FOX

Viewers who tuned into the Season 12 premiere of "American Idol" Wednesday night hoping to see fireworks between new judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey were not disappointed; they definitely delivered the drama.

Carey and Minaj started the night off with a little tiff over the rapper's feathered hat sitting on the judges' table.

It got worse when one of the contestants told Carey that "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is the best modern-day Christmas song. As Carey noted that the song went back to No. 1 last year, Minaj started calling Carey a "b**** to the camera.

Carey shot back, "If she's calling me something that begins with a b, I rebuke it."

More spats between Carey and Minaj were featured on the 'Idol' season premiere, but there were actual auditions happening in between the fighting.

Fellow newbie Keith Urban and veteran judge Randy Jackson sat in between the dueling divas as the panel listened to Idol hopefuls in New York City. In the end, 41 contestants were sent on to Hollywood.

Carey watched the premiere in her pajamas, while snuggled in bed with twin Monroe. She tweeted throughout the show and shared a photo of her and Monroe snuggling together.

@MariahCarey/Instagram

In the weeks leading up to the season premiere, reports surfaced about fights between Carey and Minaj.

In October, TMZ released a video of a heated argument between the two divas during an audition in North Carolina. After the cameras were off, Carey claims others heard Minaj take it even further and say, "If I had a gun, I would shoot that bitch," as Barbara Walters reported on "The View."

In January, Carey told Walters, "It felt like an unsafe work environment. Anytime anybody's reeling threats at somebody, you know, it's not appropriate. I'm a professional. I'm not used to that type of environment."

As a result, Carey said she hired more security. Minaj has denied saying anything about a gun, calling the statement a "fabrication." When ABC News asked her for comment for this story, her representative said "she's said what she's saying on this topic."

"For all the drama, I hope it helps the show," Carey said. "I think it's a classic, classy show and it didn't need this."

Perhaps, but the ratings were down from last season's debut. "Idol" drew 17.8 million viewers, down from 21.9 million last year.