Nicki Minaj: 'My human side comes out during Idol's Hollywood Week'
The rapper explained that at first, she didn't have a problem saying no during auditions. However, as the competition reached the crucial Hollywood Week stage, she said she became more considerate of other people's feelings.
Minaj told E! Online: "The human side of you comes out eventually, when you're looking at people that are this close to fulfilling their dream and in their head they have already seen it come to fruition, so saying no, it's like a dagger."
Mariah Carey said that each judge had contestants they were more fond of, which sometimes led to conflict on the panel.
She revealed: "We have to go against each other sometimes to say, 'But wait, this person has something amazing! Maybe you're not seeing it. It's a little bit beyond your comprehension at this moment, but there's something great about this person'."
Minaj pointed out that the four judges do agree on a lot of the talent most of the time, saying: "We're also unanimous about a lot of great people that are here!
"We're excited about ! the people that are here right now. We all feel that they're above average in talent and personality."
The last five winners of the show have all been male, but Randy Jackson believes this season may be different.
"To me the girls are the strongest [category] though," Jackson said.
American Idol's twelfth season premieres on Wednesday, January 16 at 8/7c on Fox in the US and on Thursday, January 17 at 8pm on 5* in the UK.