Katy Perry is in line to fill the first judge's chair on the new "American Idol" and negotiations have already begun ... TMZ has learned.
Sources familiar with the talks tell us Katy is very interested, and is open to scheduling potential tour dates around the show's taping schedule. We're told ABC is fully on board as well and the only snag at this point is, of course, money.
As we first reported ... negotiations with Kelly Clarkson stalled due to her salary demands, and she decided to bail and coach on "The Voice" instead.
That left 'Idol' behind the 8 ball to land a big name ... and Katy fits that bill ... and then some.
We've reached out to Katy's camp ... so far no word back.





Cards Against Humanity, "the party game for horrible people," says another game is ripping off its raunchy cards for politically themed decks based on the 2016 election.


Comey's out as FBI director, the Trump and Colbert war is still blowing up ... and Kelly Clarkson jumped ship. So we gotta ask ...




We broke the story ... Treach dropped a 



8:15 AM PT -- Carolina just issued a statement, saying ... "The family and I appreciate your kindness. Our only hope is that the tragic assassination of our young nephew, Reinaldo and his colleague, Fabrizio will serve to mitigate the terrible carnage and murders that are committed against our youth in Venezuela. The Electoral Results must be respected. The Communist Dictatorship must go."
The nephew of international fashion designer Carolina Herrera -- who's famously dressed First Ladies for decades -- was found dead in a truck in Venezeula after a violent kidnapping gone wrong.

