Jennifer Lopez has quit American Idol.

The 42-year-old singer has confirmed her time as a judge on the talent show is over after two seasons to concentrate on other projects, but she insists she would've liked to have continued on the show for the rest of her life if it didn't mean giving up other things. In an emotional chat with American Idol host Ryan Seacrest on his On-Air radio show today, she said, "Something had to give, something has to give. I was really dreading this phone call with you. I honestly feel the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that you do, and you have to pay attention to that, too. I could keep doing Idol for the rest of my life, but that would be giving up a bunch of other things. I feel like we had an amazing run."

But Jennifer - who starred alongside fellow judges Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler, who yesterday confirmed he will be stepping down from the role after two series - hasn't ruled out returning to American Idol as a mentor next season: "No matter what you guys need over there, I'm always going to be here. I feel there's that tie there. I just can't be there every day like I was for the last two years. It's just one of those special things in your life you don't want to walk away from."