On Wednesday, comedienne Ellen DeGeneres was named the new fourth judge on American Idol, replacing Paula Abdul, who quit the most-watched show in America after a salary dispute last month.

“….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 in the statement.

Here’s a video of Ellen’s announcement, to air on Thursday’s episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The ninth season of the show returns to TV in January 2010.