Is one of America’s sweethearts ready to go tit-for-tat with one of America’s smartest asses? (Ok, so Simon Cowell is British).

Fans of veteran stand-up comedian Ellen DeGeneres will find out this season, when the comedian will join American Idol as the  fourth judge. DeGeneres will be replacing Paula Abdul, who left the show last month after seven seasons.

“As the new judge, Ellen will offer her own unique perspective to the contestants throughout the competition,” Fox said in a statement.

And Ellen, a longtime fan of the show is obviously ecstatic. “Getting this job is a dream come true, and think of all the money I’ll save from not having to text my vote,” she said.

With an average of 26.3 million viewers per episode, American Idol is the most watched television show in the country. DeGeneres will join the show for its ninth season when it premiers in January.