Is Jennifer Lopez leaving American Idol? If so, who will replace her in the show's judging panel?

First, the facts as announced on Idol:

1.) JLo is set to launch a mega concert tour with Enrique Iglesias in Latin America and the U.S. 2.) The next Idol auditions will be in Los Angeles on June 7, New Jersey on June 23 and Chicago on July 12.

Now, how will this top celebrity (according to Forbes' 100 List) manage her schedule?

There are reports that Lopez will also do a world tour next year.

Meanwhile, TMZ reported on Wednesday Nigel Lithgoe does not want Lopez to leave the show. He said:

"We want her back. I want her back. ... It's a business. She has to weigh everything. I know she's gotten lots of offers to do movies and other things."

While promoting the new flick "What to Expect When You're Expecting" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday, Lopez said:

"I really do enjoy it. Now this is my second year. I don't know if I can go for a third year. I miss doing other things. It really does lock you down, which was nice the first year with the babies being 3, but now they're getting more mobile, they're about to go into school. So I just don't know."

In case JLo does not come back for American Idol Season 12, who could replace her in the show?

Considering that Britney Spears and Demi Lovato will be on X Factor, and Idol graduate and first champion Kelly Clarkson is on Duets, fans wonder what could lie ahead for the Fox show.

Jimmy Iovine is doing a great job as mentor this season, but Randy Jackson is already in the seat for the "music producer" bit. The Idol show needs another powerful celebrity with their own following to sit in the panel.

How about Carrie Underwood? It would be difficult to picture, she will be all too nice and too kind.

Adam Lambert? Probably not, he's too "young" in the industry. He did a good job when he was a mentor for the contestants in one season, but he still has to make a lot of record sales to be credible.

Miley Cyrus? Can she be brutally honest with the contestants? She only had praises when she was an Idol mentor once in the show.

American Idol fans do miss Simon Cowell for his acerbic comments and hard-to-win praises. If Fox would have to replace JLo, it would be great to have someone who can bring back some bitter honesty, too. If Lithgoe could do that, maybe the Idol ratings will rise again.