Posted by Emily Exton on 07/10/2011 at 1:44 PM News

The Popdust Files: american idol, jennifer lopez

Breathe easy, Idol fans. Those night terrors we’ve all been plagued with since May’s finale may finally subside given this piece of information: Jennifer Lopez will remain a judge on American Idol next season. (Yay! Nay?) According to E! News, Lopez has agreed to return to the judges’ table with pals Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler for the eleventh installment of Simon Fuller’s reality stalwart, with an official announcement likely coming “any day now.” Phew, that was a close one. After speculation that Lopez was “on the fence” about a return—as well as talk she was looking for upwards of $20 million—it looks like she’s realized you can’t look a gift horse like Idol in the mouth, particularly when it gives you so many opportunities to promote your next single. (Are you reading this, Xtina?) But the only thing worse than a sub par Idol season are months and months of Idol-related rumors, so as long as this doesn’t detract from the international trainwreck splendor that will be Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony’s upcoming Q’Viva, consider us pleased. Moving on…