Former American Idol judge Paula Abdul is set to take the seat of Mary Murphy on the hits dance competition "So You Think You Can Dance".

As reports of the star trading her microphone for dancing shoes swirl, Fox network boss Gary Newman has this to say to reporters who were in attendance at the 2015 Winter TCA Press Tour:

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"We're in conversations with Paula. We don't' have a deal closed so we have nothing to announce, but we hope to soon. We think Paula is great. America loves her and responds to her."

"Paula has an amazing personality from all those years on Idol and in particular, America always loved her," Newman adds. "She brings a[n] tremendous amount of credibility to the dance world and that's what you're looking for in a judge, to be credible and entertaining."

As for speculation regarding the cancellation of the SYTYCD judge?

"We love Mary. She was a huge part of that show," Newman said. "She was a great advocate for the show and advocate for the network. We wish Mary well and she really was a great partner over the years, but we just felt the show needed to be shaken up a bit. We worked with our producers and are trying to do that."

Murphy was on the show from 2007 to 2009 and then returned in 2011 and has been there since. According to a release, Murphy's contract option was not renewed.

Murphy, meanwhile, has released a statement explaining her departure from the show:

"I'm saddened of course to be released from my contract," Murphy states. "I'm very grateful and proud to have been part of such an extraordinary television show, So You Think You Can Dance, for 11 seasons. I'm sure there wasn't a person watching that didn't know I loved what I did!!"

TagsSo You Think You Can Dance, Mary Murphy, Paula Abdul, American Idol