'Idol' divas Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj play nice

'Idol' divas Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj play nice

Michael Becker/AP

Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj are the new panelists as "American Idol" is set to kick off its 12th season on Jan. 16. Minaj screamed at Carey during an October audition session, but the two say the altercation is behind them.

PASADENA â€" Pestered by a room full of television writers Tuesday about her reported distaste for fellow “American Idol” judge Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey finally dismissed the reports as “a distraction.”

Minaj said it was no big thing: “Haven’t you ever had an argument with someone you worked with?”

Minaj also joked that it was resolved when “I brought in my sex tape and we watched it together.”

Speaking on a panel to promote the 12th season of “Idol,” which kicks off Jan. 16 and 17, Carey and Minaj were asked to say something nice about each other.

They responded by each listing things they admire about the other, without going as far as “like.”

“Look, we want passion in our judges,” said executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. “It’s always been part of the show. We have passionate people and they disagree. It’s not just between the women.”

Sara Jaye Weiss for New York Daily News

Nicki Minaj jokingly said she and Mariah Carey made up while watching Minaj's sex tape.

Elsewhere in “Idol” world, Fox President of Alternative Programming Mike Darnell said this year’s almost all-new judges panel with Carey, Minaj and Keith Urban has “reinvigorated” the show.

Sara Jaye Weiss for New York Daily News

"Idol" panelist Mariah Carey dismissed reports of her animosity toward Minaj as a distraction.

That was as close as anyone came to acknowledging last year’s 20% drop in “Idol” ratings.

“There are too many of these shows on the air now, probably,” said Darnell, “and they all take each other down a little. But this is the only show that makes stars.”

Lythgoe said the addition of Urban reinforces the show’s country roots. “We’ve always embraced country music,” he said. “Even if (former “Idol” judge) Simon (Cowell) didn’t like or understand it.”

Where “Idol’” won’t go, said Minaj, is toward more rap and hip-hop.

“I love it,” she said. “It just doesn’t belong on ‘American Idol.’ This is a singing competition.”