Gearing up for "American Idol's" 12th season premiere on January 16, Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, and Ryan Seacrest graced the latest cover of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

Each of the cast members chatted to the mag about their roles on the hit Fox singing competition and what to expect in the brand new season.

A few highlights from the judge's interview are as follows. For more, be sure to pay a visit to The Hollywood Reporter!

Randy Jackson
On "American Idol":
"I believe in the process. I think there's at least three or four of these kids that have huge careers ahead of them who will go on until they decide to stop. I think we're the only show of its kind that can say that."

Keith Urban
On his hopes for the show:
"I like helping artists get rid of the cheesy crap around them that they haven't yet figured out they don't need. I wish I had more of that. I had to learn a lot of it myself."

Mariah Carey
On taking position as judge:
"I was on the fence about the whole thing. I got approached by all the shows. He [her husband, Nick Canon] said I should do it because it's the top, it's the cream of the crop. And I felt like, 'Do the show that's produced massive stars who have had major careers.' I know everyone's like, 'We can't have schmaltzy answers,' Well guess what? Some people still want to be inspired. Some people need to have that kind of validation and to feel like, if this person did it, then I can. And I do have one of those stories."

Nicki Minaj
On her being on the show:
"[There's] a judgmental culture in hip-hop. Sometimes you are afraid of being too famous because it's almost, like, is that even cool? Being that accessible, someone you see on TV every week? I never pictured myself as that type of person. I'm still surprised that I decided to do it."