iVillage Woman of the Week!

Each week iVillage celebrates a woman who makes us proud. See who we're highlighting this week. (96 Photos)

Ali Gray on Jan 30, 2012 at 12:51PM

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FOX

Ellen DeGeneres

Woman of the Week: July 30, 2010

Each week we pick one woman who's done something to make us proud. This week, we commend Ellen DeGeneres on her eloquent, straightforward resignation from American Idol. Simon Cowell’s departure in May caused a big hoopla during the season finale; this week, DeGeneres quietly penned a classy letter to wish everyone on the show well. Ryan Seacrest tweeted in response, “I will miss her on 'Idol’...She's one of the kindest and most talented people in Hollywood!" The Emmy winner also showed candor about why the judging gig wasn’t a good fit: hurting contestants’ feelings isn’t in her nature. Indeed, she sets the compassion bar high for whomever Fox taps as a replacement: J.Lo, we’re lookin’ at you!