By Jamie RubyAmerican Idol recently returned for its twelfth season with not only new contestants, but new judges as well. The new panel consists of veteran judge Randy Jackson, country singer Keith Urban, and recording artists Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj.
As this is the first year
Idol has a country music star as a judge, Urban, who recently talked to the media, brings a new flavor to the show. He helps balance the panel out as "the nice guy" as he doesn't think it's helpful to put down the contestants, especially if it's not constructive criticism. "I think every person handles critiquing differently. I'm trying to sort of get a feel for what I think the artist is comfortable hearing, what they're not going to be comfortable hearing. In most of the cases I'm just trying to think if it's something I can say that isn't—something that's just straight soul crushing and not helpful for them, I just don't see any worth in it.
"I'm trying to give specific direction, if it's something they can work on. And again, it's just my opinion. It's not to say it's a fact. They can take it. They can leave it. But I try to deliver it in a way in which I'd like people to deliver it to me."