14 DAY TRIAL // Simon Cowell has found the fourth judge for his new US show, X Factor, which will kick off its second season later this year. Former Disney star Demi Lovato has just signed on the dotted line, it has emerged.
An official confirmation is still pending, but TMZ claims to have it on very good authority that it's a done deal.
Both Demi and Britney Spears, Cowell's choice for the third judge, are locked in their contracts, and an announcement will be made this week – today, if we're to go by TMZ.
“Demi Lovato has officially signed her deal and will be a judge on the next season of The X Factor. According to our sources, Demi will be in NYC [today] for the FOX Up Fronts to announce her joining the show,” the celebrity e-zine writes.
Apparently, Fox and Cowell even considered Demi's busy schedule when they approached her with an offer, making sure the show wouldn't prevent her from honoring her previous commitments.
“Demi is scheduled to tour this summer, but our sources say her X Factor schedule shouldn't interfere with her touring,” TMZ explains.
“Lovato should have company [today], as TMZ previously reported, our sources say Britney Spears will be in NYC to announce she's joining the show as well,” adds the same media outlet.
As we also reported last week, Britney was in negotiations with Cowell and network bosses for weeks until she eventually agreed to take the job.
Word on the street has it she was offered $10 million (€7.63 million) to take the offer, but she initially refused because she was holding out for more money.
The first season of X Factor USA debuted strong but lost some of its initial power as it progressed. It ended in a bloodbath, with Cowell firing 3 of the members of the original team.
Judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul, as well as host Steve Jones were let go. For the first three weeks of auditions, Cheryl Cole was judge – but she was fired and replaced by Nicole because of her thick accent.