Ellen DeGeneres on American Idol Season 9

It is official: Ellen DeGeneres will replace Paula Abdul in the “American Idol” family. Her debut on the panel will be on February 9 and she appears in a series of promotional photos for the competition so there’s truly no turning back. American Idol premieres on January 12 and will begin again its search for the next Kris Allen, Adam Lambert or Carrie Underwood.