Donald Trump chose country crooner John Rich over actress Marlee Matlin to be this year’s Celebrity Apprentice champion on Sunday's live finale of the NBC hit.

"You've both been amazing," Trump said before making his final ruling. "Marlee, the job you've done is absolutely incredible. John from the beginning you've been a leader and you've been smart. I can't ask for anything more.

"I've never had to go through something like this, where the contestants are so, so, so outstanding -- you've both been amazing.”

Celebrity Apprentice will live on without Donald Trump if the New York real estate developer and reality TV star decides to run for president.

That's the decision NBC entertainment chairman Rob Greenblatt announced on Sunday.

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Trump will have to step away from the show -- which is set to return midseason -- if he seeks office because of FCC equal time requirements.

"It's such a strong franchise," Greenblatt explained. "Not to minimize his [Trump's] presence in it, because we love him.

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"But I really do think it's all about the casting of that show and the challenges and if he's not available to us, we're going to have someone really interesting sitting at the head of that boardroom."

It's getting down to the wire on the current season on Celebrity Apprentice. Lil Jon, Marlee Matlin, Meatloaf and John Rich are the contestants still standing, but two of them will be eliminated tonight when the show airs on NBC.

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Forget We Are The World, check out the brand new Celebrity Apprentice song! 

The newest celebrity ensemble tune premiered on On Air with Ryan Seacrest on Friday, showcasing four of the musically talented stars from this season's edition of Donald Trump's celeb fest: Mark McGrath, Lil’ Jon, Meatloaf and John Rich.

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Like a bat out of hell, Meat Loaf planted a big smacker on Dee Snider -- and RadarOnline.com has the exclusive photo to prove it!

In true rock n' roll style, the impromptu kiss took place at a Celebrity Apprentice premiere party at John Rich's private estate in Nashville, Tennessee (dubbed "Mount Richmore") last Sunday after a legendary all-star jam session.

Country star Rich, who stars alongside '80s rock icon Meat Loaf this season, joined fellow co-star and Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath, Celebrity Apprentice alum Scott Hamilton, and singer Gretchen Wilson to toast the new season of the popular reality show.

The lineup for the 11th season of NBC's Celebrity Apprentice was announced on Jimmy Fallon Thursday, and RadarOnline.com has all the scoop on the cast, which will include former hitmakers, reality TV regulars, some pretty faces and even a few nuts.

PHOTOS: New Cast Of Celebrity Apprentice

The 16 celebs on this year's edition will be: Partridge Family staple David Cassidy; the always controversial LaToya Jackson; singer-turned-psychic friend Dionne Warwick; Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes; rocker Meatloaf; steroid whistle-blower Jose Canseco; the first Survivor winner Richard Hatch; unpredictable actor Gary Busey; rapper Lil' Jon; singer John Rich; Sugar Ray front man Mark McGrath; Playboy Playmate Hope Dworaczyk; Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin; actress Lisa Rinna; model Niki Taylor; and a former member of The View, Star Jones.

The stars of Celebrity Apprentice 4 are hard at work trying to impress Donald Trump and RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes is already causing havoc with her fellow cast mates.

“NeNe is causing trouble on the show,” a source told RadarOnline.com.  “She showed up late to filming and that didn’t win her any friends.”

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According to a source, when the cast list was first leaked and NeNe was mentioned, she started making phone calls and telling people that she was one of the celebrities on the show.

The person who NeNe has been fighting with?  Star Jones, formerly from The View.

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