(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Jennifer Lopez feels attached to the hopefuls on American Idol, and finds sending some of them home hard.

The star was unveiled as the one of the new judges on the singing contest last year, alongside Steven Tyler. The pair joined Randy Jackson on the panel, and Jennifer still cant believe she is involved with such a successful programme.

She is also amazed at how much the series has changed her life, revealing she feels close to all the musicians who have made it through parts of the audition process this year.

I get very involved and attached to the kids, in the sense of their trajectory and watching them, she explained earlier this week, shortly before half the contestants were told they hadnt make in to the next stage.

I feel really anxious about cutting half the kids today, I really do. I'm really not looking forward to it. You want to pick the right ones and you want to see who's really going to make a great show, and at the same time, be great artists. But I feel like we have so many good ones that we're going to lose some good ones today. And that's what bothers me."

Jennifer and Steven joined American Idol following the departures of Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi. Fans are keen to see what kind of judging style the newcomers have, with some wondering whether they will be as mean as the famously scathing Simon.

Jennifer insists she is never rude just for the sake of it, and thinks she brings a new dynamic to the programme.

I can't really say I would be like any one judge, she explained. I think that I have a combination of qualities that make me who I am and gives me a specific style of how I deal with the kids and how I dish out the truth and also dish out the comfort. That's just part of who I am. (C) Cover Media