Judges Already Feuding At New ‘American Idol’

Reality TV reboot "American Idol" hasn’t even hit the airwaves yet — and its panel of judges is  already becoming a backstage bicker-fest!

ABC is resurrecting the former FOX singing contest with a new panel, featuring recording stars Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, who are currently working their way through the hopefuls’ auditions ahead of the show’s March 11 debut. But the process hasn’t been smooth.

“The 'Idol' experience is something these entertainers have never dealt with before,” says one critic. “Imagine three big-name stars, each used to getting his or her own way, having to compromise as they decide which contestants to keep and which to toss. It could get ugly.”

“The process itself is a setup for some epic battles!” claims another media mole. Recent Kennedy Center Honoree Richie himself admits the judges are not always in agreement and will stand their ground if there’s a performer they prefer.

But the bossy "Dancing on the Ceiling" singer, fresh off his feud-filled concert tour with troubled diva Mariah Carey, says if his fellow stars don’t share his opinion, “I’ll just lean on them.”