Randy Jackson says Mariah Carey -- whose career he has managed since late last year -- would be an "amazing" addition to "The X Factor."
"She'd be amazing. I manage her, of course I'm gonna say that," the "American Idol" judge said in a conference call with reporters Thursday. "But she'd be amazing. I don't know if that's ever gonna happen or whatever, but I think there's quite a few people -- Simon [Cowell]'s one of the smartest people I know. I'm sure he's got some very interesting ideas up his sleeve."
Jackson's former fellow "Idol" judge, Paula Abdul, was cut from "X Factor" this week along with judge Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones. Cowell, who rounded out the original "Idol" panel with Jackson and Abdul, has long expressed an interest in bringing Carey into "X Factor," the show for which he left "Idol."
Jackson said he wouldn't stand in the way of Carey joining "X Factor" if she were interested.
"She's her own person," he said. "She can of course do whatever she wants and she always will do that."
Cowell has said previously that Carey's pregnancy made it impossible for her to take part in "X Factor." A planned appearance last season had to be called off because of Hurricane Irene.
Jackson said he has texted with Abdul but not spoken with her about her "X Factor" exit.
"It's sad to hear all that's going on with that show," he said, adding that "Idol" succeeded in part because of the chemistry between him, Abdul, Cowell and host Ryan Seacrest.
"We had a chemistry that we lucked out with," he said. "When you do these shows with any kind of judging panel, what you're really looking for is that chemistry."
He said he and Seacrest found good chemistry again with new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. Asked about lower ratings for "Idol" in the current season -- Tyler and Lopez's second -- he noted the show's age.
"'Idol''s in its eleventh season, it's still the number one show on television, not by the huge margins it was before," he said.
He also said the addition of "X Factor," "The Voice" and "America's Got Talent" -- which occasionally features vocalists -- had crowded the market for singing shows.
