Katy Perry is getting a staggering $25 MILLION to judge "American Idol"!
Multiple sources tell us ABC was desperate to sign a name before the Upfronts last week, when honchos announced she was the lead judge. As one source put it, "Katy had all the leverage. If ABC ended up announcing the show without a judge, they'd be screwed."
ABC tried to get Kelly Clarkson but at the last minute she jumped ship and went to NBC's "The Voice."
TMZ reports that ABC is "on the verge" of signing the deal with Ryan Seacrest to host the show.