LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Ellen DeGeneres has become the first 'American Idol' judge to react to the news that Simon Cowell is leaving the FOX reality singing competition.

Ellen, the newest 'Idol' judge, who is sitting down for the first time with her fellow judges this week as they record the Hollywood round of competition, shared her reaction with her 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' audience on Monday.

NEW YORK, New York -- Ellen DeGeneres and Tim Gunn have more in common than being popular television personalities with short hair. The two were just honored by PETA who named them 2009's Woman of the Year and Man of the Year.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Ellen DeGeneres has reacted to the news that Oprah Winfrey will announce on Friday that she will end her network television talk show in 2011.

In a clip released on EllenTV.com, Ellen revealed that Oprah herself shared the news with her fellow talk show host on Thursday afternoon.

NEW YORK, New York -- Paula Abdul had some fun Thursday night at VH1's 'Divas Live' when she took the stage dressed as her replacement on 'American Idol.'

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Paula Abdul has issued her approval for her 'American Idol' replacement.

'I think Ellen will b a gr8 judge on Idol,' Paula Tweeted on Thursday.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Some fans might be divided on the addition of Ellen DeGeneres to the 'American Idol' judges' table - but Randy Jackson told Access Hollywood that the daytime talk show host is bringing the heat the FOX reality series.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Ellen DeGeneres is the new full-time judge on 'American Idol.'

The TV talk show host announced the news during a taping of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' on Wednesday that she is the new 'Idol' judge, filling a seat left vacant by Paula Abdul, who chose not to return to the show last month.

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Ellen DeGeneres returned to her hometown of New Orleans over the weekend to deliver a moving commencement speech to the 2009 graduates at Tulane University, aka the Katrina class.