''Shock jock'' rumoured to be replacing Cowell
Is radio jockey Howard Stern replacing notorious Simon Cowell on American Idol?
Who will replace the sarcastic Brit Simon Cowell as a judge on American Idol from next year? There are rumours that the high-profile slot may go to Howard Stern America's highest paid radio jockey.
Fifty-six-year-old Stern, called America's "shock jock", currently hosts the "uncensored" Sirius XM Radio show.
Cowell, who became famous or notorious for his nasty put-downs on the show and was paid $50 million (Dh183 million) a year, is moving to start the US version of The X Factor the hit British talent show next year.
Rated seventh on Forbes' World's Most Powerful Celebrity list, Stern is on a $100-million-a-year contract with the radio station.
His contract expires in January next year well before the American Idol season. But he is reportedly unwilling to travel across the US as the job at the American Idol entails.
Were the most celebrated radio jockey to come on board the most celebrated show, he would make a deadly team with co-host Ellen DeGeneres, who replaced Paula Abdul this year, sources in the US entertainment industry say.
