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Shania to be a judge on FOX's new "X Factor"?

Tommy · Guru

Who Should Be a Judge on The X Factor?
By Joey Bartolomeo
Tuesday March 01, 2011 03:45 PM EST

Clockwise from top left: Paula Abdul, Cheryl Cole, Nicole Scherzinger and Shania Twain

Simon Cowell has said the audience will be the fifth judge on The X Factor when the singing competition makes its U.S. debut in the fall. But who will the other four judges be?

Aside from Cowell himself, no one has been officially named to fill the spots for the show. Unlike on American Idol, X Factor judges also act as mentors for the contestants. And with a $5 million recording contract up for grabs, they'll have to take their job seriously.

Buzz about who will judge the singing competition, which is currently registering singers online for auditions, is likely to continue until the names are announced, but for now a few – like Paula Abdul – keep popping up. Perhaps some would like to see her reunite with Cowell. Cheryl Cole, who's a judge on the British version of the show, is another obvious choice. When Cole was sick with malaria, Dancing with the Stars winner Nicole Scherzinger did a fine job filling in. And Shania Twain, who was a hit as a guest judge on Idol, could also be a great addition to the panel.

Tell us: Which woman would you most like to see as a judge?
- Paula Abdul
- Cheryl Cole
- Nicole Scherzinger
- Shania Twain

VOTE!

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20470018,00.html

Tommy · Guru

People Exclusive

Jessica Simpson Is a 'Frontrunner' to Judge The X Factor

By Sara Hammel

Although buzz about which celebrities could join Simon Cowell's new show The X Factor is already going strong, a new name has been added to the mix. Jessica Simpson is a frontrunner to become one of the judges alongside Cowell, a show insider tells PEOPLE.

"There [are] loads of conversations happening at the moment," says the source. "No one has been offered a judging role yet as new names keep coming forward who want the role, but there are some frontrunners and it's fair to say Jessica is one of them. She's very keen."

Simpson, 30, has the skills needed for this particular format, which features a $5 million recording contract as the grand prize, says the insider. Still, there are a lot of factors that go in to making the final choice.

"She knows what she is talking about [and] is talented and likable," the source says. "But Simon's not in a rush to decide. The judges have to mentor on The X Factor – it's more than just turning up for a few hours a week to appear on TV."

The judges will have to "work with contestants on music, dancers, styling," the source continues. "It's a lot of work."

The X Factor, which is already a hit in Cowell's native U.K., will debut in the U.S. on FOX in the fall, so producers have time to make a careful choice.

"They have to get the decision right, which takes time," the source says. "Those final decisions may not happen for a few weeks."

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20470326,00.html