"Let's have bands, let's have songwriters, let's change the format a little," he tells MTV News of what he would have shaken up as a judge.

Now that "American Idol" has kicked off its 10th season with a bright, shiny new group of judges, it's almost hard to remember that chaotic time over the summer when the fate of the panel was in limbo — back when Jessica Simpson, Justin Timberlake and Elton John were all rumored to be in consideration.

When MTV News caught up with Sir Elton recently as he promoted the upcoming animated film "Gnomeo & Juliet," for which Elton composed original songs, they asked if he'll be making any appearances on "Idol" this season.

"I don't know if you'll see me on this season," he said. "But you won't see me judging, obviously! But I don't know if I'm going to be on it. They've always been very, very generous to the AIDS Foundation," Elton said of the "Idol Gives Back" charity show. "I'm very, very grateful. They've been helpful to us. I don't know if I'm going to be on or not. I can't answer that question."

With regard to fellow Brit and former "Idol" judge Simon Cowell's "X Factor," however, Elton brightened a bit when we asked what he thinks of it and how well it will do in the U.S. "X Factor is going to be a huge show," Elton said. "It's going to be huge, because you can have bands on there, and that's one thing I wanted to change, if I had been on American Idol," he revealed. "Get away from the solo stuff. Let's have bands, let's have writers, let's have songwriters, let's change the format a little, and that's why X Factor is going to do so well, because it's a different lineup. You can have bands and groups. That's more interesting I think."

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