Jennifer Lopez torn on ‘Idol’ return: ‘Maybe it’s time for me to go’

Jennifer Lopez is finally opening up about her future on “American Idol” -- the multitasking diva seems pretty unsure about returning to the aging Fox competition for a third year.

Lopez was on “Today” on Thursday morning to promote her new film, “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” when anchor Natalie Morales quizzed the 42-year-old about her return.

“Everybody wants that definite yes or no … there are so many other things that I do, that I put on hold for that,” Lopez said, visibly torn over the decision.

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“But I am thinking that maybe it’s time for me to go and do other things that I really love to do. Like films, and right now I’m on tour and performing -- all the things that I do.”

Speculation has run rampant over the last few weeks since Lopez has yet to officially announce whether she will return to the show. “Idol” alum and fan favorite Adam Lambert,Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Fergie, will.i.am and Katy Perry have been said to be in the running.

Lambert called his involvement “a beautiful rumor,” and Perry said, “It’s not right for me yet.”

Auditions for Season 12, which is set to launch in January, are already underway (producers do a round of auditions without the judges in attendance).

It should be noted that this uncertainty is part of the show’s hype between seasons. Fox made it an event when the network announced that Lopez and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler would join the show in the wake of Simon Cowell’s departure -- despite rumors swirling for weeks. Lopez also waited until the eleventh hour to confirm that she would return for a second season.

In Thursday’s interview, she said, “I signed onto ‘American Idol’ to do one year … and I wound up doing the two years. And now it’s like, ‘OK, do we continue on this journey?’ ”

“Idol,” which reportedly pays Lopez a cool $12 million, helped springboard a comeback for the diva after her stock had plummeted following a rocky couple of years.

She smartly timed her 2011 comeback effort, “Love?,” with her stint on the show. The disc’s lead single, “On the Floor,” entered the charts at No. 9, her highest debut ever, and the album bowed at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 charts.

The rejuvenated attention to Lopez allowed her to enjoy a virtually inescapable profile.

She scored endorsement deals with Fiat, Venus razors, L’Oréal EverSleek, Harman Kardon’s home theater systems; launched her own Kohl’s clothing line; and proved she worked well with estranged husband, Marc Anthony, on “Q’Viva!,” a Latin music talent search that aired on Univision and Fox (reportedly a deal sweetener to lure her to the network).

Lopez is currently busy prepping her first greatest hits package to coincide with her first headlining world tour (along with Enrique Iglesias), which will play several dates at the Honda Center and Staples Center in August.

“This has been a great journey, but at the same time … I really love the show. All I can do is tell you what I’m thinking,” she said.

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