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American Idol will return next month with a two-night, four-hour premiere featuring auditions in Boston and Atlanta, the Fox network said.
The Boston auditions will air on January 12 and the Atlanta auditions will air on January 13, the network announced. Auditions for the ninth season of the popular singing competition will also be held in other major US cities.
This year's big change: Ellen DeGeneres is replacing Paula Abdul as judge. DeGeneres will join the show in February, after the tryout rounds, the network said.
Guest judges joining Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi include Victoria Beckham, Mary J Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris, Joe Jonas, Avril Lavigne,
Katy Perry and Shania Twain.
Abdul announced she was quitting amid a contract dispute earlier this year. Twelve male and 12 female semi-finalists will be announced on Febraury 17, with voting to begin on February 23.
Last season, American Idol brought 36 men and women to Hollywood to compete, compared with two dozen in previous seasons.
