Randy Jackson is leaving “American Idol” — this time for good.
The original “Idol” judge, who served as a mentor last season, is departing the Fox singing competition show after 13 seasons.
“Randy has been such an integral part of ‘American Idol’ since day one, both as a judge and as a mentor. He’s provided great advice and support, shaping the success of so many Idols we have discovered over the years,” said Fox and “Idol” producers FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment in a statement.
“We wish him all the best in his next chapter. Randy will always be part of our ‘Idol’ family and we hope he’ll visit from time to time.”
Jackson previously announced plans to leave the show after Season 12, only to come back a few months later to replace Jimmy Iovine as mentor to the contestants.
He was one of the original judges, alongside Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, when “Idol” premiered in 2002.
Judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. and host Ryan Seacrest are all returning for Season 14.
“Idol,” once the biggest show on TV, has struggled to retain viewers in the past several seasons.