Ever since the huge shakeup over at the   X Factor, with host Steve Jones and judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul departing, there's been talk that Simon Cowell wants to hire Mariah Carey to join him on the panel.   Would that ever happen?  Ask the guy from   American Idol.

Speaking with reporters on conference call on Thursday,   Idol's Randy Jackson , who actually manages Mariah, was asked about the   X Factor rumors.   "She'd be amazing" on the show, said Randy, but added, "I don't  know  if that's ever going to happen."  He went on to say, "Simon's one of the   smartest people I know.  I'm sure he's got some  very interesting   ideas up his sleeve."

On principle, though, Randy wouldn't be opposed  to having Mariah work on show that is a direct rival to   American Idol .   "No, no, not at all.  She's her  own person," said Randy.  "She can of  course do whatever she wants and she always will  do that."

But how about another superstar diva as the new   X Factor judge?  Appearing at a pre-Super Bowl press conference in Indianapolis on Thursday, Madonna was asked if she'd be interested in the job, were Simon to approach  her.  "I think I have enough jobs," she demurred.  "But thank you for  thinking of me -- if [Simon] did."

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