--- title: Mariah Carey on a Return to 'American Idol': 'Hell No' description: The former judge has some strong words about the talent show canonical: https://time.com/3901374/mariah-carey-american-idol/ author: Esther Zuckerman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-05-29T15:32:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:47:30.490Z og:title: Mariah Carey On a Return to 'American Idol': "Hell No" og:description: "That was the worst experience of my life" og:url: https://time.com/3901374/mariah-carey-american-idol/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte1b5a7d70cdf9f43/698852303c163993ef4581e4/gettyimages-473945668.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: GettyImages-473945668 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Mariah Carey On a Return to 'American Idol': "Hell No" twitter:description: "That was the worst experience of my life" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte1b5a7d70cdf9f43/698852303c163993ef4581e4/gettyimages-473945668.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Mariah Carey Says She Will 'Absolutely Not' Return to _American Idol_ by [Esther Zuckerman](https://time.com/author/esther-zuckerman/) ## Esther Zuckerman Zuckerman is a contributor for TIME. May 29, 2015 3:32 PM UTC  GONZALO/Bauer-Griffin by [Esther Zuckerman](https://time.com/author/esther-zuckerman/) ## Esther Zuckerman Zuckerman is a contributor for TIME. May 29, 2015 3:32 PM UTC Would Mariah Carey come back to _American Idol_ in the show’s [final season](http://time.com/3853548/american-idol-canceled/)? “Hell no,” the singer said. “Hell no, absolutely not, that was the worst experience of my life,” the former _Idol_ judge said on an Australian radio show reports the [_The Wrap_](http://www.thewrap.com/mariah-carey-rips-american-idol-worst-experience-of-my-life-audio/). “I’m not going to get into what it was, but let’s just say I don’t think they had any intentions for us to have a good experience doing that show.” Carey’s time on the show was defined by the singer’s battles with fellow judge Nicki Minaj — let’s not forget the [great _Mean Girls_ war of 2013](http://www.eonline.com/news/397705/mariah-carey-and-nicki-minaj-s-american-idol-feud-5-best-moments). Talk of the animosity between the stars began even before the season aired. (To relive those not-so-halcyon days, take a look at MTV’s [timeline](http://www.mtv.com/news/1700186/nicki-minaj-mariah-carey-american-idol-beef/).) Back in 2013, Carey said her [time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SoGy1pTrrY) on the show was “like going to work in hell with Satan.” “Pitting two females against each other wasn’t cool,” she now has added. “It should have been about the contestants instead of some non-existent feud that turned into even more ridiculousness. I would never want to be involved with it again.” So any potential judges reunion will probably be missing at least one alum. ### See American Idol's Most Successful Alumni  Carrie Underwood, winner of American Idol season 4, performs at the 2014 American Country Countdown Awards at Music City Center in Nashville on Dec. 15, 2014. Jason Merritt—Getty Images  Kelly Clarkson, season 1 winner, performs "Heartbeat Song" onstage during the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on March 29, 2015. Kevin Mazur—Getty Images  Chris Daughtry, who came in 4th on season 5, performs at Pompano Beach Amphitheatre in Pompano Beach, Fla. on Nov. 12, 2014. Larry Marano—Getty Images  Clay Aiken, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in North Carolina's Second District, poses for a selfie with supporters after casting his vote in the midterm elections oat Mills Park Elementary School in Cary, N.C. on Nov. 4, 2014\. Aiken was runner up on the second season of American Idol. Grant Halverson—Getty Images  Fantasia, winner of season 3, performs at the 7th Annual Music Festival at Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, N.J. on May 9, 2015. Donald Kravitz—Getty Images  Ruben Studdard, season 2 winner, performs at When Georgia Smiled: The Robin McGraw Revelation Foundation And Verizon Unite For Second Annual Domestic Violence Summit at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Calif. on Oct. 3, 2014. Mathew Imaging—WireImage/Getty Images  Scotty McCreery performs during "FOX & Friends" holiday special at FOX Studios in New York City on Dec. 4, 2014\. McCreery won season 10 of American Idol. Slaven Vlasic—Getty Images  Kellie Pickler, who came in 6th on season 5, performs at 2014 USO Gala: Honoring Those Who Serve at the Washington Hilton in Washington on Oct. 17, 2014. Paul Morigi—Getty Images  David Cook, season 7 winner, performs at the Soles4Souls charity concert, sponsored by Barefoot Wine & Bubbly at the Bridge Building in Nashville on April 1, 2014. Jason Davis—Getty Images  Jennifer Hudson, who came in 7th place on season 3, performs at We Day at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. on April 30, 2015. Timothy Hiatt—Getty Images  Jordin Sparks, winner of season 6 of American Idol, performs at Jeffrey Sanker's White Party in Palm Springs, Calif. on April 25, 2015. Chelsea Lauren—WireImage/Getty Images  Phillip Phillips, season 11 winner, performs at Hard Rock Live! in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. on Nov. 15, 2014. Larry Marano—Getty Images  David Archuleta, season 7 runner-up, performs at the KIIS FM's 10th Annual "American Idol" Finale Viewing Party at Regal 14 at LA Live Downtown in Los Angeles on May 25, 2011. Jonathan Leibson—FilmMagic/Getty Images  Adam Lambert, season 8 runner-up, is seen onstage at 102.7 KIIS FM's Wango Tango at StubHub Center in Los Angeles on May 9, 2015. Chelsea Lauren—WireImage/Getty Images  Josh Gracin, who came in 4th place in season 2, performs during the 2012 Downtown Hoedown at Comerica Park in Detroit on June 8, 2012. Paul Warner—Getty Images  Taylor Hicks, winner of season 5, performs at Tony La Russa's 3rd annual Leaders & Legends Gala at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas on Nov. 22, 2014. David Becker—Getty Images  Bo Bice, season 4 runner-up, performs in concert following the 2012 Colt Ford & Friends Celebrity Golf Classic at Legends Golf Course Club in Braselton, Ga. on Sept. 24, 2012. Chris McKay—Getty Images  Elliott Yamin, who came in 3rd in season 5, performs at the Malaria No More Reception With American Idols To Celebrate Recent Progress In The Fight Against Malaria in Washington on March 7, 2012. Paul Morigi—Getty Images  Katharine McPhee, season 5 runner-up, walks out on the field to sing the national anthem before the 2015 NFC Championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Jan. 18, 2015. Ronald Martinez—Getty Images  Diana DeGarmo, season 3 runner-up, arrives at the "American Idol" XIII season premiere event held at Royce Hall, UCLA in Westwood, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2014. Michael Tran—FilmMagic  Kris Allen, winner of season 8, performs at the Soles4Souls charity concert, sponsored by Barefoot Wine & Bubbly at the Bridge Building in Nashville on April 1, 2014. 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