American Idol is about to go country. And rap.

Fox has finally confirmed the panelists for Season 12 of its most successful franchise, announcing in a press release this morning that Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj will join Mariah Carey and (yes, again) Randy Jackson as new judges.

Said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment for Fox:

“Nicki’s an unbelievably captivating international phenomenon who has made an indelible mark on rap and pop. And Keith is another great addition to Idol – he’s one of the biggest stars in country music and I know that our fans and contestants will fall in love with him.

"With an unparalleled star like Mariah, fan-favorite Randy, chart-toppers like Nicki and Keith and our incomparable host Ryan [Seacrest], we’ve put together one of the most exciting judging panels around."

American Idol returns in January. Are you excited for this quartet?

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.