Could Brad Paisley be taking a place next to Mariah Carey as one of the new judges on American Idol ?  According to Deadline.com , Brad is being considered as a replacement on the judges panel since Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler decided not to return next season. Mariah Carey has already been confirmed as a new judge, and original Idol judge Randy Jackson is expected to return next season.

Brad has several ties to the American Idol family.  He scored a duet with former Idol champ Carrie Underwood on "Remind Me," and they've co-hosted the CMA Awards for several years now.  Last year's Idol winner Scotty McCreery is on tour with Brad this year too.

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