Ellen DeGeneres is leaving American Idol, Fox announced on Thursday.

"A couple months ago, I let Fox and the American Idol producers know that this didn't feel like the right fit for me," DeGeneres said in a statement. "I told them I wouldn't leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next."

DeGeneres joined the show in Season 9 — which was also judge Simon Cowell's last season — while continuing to host her syndicated talk show. "It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for," DeGeneres said in the statement.