Katy Perry Turned Down $20 Million American Idol Offer

USMagazine, Saturday, August 25, 2012, 10:30am (PDT)

Had Katy Perry said "Yes" to American Idol, she would have seen even more money than Mariah.

A source tells Us Weekly that the show's producers were so eager to have the pop star, 27, join the judging panel that they offered her $20 million dollars for a year-long contract.

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"She was being hotly pursued," the source explains. "They really wanted her."

Ultimately, Perry turned them down, and execs have continued their search to replace Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson (who will vacate his seat on the panel and instead serve as a mentor during the upcoming season). A number of other names have been bandied about as possible Idol additions, including Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams, Keith Urban and Nick Jonas, though none at this point have been confirmed.

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In late July, Mariah Carey officially signed on to judge, accepting an $18 million payday -- making her the highest-paid judge on any music competition show.

Carey's show predecessor Lopez, pulled in about $12 million per Idol season; Christina Aguilera negotiated a reported $10 million for the third season of The Voice, while Britney Spears will rake in an approximate $16 million for her stint on The X Factor.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Katy Perry Turned Down $20 Million American Idol Offer