Comedian/talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will fill the American Idol judge seat left open by Paula Abdul, Usmagazine.com reported on Wednesday night. DeGeneres said of becoming the show’s fourth permanent judge, “I’ve watched since the beginning, and I’ve always been a huge fan. So getting this job is a dream come true, and think of all the money I’ll save from not having to text in my vote.” She will continue her daytime talk show along with her nightly Idol judging duties, which will make her almost as busy as the show’s emcee, Ryan Seacrest. [PopEater.com]

If sales of The Blueprint 3 live up to expectations, Jay Z will earn his 11th number one album on the Billboard Top 200. Estimates of the album’s sales range from 350,000 to 500,000 copies sold since Sept. 8; the album’s digital version will be released on Friday via Rhapsody, and will then make its way to all other digital providers. [Billboard.com]

The Raconteurs have been nominated for a Country Music Award. Their song with Ricky Skaggs, “Old Enough” from Consolers of the Lonely, is nominated in the Musical Event category. Jack White, Skaggs and company are competing with collaborations by Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis; Lee Ann Womack and George Strait; Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally; and Brooks & Dunn and Reba McEntire. The Country Music Awards ceremony airs on November 11. [RollingStone.com]

Sonic Youth have canceled several dates on their upcoming tour of the Southwest because guitarist Lee Ranaldo suffered a wrist injury while playing tennis. The postponed gigs include the band’s California and Arizona stops as well as their scheduled Austin City Limits appearance. Sonic Youth plans to make up the missed shows in January. [Pitchfork.com]

A trailer for the Michael Jackson documentary This is It, which will hit theaters in October, will premiere during Sunday night’s broadcast of the MTV Music Video Awards. The documentary covers the last three months of Jackson’s life as he planned and rehearsed a series of 50 sold-out comeback concerts at London’s O2 arena. [VH1.com]

The Arctic Monkeys will appear in Le Donk and Scor-zay-zee, a mockumentary about a white rapper trying to get a gig opening for the band. The film will be released in the U.K. in October. [NME.com]

Music journalist Everett True recaps his war of words with Courtney Love over the use of Kurt Cobain’s image in the upcoming Guitar Hero 5. Love is planning to sue Activision over the usage, which she describes as a “travesty.” [Guardian.co.uk]