Aretha Franklin wants to judge American Idol

Aretha Franklin wants to be a judge on 'American Idol'.

The 70-year-old singing legend is ''interested'' in one of the vacant seats on the panel after Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler confirmed they would not be returning for another series of the talent contest.

Asked what she still wants to achieve, Aretha told the Las Vegas Sun newspaper: ''I still haven't been on 'American Idol' or 'The Voice'. I'd love to be a mentor.

''It seems that each time I come to the West Coast, they're just going on vacation, so we can never get to do anything together. I come West at a certain time of year, and when I like to come is when they're going. That's happened at least two or three times now.''

She later confirmed in an email to CNN: ''Yes I am interested as a judge!''

She told CNN that she would want her friend Patti LaBelle, 68, to assist her on the programme, and says she has been a fan of the show since it began.

A friend of Aretha confirmed she is very interested in the role, but her fear of flying may cause problems during the audition stages of the contest.

The source told the New York Daily News newspaper: ''She would love that gig. It pays millions of dollars and she could stay in one place for a few months to do it. (But) she still doesn't fly.''

Aretha is a big fan of reality TV but insists she wouldn't want to appear on 'Dancing With the Stars'.

She said: ''I watched Gladys Knight on 'Dancing With the Stars'. I can dance, I can definitely dance, but I don't think I'd really care to take that one on. But yes on 'American Idol'.''

Meanwhile it's reported that 'American Idol' can't ''afford'' Mariah Carey as a judge.

The 'We Belong Together' singer has been linked with a role on the show, but her husband Nick Cannon thinks she would cost show chiefs much more than the salaries paid to the departing panelists.

Nick told website TMZ: ''I don't know if they can afford Mariah Carey. That's a lot of money. If they gave J-Lo $20 million, they might have to double that!''

Despite Nick's claims, Jennifer was rumoured to have been paid $15 million to appear on the show.

Jennifer, 42, left 'American Idol' after two seasons in order to concentrate on other projects.

Speaking about leaving the show, 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.''

Meanwhile, Mariah - who has 14-month-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with Nick - has been in the studio recording a new album with producer Rodney Jerkins.

She tweeted last week: ''In the studio with RJ-yeaah, having a nice time!(sic)''