"American Idol" judge Randy Jackson will not return to the show this January, FOX announced Tuesday.
Jackson was one of the singing competition's original castmembers, and completed 13 seasons on the programme.
"I'm proud to have been a part of a series that discovered some incredible artists and will go down in history as one of the most successful television shows ever," Jackson said in a statement. "A true original, Idol started it all. Onto what's next."
Jackson is a successful music producer, artist manager, A&R, singer, and musician. He served as a mentor to the "American Idol" contestants last season, signaling a removal from his role as judge.
"Idol" has suffered from steadily declining ratings since season six, with season 13 bottoming out with record lows. The May 1, 2014 airing received a 1.5/5 rating—the lowest in the show's history—and 7 million viewers.
At its peak, "American Idol" had an average rating of 12.6. That climactic fifth season featured original judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson, and introduced the country to "Idol" winner Taylor Hicks, and runner-up Katherine McPhee.
Kara DioGuardi was added as a judge in season eight, and the lineup of judges has changed frequently since that year. Ellen DeGeneres, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr. have taken turns at the judges table, but despite the producer's varied combinations, the ratings have only gotten worse.
The current judges are Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr., and Keith Urban. Ryan Seacrest has been the show's host since its inception, although co-host Brian Dunkleman appeared on the first season.
"American Idol" Season 14 will premiere on January 14, 2015.
