Mariah Carey revealed that she hired more security following her behind-the-judges' bench spat with Nicki Minaj last October.
"I just felt it was the appropriate thing to do," Mariah told Barbara Walters, in a new interview for "Nightline," airing tonight on ABC. "Sitting there on the road with two babies, I'm not going to take any chances."
PLAY IT NOW: Nicki Minaj ‘Completely Invested’ In American Idol
The superstar singer, known for her slew of big hits, including, "Vision of Love," "Hero," and "All I Want for Christmas Is You," said Nicki's angry rant caught her off guard.
"It felt like an unsafe work environment," she told Barbara. "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."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: American Idol Team Over The Years: Then & Now
Mariah hopes the incident turns into a positive for the FOX reality program.
"For all the drama, I hope it helps the show," Mariah said. "I think it's a classic, classy show and it didn't need this."
The superstar entertainer wouldn't confirm how much she is receiving to appear as a judge, but she did reveal her reason for signing up.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Mariah Carey: From ‘Someday’ To Mom & ‘Idol’ Judge
"For me, ultimately, this is about the kids, the contestants," she said. "I've been blessed to live my dream more than half my life, so I want help give that back to someone else."
Copyright 2013 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.