Another contender for Simon Cowell’s spot on American Idol is singer Justin Timberlake.  The entertainer is on the short list with Elton John, Chris Isaak and Harry Connick Jr.

Cowell left AI in May to work exclusively on his latest project, the American version of The X Factor, set to air in September 2011.

The latest rumors suggest that Simon Fuller and FOX network big shots are thinking about shaking up the entire panel — dumping Kara DioGuardi and renegotiating the contracts of Ellen DeGeneres and Randy Jackson.

We’re all for it.   With Simon gone, the show dynamics will be totally different.  Expect the big announcement in early September.

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Filed under: American Idol, Celebrities, Justin Timberlake, Simon Cowell