It's official, folks. Paula is really, really gone from American Idol. Sure, there was speculation that it was just a bluff and that she'd negotiate a role with FOX, especially since the producers of Idol hired a slew of celebrity judges to sit in during the audition rounds, such as Katy Perry, Victoria Beckham, Shania Twain, Mary J. Blige, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Avril Lavigne and Kristin Chenoweth.

That is definitely not the case, however. Comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, best known for her daytime talk show Ellen, is taking the fourth judge's seat for good when the audition rounds are over, and will become a permanent fixture before the contestants and America alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Kara DioGuardi.

"I'm thrilled to be the new judge on American Idol," said DeGeneres. "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."

Idol creator Simon Fuller is no less happy with the addition of Ellen. "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," Fuller told USA Today.

I must say, it's just a little surprising to hear that it's Ellen of all people, because she is so rarely associated with the music business. However, it should be an interesting twist on Idol's common formula. "Hopefully I'm the people's point of view because I'm just like you," DeGeneres says. "I sit at home and I watch it. … I'm not looking at it in a critical way from the producer's mind. I'm looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person."

Degeneres, 51,  will continue working on her daytime talkshow Ellen alongside working on Idol. "I'm going to have a day job and a night job," Degeneres gushed. "It is going to be som much fun."