change as much as it has, but it’s so lovely,” said the actress.

“It’s legal, and it’s real, so there’s that kind of formality to it that makes it very valid,” added de Rossi. “I think the emotions that went with that as a gay woman kind of surprised me – that I would be that relieved to have my mother be present at the ceremony to bless the union, and to call [Ellen] her daughter-in-law.”

The actress said she’s also emerged as a more confident woman in recent years, both in her life and her career. “It’s so important to live an honest, open life and I didn’t really realize that until I started doing it,” she said.3

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Pictured: Katherine Heigl, Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon, Carrie Underwood, Jessica Stroup, Jewel, Jordin Sparks, Brooke Burke, Debra Messing, Queen Latifah, Marisa Tomei, Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, AnnaLynne McCord, Jennie Garth, Ellen Degeneres & Portia de Rossi, Christina Applegate

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Funny!