Breaking news reports this evening suggest that Britney Spears has signed on with The X Factor USA as a judge. There’s been speculation about Spears joining the judging panel ever since Simon Cowell scattered the stars of Season 1 to the wind a few months ago.

It’s become an accepted part of Cowell’s reality shows for there to be changes in judging panels – whether it be on his Got Talent shows, and even the UK version of the show has seen significant churn in the last few years. Incidentally, it’s been rumoured that Katy Perry will take over from Kelly Rowland as a judge on the UK version of the show.

Read more & comment »

We’re all still biting our nails, waiting to hear just who Simon Cowell picked to replace Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger on The X Factor. Sure, we all figure it will be Britney Spears since those rumors are still running strong, but there’s no certainty at this point.

While promoting her upcoming album, American Idol winner Carrie Underwood told Digital Spy that she thinks that Britney Spears could be a good judge on The X Factor. Read more & comment »

Nicki Minaj is one of the biggest popstars on the planet, but apparently she’s too big for The X Factor USA. Simon Cowell is on the hunt for two replacement judges for his baby, but it seems that he can’t quite get the equation right. Every day it appears that Britney Spears is one step closer to signing a contract for the fall season, but the only confirmation we have for judges is the return of Simon and L.A. Reid.

Minaj told ITV’s The Hot Desk that she was approached, but would give few details. “Yes, well I don’t think I can talk about that,” she told the hosts when directly asked if she was approached. “I think we both decided together that it wouldn’t work out. I think it was the best decision.” Read more & comment »

After a less-than-stellar start, Simon Cowell and his fellow producers immediately got to work on perfecting The X Factor. One major change was losing host Steve Jones and judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger. Since their departures rumors have been rapid as to who will replace the stars on the Fox singing competition.

All major news outlets are reporting that pop princess Britney Spears is just about ready to sign a $15 million contract to appear as one of the judges. If this is true, Spears is making $3 million more than American Idol’s Jennifer Lopez. Read more & comment »

Simon Cowell is keeping mum on who is going to replace judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul on The X Factor. However, one leading man stepped forward showing interest, even if the producers aren’t too keen on hiring him.

Just last week Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan told reporters at the South by Southwest festival panel that he love reality singing competitions. He even hinted that he’d like to take a seat behind the judges table.

Read more & comment »

Anyone else bored of waiting to hear who will host and judge The X Factor USA?

Once again Simon Cowell made headlines teasing who will replace Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul as judges on The X Factor. “You’ll have to wait and see,” he told The Daily Mail when asked about the rumors of Britney Spears joining the panel. “I can’t confirm or deny anything right now. The truth is, we are talking to a number of people.”

Dear Simon, if you’re going to tell us “X Factor news” please tell us something we don’t already know! News sources report that Britney Spears is close to agreeing to join the show once they pay up $20 million for the season. Simon will only confirm that he is looking at one “famous” singer as judge and one “famous” actor as host.

Read more & comment »

It’s official- Simon Cowell will add not one, but two hosts to the second season of The X Factor. Just yesterday producers suggested that he is considering the change because he wants to stand out against the competition. Today Simon addressed the issue to reporters at a press conference with co-judge L.A. Reid.

“What we’ve learned on the show is you have so much information you have to relay as one person that I think it’s almost impossible to have one person doing the hosting job,” he explained. “You have to give out so much information from phonelines to integration of the sponsors; they are like newscasters now, it’s a much bigger role.” Read more & comment »

Janet Jackson already started rumors that she would join The X Factor after an appearance on Anderson. It seems that Britney Spears is the latest popstar that’s rumored to join the singing competition as judge. Are the rumors true? Simon Cowell is staying mum on the subject.

Though he’s denied that Elton John, Mariah Carey and Beyonce are joining the show. He will not deny or confirm the Britney rumors. “Are we flattered that there could be interest? Yes,” Simon said during a press conference on Wednesday. “I’ve learned a big lesson: keep your mouth shut. Don’t give it all away.” Read more & comment »

Originally The X Factor was to have a male (Steve Jones) and female (Nicole Scherzinger) host. However, when crowds didn’t warm up to Cheryl Cole as judge, Nicole was bumped up to the fourth judges chair. Both Steve and Nicole got the axe after the first season “failed,” and the producers are looking to make big changes. One of these changes is returning to the original hosting format.

“Simon’s vision was always to have a man and a woman host this and to make it feel a bit like an award ceremony,” X Factor producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz told The Hollywood Reporter. “A glamorous girl and a good-looking guy doing a kind of double act.” Cecile also points out that two hosts was another way to stand out from American Idol. Read more & comment »

Simon Cowell confirmed last week he was considering adding Whitney Houston to the judges panel on The X Factor before her death. As auditions are just about to kick off, producers are scurrying to find the perfect replacement judges for Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul.

The music mogul already shot down the possibility of Beyonce, Mariah Carey or Elton John joining the show, but rumor has it Janet Jackson is next in line for the job. Rumors started when the popstar appeared on the chat show “Anderson” this week. He asked her if she had plans to join the show, but she avoided the question entirely saying it wasn’t something she shouldn’t talk about. Read more & comment »