No episodes have aired and the season hasn’t started, but industry gossip has it that a female will wear the crown at the end of American Idol 9 (which begins broadcasting in January).

According to Vote for the Worst, the gossip mill is saying that producers are willing to do whatever it takes - and votes be damned - to reach this desired end. Since the last two seasons have featured male winners, it’s assumed a female will re-balance the winning scales for the reality show. Allegedly, good-looking female plants are being shuffled into the audition mix even now.

(Make sure to check out our other American Idol 9 posts.)