Ellen DeGeneres Defends Judging Qualifications: I’ve Spent My Whole Life Being Judged

After she made headlines for replacing Paula Abdul on the judges' panel of next season's "American Idol," Ellen DeGeneres is taking on critics who have questioned how qualified she is to judge the hit singing competition.

On Tuesday's episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," the comedienne and talk show host said:

"Apparently, there's a lot of debate going on right now, whether I'm qualified or not to be the new judge on 'American Idol'... I'll tell you right now, how I know I'm going to be a great judge -- because I've spent my whole life being judged. So, I know what it's like. So, I will be kind. I will be compassionate. I will be empathetic, and I will be truthful. I will be an honest judge without being mean.”