It's confirmed! Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio replace Britney Spears and L.A. Reid for new season of The X Factor
By Mike Larkin
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It was yet another of the worst kept secrets in show business.
And it has just been confirmed ex-Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland and Mexican popstrel Paulina Rubio are replacing L.A. Reid and Britney Spears on the next season of The X Factor USA.
The two singers entered final negotiations last week and have now officially signed up to star on the struggling reality show.
Simon's new puppets: Pop svengali Cowell has confirmed Kelly Rowland and Paulino Rubio will be on the panel for the next season of The X Factor USA
The show's puppet master Simon Cowell, who is desperate to change things up in an effort to attract more viewers, said: 'It’s taken more than a decade, but I’m delighted to finally be on a panel with three girls (I think!).
'Paulina and Kelly both have great taste and massive experience in the music industry and together with Demi, this is going to be a fun panel.
'It just feels like the time to do something different.'
Kelly, who was fired from the UK version of the show, is thrilled to be getting another chance on the US version.
She said: 'I am very excited to be reuniting with Simon Cowell and The X Factor family.
It feels great to be able to take this journey here at home in the states!
Second time lucky? Kelly will be hoping she fares better than during her much ridiculed stint on the UK show
Big draw? Show chiefs will be hoping Mexican pop sensation Paulina Rubio can attract some Latino viewers
And Paulina said she was a massive fan of the show, which drew an average 9.7 million viewers per episode last season, far from the 20 million Simon had boasted the show would draw at its launch.
She said: ''I love The X Factor! I can’t wait to find the next big music star here in America. I’m so thrilled to be part of the show as a judge.
'Simon, be careful what you wish for, let’s see if you are ready to handle me, empieza la fiesta, amigo!'
The show will enter its third season this fall, and auditions begin on Tuesday in Charleston, South Carolina, and run through July to find the upcoming season's crop of aspiring singers to compete for the prize.
While Paulina, 41, is an obvious choice with over 25 million albums sold world-wide, Kelly is a different story.
Mixed results: Popular LA Reid was the show's only major success while the much hyped Britney Spears flopped
Kelly, 32, appeared as a judge on the X Factor UK in 2011, however, her stint was blighted by illness that kept her at home in the states for a week - prompting reports that TV bosses were unimpressed that she had even flown back to the US when she should have been mentoring her contestants in Britain.
Kelly also reportedly tried to demand that her $750,000 pay be tripled if she made a return.
And in May 2012, the singer, who lives in Miami, announced her departure from the series, saying: 'I love the UK and being part of the show last year. Mentoring the girls was such an incredible experience I will never forget.
Back again! Kelly had a much ridiculed stint as a judge on the UK version of the show in 2011
'I would like to thank Simon for the great opportunity and asking me to be a judge last season.'
At the time, a spokeswoman for the star blamed 'global commitments coupled with the show's increasing demands' for Kelly's departure - although bosses felt that she had never quite gelled with the TV audience.
Despite all this, Kelly will now replace Britney.
A source said: 'Kelly knows the X Factor, she's aware of what it takes to be a judge and she's also outspoken.
'Simon has always remained a fan of Kelly's and she's most definitely in the mix to join the judging panel on X Factor USA.'
Cowell hired pop princess Britney for last year's X Factor USA for a whopping $15 million.
However, in January, MailOnline revealed that Britney had quit after just one season - after discovering show boss Cowell was about to fire her for being 'boring'.
The 31-year-old singer jumped before she was pushed as Cowell, 53, made plans to terminate her mega-bucks contract after her judging style on the show had been heavily criticised.
A source close to production explained: 'Britney and her team knew it was unlikely she'd be asked back as a judge.'
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Who cares? Not intered even in UK Xfactor let alone American
- Alex , London, 21/5/2013 17:59
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