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Paula Abdul won’t return to “American Idol,” but producers are having no trouble finding guest judges to fill in for her. 

Producers announced R&B singer Mary J. Blige will serve as a guest judge on the show.  Blige will judge the Atlanta auditions. 

Blige has sold more than 48 million albums worldwide, and she is commonly known as the queen of hip hop. 

Another guest judge Victoria Beckham (aka Posh Spice) taped an appearance on the show this week during the Boston auditions. 

The episodes will begin airing in January.

Tim Henley