American Idol may be first and foremost a singing competition, but as the ninth season is set to premiere Tuesday night on CTV, all the focus is on the judging panel.

Randy Jackson, who has been a judge on the popular reality show since the beginning, says the departure of Paula Abdul has been hard considering she’s been there from the beginning but he’s looking forward to what new judge Ellen DeGeneres will bring to the dynamic.

“The Paula thing is really near and dear to my heart, she’s one of my best friends … it’s going to take a little getting used to, we’re really sad about that, but welcoming Ellen to the fold is a good (thing),” said Jackson, during a recent conference call.

“She’s funny, she’s charismatic, she’s really cool, she’s my home girl from Louisiana … it’s going to be a very interesting, funny, different season of Idol.”

Not everyone is happy with the choice to replace Abdul with a comedian with no background in music, but Jackson stands by the decision and says she represents the people who watch the show at home.

“She’ll give the expertise from being a fellow entertainer (who is) hugely successful … (and) she will give the at-home viewer a real voice to be on the judges’ panel.”

American Idol's two-part season premiere will kick off Tuesday at 8 pm ET/7 C with auditions in Boston and will continue Wednesday night at 7:30 pm ET/7 C in Atlanta. The audition tour will stop in five more cities, including Chicago, Orlando, Dallas, Los Angeles and Denver, before the Hollywood Round begins on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The Top 24 semifinalists will be revealed Wednesday, Feb. 17.

DeGeneres doesn’t officially make her debut until Hollywood, but joining Jackson and returning judges Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi on the audition tour are guest judges Avril Lavigne,  Shania Twain, Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris, Joe Jonas and Katy Perry.

“I think Shania … Katy Perry and Avril Lavigne brought something really different and unique and I think surprisingly for some people, they’ll be surprised at what Joe Jonas’ input was and also, Neil Patrick Harris and Kristin Chenoweth so they all gave a different perspective,” says Jackson.

“What people don’t expect is for these artists who have these huge pop careers to really, really know what they’re doing and what they’re talking about.”

Rumours have also been circulating about Cowell, after his brother Tony announced in a recent podcast that the ninth season of American Idol would be Simon’s last. Neither Simon nor FOX has confirmed the rumour and Jackson is also keeping mum on the subject.

“I really don’t know. Until I really hear it from him I’m not going to believe any rumours or anything … I think people kind of get a little sidetracked with that … not to belittle what we do because I think the show is completely about the four of us judges and Ryan (Seacrest) and also the contestants, but let’s also focus on what we’re judging and what the actual more meat of the show really is. It’s about finding that next superstar talent.”

So just what do the competitors have to offer this season? According to Jackson, there are a lot of singers that are the real deal.

“This year you would’ve thought there would’ve been a lot more theatrical, a lot more Adam Lambert or Kris Allen types … but that’s not what happened at all this time,” says Jackson.

“I think we’ve got a very interesting cast that’s really only unique to Season 9.”