ARE YOU SAD SEEING Jennifer Lopez joins American Idol exodus AND IS LEAVING THE SHOW?

"I honestly feel like the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I've put kind of on hold," she said on Friday.

Lopez spent two seasons as a judge on the US talent search, whose viewing figures have slumped in recent years.

The programme's 12th season is due to commence in the autumn.

"I just don't feel like I can be there every single day all the time like I have been for the past two years," Lopez said in a phone call to Idol host Ryan Seacrest's radio show.

The 42-year-old had earlier said it would be "hard" to continue on the show without Tyler on the judging panel.

Her departure comes amid reports that broadcaster Fox is seeking to recruit younger judges in an attempt to revitalise the show.

Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Mary J Blige are among the star names that have been mooted as potential replacements.

With Tyler and Lopez gone, record producer Randy Jackson - a judge since the show's 2002 inception - is the sole remaining member of the panel.