Source: WENN

Back in April we anxiously reported on swirling speculations that Kelly Rowland was being courted by Fox to join the panel of judges on Simon Cowell’s X Factor. We’re thrilled to report that Rowland will officially be appearing as a judge on the musically competitive television program this fall. According to CBS, singer Paulina Rubio will also be joining the panel. Cowell shared the news Monday night.

“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, the outspoken English A&R expressed.

Rowland, who is no stranger to X Factor, as she appeared as a judge on the show in the U.K., seems to be equally thrilled about joining the team.

“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!” the “Kisses Down Low” singer said in a statement.

Rubio also chimed in, expressing her excitement.

 ”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!”

This is a great look for Rowland, who’s latest album, Talk a Good Game is slated to be released June 18th.

Way to go, Kelly!

What do you think of Kelly’s new gig?

Source: WENN

It’s like deja vu all over again in the entertainment industry right now as reports suggest Kelly Rowland may be heading to the “X Factor.” But wait, didn’t she already do that? Technically, yes. But this time, the former Destiny’s Child singer is slated to join the panel of the singing competition in the U.S., taking over Britney Spears’ current spot, despite being cut from the UK show last year.

The Daily Mail is reporting the news, saying:

Former Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland is set to join Simon Cowell on the X Factor USA – despite being booted off the UK show.

Cowell, 53, remains a ‘big fan’ of the singer even though she was replaced by Nicole Scherzinger on the X Factor UK last year, a source told MailOnline.

And Kelly, 32, is now ‘most definitely in the mix’ to replace Britney Spears on the third season of the Fox talent show, which airs later this year.

It’s not yet known whether Cowell will appear with three women on the judging panel – or hire another man to replace L.A. Reid.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a lot of truth to this rumor. For one, these singing competition shows are running out of female talent to go through. Almost, everybody and their mama has at least been a guest judge on “American Idol,” “The Voice, ” or “X Factor” — except poor Aretha Franklin (why do they keep playing her like that?). And let’s be honest, networks are thirsty for black entertainers right now, with Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey on “Idol,” this show is going to need someone who’s popping right now if they want to up their ratings, and though everyone is talking about this being the year of the Bey (again), Kelly isn’t doing so bad herself.

We’ve seen Kelly kill red carpet after red carpet this year, work as an E! correspondent for the Oscars, host BET’s Rip the Runway, and let’s not forget tearing up the stage at SuperBowl alongside Beyonce and Michelle. If there was a right time for this new gig to happen, it would be now. The question is, will Kelly joining the team make you watch?

FayesVision/WENN.com

It used to be that when your career was nearing its end, there wasn’t a whole lot that could help resuscitate it. Then came reality television. Now many a has-been celebrity have found new life (and bigger paychecks) by jumping on the reality bandwagon. Whether they’ve taken a spin around the “Dancing with the Stars” ballroom or honed their business chops on “Celebrity Apprentice,” these celebrities have found fame in unexpected places. Madame Noire lists its 15 celebs that have benefited most from a little reality action.

The judging panel of the “X Factor” will have a little less color next season as L.A. Reid has decided not to return to the singing competition. In an interview with Access Hollywood, he said:

“I have decided that I will not return to ‘The X Factor’ next year. I have to go back and I have a company to run that I’ve kind of neglected and it saddens me a little bit, but only a little bit.”

That “only a little bit” sounds like there may have been some sketch things going on — like Simon got on his nerves, like he eventually gets on all of the other judge’s bad sides but Reid said that’s not the case:

“I love Simon. We have a great relationship, we have fun together, we talk, we laugh, we do bad things, we’re friends. I owe so much to Simon. I really have a lot [of] respect for him and I always will. I support him, I support the show and I’ll always be in business with him.”

As for his feelings on getting back to the office and handling his business as chairman and CEO of Epic Records, Reid said:

“[X Factor] was a nice break, it was a nice departure from what I’ve done for the past 20 years, but now I gotta go back to work.

“I have a huge responsibility to a roster of artists and it’s kind of time for me to stop doing the ‘me’ show,” he said.

“I’m not ruling out ever coming back, but I’m definitely not coming back next year,” he said. “I have a job to do and once I get some work done and get some momentum then maybe I’ll revisit the idea a little later.”

Looks like “X Factor” is about to be on that “American Idol” scramble. Will you miss L.A. Reid?

Shutterstock

From TMZ

It’s official … Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez will be the new co-hosts of “X Factor” … TMZ has confirmed with sources connected to the show.

We broke the story … Khloe and Mario had been thiiiiiiis close to a deal for months … but now we’ve confirmed they’ve both signed on the dotted line … it’s a done deal.

WENN

After news and footage spread this morning of that cuss fest between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey going at it behind the judges’ table for “American Idol,” you know Nick Cannon had something to say about it.

But don’t worry, there were no diss songs put out (thank you Lord) or tweets. Instead, the fella some call Mr. Mariah Carey showed up for “Access Hollywood Live” this morning to do a rendition of the squabble with Billy Bush and Kit Hoover (he played Randy), and to give his two cents about his wife’s response, and why Fox and producers of “American Idol” should be disappointed with themselves.

When asked his thoughts about it all, the well-dressed man kept it real, and real calm (unlike some people we know who wear pink wigs…):

NC: “I mean, we all have our thoughts and everything. But I honestly think that when you think about the show and what it’s all about and represents, I feel it’s taking away from the quality of what “Idol” is all about. This is about people accomplishing their dreams and you know, experts guiding these young people to, you know, do what they’ve done, so I think…

KH: But does FOX like this?

NC: Yeah, I’m kind of disappointed in FOX and everything because they’re taking away from the quality of what Idol is.

