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Ellen DeGeneres “Very, Very Sad” Simon Cowell Is Leaving Idol

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Ellen DeGeneres jokes that she's to blame for Simon Cowell quitting American Idol.

"He announced he's leaving on my first day!" the new judge says in an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show to air Tuesday. "I'm trying not to take it personally."

Related: Find out which Idols have had babies or gotten married

DeGeneres continues, "But seriously, I am going to be very, very sad to see him go, because I think he's made the show what it is. He's a huge part of that show but he wanted a change.

"I wish him all the luck in the world hosting The Tonight Show," she quips.

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Cowell announced Monday that the 9th season — which debuts Tuesday on Fox — would be his last. He plans to focus on bringing his UK hit The X Factor stateside.

Related: Relive Ellen DeGeneres' funniest on-air moments

"I felt like doing something different," Cowell explained at Fox's Winter Television Critics' Association press event in Pasadena, Calif. "I want to leave Idol this year bigger and better than it's been before."

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