Celebrity News

J.Lo deal sparks ‘Idol’ envy

Jennifer Lopez‘s huge new deal with “American Idol” has prompted her fellow judge, rocker Steven Tyler, to urge Fox to bump up his own payday.

While J.Lo negotiates the finishing touches of a deal, said to be worth up to $20 million, to return to “Idol” for another season, sources say leaks about the nature of the talks have made her fellow judges restless.

Aerosmith frontman Tyler is already tied into a two-year deal worth about $10 million a year, while Randy Jackson has said he’s committed to coming back to the show.

One source told Page Six, “J.Lo’s management is close to brokering her a huge deal to come back to the panel for at least one more season, and but the side effect is that it means her fellow judges also want more money.

PHOTOS: JENNIFER LOPEZ

“Steven is halfway through a two-year deal, and his management has asked for more money,” the source said. “They argue he was just as sensational and as popular on the panel as Jennifer. But, on the other side, show bosses argue he’s tied into a deal and has to stick to it. However, it’s hoped they can come to a compromise to keep Steven happy, because the producers love him.”

Another source told us that while the money deal with J.Lo has been agreed, the final negotiations center around scheduling her “Idol” appearances around her other TV and movie commitments.

J.Lo and Tyler joined the panel after star judge Simon Cowell left last year to start his own singing competition, “The X Factor,” which starts on Fox next month. “American Idol” is due to return for its 11th season in January.

A spokesman for J.Lo told us, “Talks are ongoing — she has nothing to announce as yet.” He declined to comment on Tyler and Jackson. A rep for Tyler also declined to comment, as did Fox. A rep for Jackson didn’t get back to us.