Mariah Carey warned Lionel Richie not to join the re-boot of American Idol.
Mariah judged for season 12. Nicki Minaj made it – by Mariah's account -- “the worst experience of my life.” They feuded because Nicki never respected Mariah’s opinions. Nicki has a way with words that Mariah never possessed. You got the sense Nicki dismissed Mariah because she's past her prime.
So when Entertainment Tonight asked Mariah advice to Lionel Richie, she responded “I would say, don't do it.”
Then she had second thoughts at her brutal honesty and added “No, I'm only kidding. If he wants to do it, that'll be great. I think he would be really good at it."