Jennifer Lopez Vetoes Own Music On 'Idol'

The quickest way to Jennifer Lopez's heart is not through her music.

Hopeful singers trying to make an impression on the new American Idol judge have apparently bombarded her with renditions of her own hits. "It was cute, super entertaining and flattering, but no," she told People. The pop star and actress has found the auditions experience to be an enlightening one.

Lopez, 41, says she's seen 15 to 20 "real superstars who could be recording artists for sure." But as any fan of Idol knows, there tend to be more bad singers than good ones. And while these failures tend to skew hilarious, sometimes the results are tragic.

"I've cried," she said. "We get a lot of elation when we put them through and devastation, almost, when they're not. But it's been a ball." Despite the heartaches, Lopez feels good about the help she's giving the auditionees. "They know we're not out to cut them down or make a joke of them," she said. "We're trying to mentor them to the next step." –AMY LEE