Nicki Minaj Afraid ‘American Idol’ Will Make Her Too Famous

I suppose this is a good problem to have. Nicki Minaj fears ‘American Idol’ will take away her street credibility.

She tells THR, “I had a lot of talks with people — my family, my best friends, my label, Lil Wayne, management and then the producers,” she says. In the end, it was Darnell (one of the idol producers) who helped sway her. Adds the 30-year-old: “He was so lovable and made me feel so comfortable and confident. He kept saying, ‘I promise we’re going to protect you; you’re going to love it, we’re a big family.’ ”

On becoming more famous and her street cred she says, “[there is] a judgmental culture in hip-hop,” where “sometimes you are afraid of being too famous because it’s almost, like, is that even cool? Being that accessible, someone you see on TV every week? I never pictured myself as that type of person. I’m still surprised that I decided to do it.”

I guess she forgot singing “Starships” and songs like it already did that. Or dressing like a human Barbie” wearing red bottoms. Or the “surgeries”. But okay, whatever.

The new season of ‘American Idol’ begins January 16th, 2013.
(Photo: Caroline McCredie/Getty Image/Zimbio)