Jennifer Lopez Says She Won't Return as 'Idol' Judge

Singer follows Steven Tyler in leaving Fox reality show

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/13/2012 12:34:37 PM

A day after Steven Tyler announced he was leaving American Idol, fellow judge Jennifer Lopez said she also would not return to the Fox reality show for its 12^th season.

Lopez made the announcement on Ryan Seacrest's radio show Friday morning.

"I honestly feel like just the time has come," she told Seacrest, who is also the host of Idol. "I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I've put on hold because I love Idol so much."

Lopez did leave the door open for occasional appearances on Idol, just not the full-time judging gig, saying, "I feel like no matter what you guys need, I'm always going to be here. I just don't know that I can be there every single day, all the time the way we've been doing the past two years."

A spokesperson for Fox had no comment.