BB: Do you think they’re celebrating like a pack of hyenas here?

NC: Only thing cause…otherwise, how would all of this get on TV? My wife is the strongest and the classiest woman that I’ve ever met. I mean if you watch the video, she just maintains her exposure like she does. So I don’t think she’s moved by the theatrics and pageantry of it all. She signed up to do a job to help young people accomplish their dreams. This is like a sidebar. I hope that’s not what this show becomes about, is the cat fights.”

Interesting point Nick brings up, because I’m pretty sure the thought probably crossed everyone’s mind that this whole argument could have been used and leaked for the purpose of getting ratings and buzz for “American Idol” when it comes back to FOX. What, with “X Factor” and “The Voice” and the slew of other talent competitions coming for the crown, and AI being somewhat unstable and desperate for the past few seasons (We’ve seen everyone from Ellen to J.Lo and now Nicki try and critique singers), so it’s safe to say that producers are thirsty. But then again, Nick’s comments could also be a shot at FOX because he works for NBC as the host for “America’s Got Talent.” But hey, whatever works.  To close out his interview with “Access Hollywood Live” and conclude his feelings about the drama, Nick summed it up short and sweet after listening to the transcript from the divas’ argument, saying, “If you read that you can see, anybody can see what the issue actually is…but you know my wife is strong and classy and she maintains her strengths. I think it’s not about the theatrics, let’s get back to what the core of the show is about.”

Could he be calling the jealousy card? Whatever he’s saying, stand by your wifey. Though I would love to hear what SB would have to say on Nicki’s behalf…Anybody think Lil Kim is somewhere laughing her a** off?

Check out the video from Nick’s appearance at Buzzfeed.

What do you think about what Nick had to say?

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Source: Whosay.com

Is Stacy Francis ever not in some drama? The “X Factor” contestant is exposing some information that’s probably rocking the pews at the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, CA—unless they already know the deal. The reality singing competition finalist has just admitted that her child’s father is the pastor of the megachurch, Bishop Noel Jones.

Sources had been leaking information to Radaronline about the paternity of the singer’s second child, and she eventually confirmed the rumors, saying she’s tired of keeping it a secret.

“I love him very much and I am not ashamed of my baby. Our baby,” she told the site.

Not only is Bishop Jones a pastor, he’s also the brother of model Grace Jones, and about six months or so ago, was rumored to be in a relationship with LisaRaye. That story was never confirmed or denied by either party but this one certainly was. I wonder how his congregation feels about this?

Interestingly, Stacy was just reportedly in an altercation with someone at a party in Atlanta over her parenting skills. A woman supposedly tried to take a picture of her, saying she was going to expose the fact that she was out partying late night with her 2-year-old daughter in tow, and the confrontation turned physical with the ladies fighting—in front of her daughter. All this, after the drama Stacy reportedly had with Whitney Houston over Ray J. She needs to sit her 42-year-old butt down somewhere.

Are you surprised to learn who her child’s father is?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

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jemblog.com

Happy Father’s Day, loves! If you’ve already spent time with your loved ones or if you’ve yet to get out, take a minute and check out what your fave celebs have been up to!

Read the rest of this entry »

Source: NY Daily News

Matthew Knowles sounded as though he couldn’t be happier to be a grandfather for the second time around during an appearance on the British talk show “Lorraine” yesterday. Beyonce and Solange’s father talked about his grandson, Juelz, and when it came to the newest addition to the family, he said this:

“I was with Blue Ivy two days ago, I had her in my arms and was singing a song I used to sing to Beyonce and then after I finished singing the song she kind of went, ‘Ahhhh.’

“You just want to love and kiss her but the great thing with grandkids is that you can give them back.”

He sounds like a typical grandfather already. Matt also told Lorraine something we already knew about Bey and Jay—they will stop at nothing to make Blue happy.

“If Blue Ivy wants to be a doctor when she grows up then they would figure how to buy a hospital. If she wants to be a basketball player I already own a WNBA team so she can play there and if she wants to be a singer then she would be very happy.”

Later in the day, Matthew spoke at the Heart FM’s Have A Heart event, and he was asked whether being an “X Factor” judge is one of the many projects Beyonce will take on when she gets back to work—and whether she demanded £31 million to be a a part of the show. Her dad says it’s not true.

“It would never happen as Beyonce would never do that. There are a few things that she would never do and that is one. It’s not for her.”

Were you hoping Bey would join the reality singing competition?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Source: Flickr-toyabloggerrr

Darn! As much as we would have loved to see Janet sitting next to Simon and L.A. Reid (he hasn’t been fired yet, right?) on the show The X Factor, Jackson says a busy schedule and other commitments will not make her available for the reality TV singing competition.

Rumors have been flying for a few months now that Jackson had been contacted about the opportunity to fill either Paula Abdul or Nicole Scherzinger’s seats on the show, even though her camp says there were no meetings about it, this is what she had to say about it all in a statement to E! News: “[I’m] very flattered that ‘X Factor’ let me know that I was being considered for next season, but it just wouldn’t be possible.”

Word on the street, or according to E! News that is, is that Jackson is busy working on another Tyler Perry film (HERE we go…), as well as finishing up touring at this time. Therefore, Simon Cowell and his people are going to have to keep looking. While I’m a fan of Christina Aguilera on The Voice, I’m kind of glad Janet won’t be a judge on The X Factor, because when a star usually jumps at these kinds of opportunities, it can often signal that their actual career as performers is on the decline…just saying (am I lying?). Janet still has a good number of years to drop it low and pick it back up real fast before she needs to sit behind anybody’s table.

So who could be a replacement?

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