Judge This

In her first interview since news broke Wednesday night that she was joining the judges panel on "American Idol," Ellen DeGeneres said she hopes to bring the viewer perspective to the foursome.

"I'm just a fan like everyone else," she told Ryan Seacrest this morning. "The people choose. Ultimately, it comes down to them, not some executive in the music industry. I hope to be that voice."

DeGeneres said she was shocked and saddened to hear about Paula Abdul's departure from the show last month, and that she'll try to bring the former judge's positive spirit to the panel. "I'm really honest, but I think you can be honest in a kind way. That's one thing Paula did bring to the show, that empathy and compassion, so I hope to do that," she said.

Asked how she'll contend with Simon Cowell and his acerbic remarks, DeGeneres said she's not afraid to call him out. "I'll tell him the same thing I'll tell him when he's on my show, that he's mean," she said.

DeGeneres was not expecting to take over for Abdul until recently, and said she was "surprised" when she was approached about the job. "I didn't think for a second that it could be me," she said. "I had no idea this was even a possibility. When they came to me, I was like, 'I love that show! I would give anything to do it.'

"I love music, period. Always have. And I'm a huge fan of the show. I haven't missed an episode since Season 1," she said.