Mariah Carey Nearing $17 Million American Idol Deal?

WENN

Husband Nick Cannon may have laughed off the rumours, but Mariah Carey is allegedly thisclose to signing a deal worth $17 million to join American Idol.

The figure dwarfs the $15 million dished out to Britney Spears for The X Factor USA and, more importantly, the $12 million paid out to Carey's Idol predecessor Jennifer Lopez.

Limelife claims that the singer is nearing the end of negotiations with producers, who have at least two empty seats to fill following the departures of Lopez and Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler. Founding panellist Randy Jackson is also thought to be on the fence over next year's 12th season.

Carey and Lopez are notoriously far from being the best of friends.

Told in the past that the 'On The Floor' hitmaker manages to get eight hours sleep a night, Carey had quipped: "If I had the luxury of not actually having to sing my own songs, I'd do that, too." Ouch!

In terms of who else will join the panel, candidates as bizarre as Charlie Sheen have been linked, but no convincing gossip has emerged just yet.

Jackson, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul were behind the desk when the show made its Kelly Clarkson-packed debut in 2002. Since then judges have also included Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres.

PHOTOS: Mariah in London

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