Jennifer Lopez has announced that she will not return to her post as judge on American Idol.

The 42-year-old superstar spent two years on the judging panel of the talent show and has now decided to move on.

Jennifer is currently on tour with Enrique Iglesias and has an equally grueling schedule for shooting movies. She is also mother to four-year-old twins Max and Emme.

Jennifer has found it difficult to balance her multiple professional obligations with motherhood.

'You''re gonna make me cry. The time has come,' she said on a call to On Air With Ryan Seacrest radio show Friday morning.

'It gets more complicated as the kids get a little bigger. Something had to give. I really was dreading this phone call with you!'

This was not an easy decision to make for Jennifer.

'I really have been torn,' she shared.

'When I signed on to Idol [in 2010], I signed on to do one year. I wound up doing two years because I fell in love with the show. I didn''t know I would be so moved emotionally. it was just such a lovely surprise in my life to do it.'

Fellow judge Steven Tyler also resigned yesterday after being on the panel for two years.

It is rumoured that Randy Jackson is planning on leaving too, with Mariah Carey to be his possible replacement.