Apr 19, 2011 08:01 GMT  ·  By

Mariah Carey will appear on the US version of X Factor, for which Simon Cowell has already started auditions. Contrary to speculation, though, she will not be on the panel of judges, Simon says in a recent radio interview, which you can listen below.

Speaking about the highly anticipated show and how he’s yet to announce the names of the other two judges (besides himself and music producer L.A. Reid), Cowell told radio host Jackie Brown that Mariah will be on the show.

The discussion came about when Brown noted that speculation had it Carey would be one of the judges, which Cowell proved would be impossible since she’s yet to give birth to the twins.

After joking that he’d have to have the show in a “maternity unit” if he hired Mariah as a judge, he revealed that the singer would be involved later on, once the live shows start.

He already spoke to Mariah about it and she told him she could be a judge for the panel of judges, “an idea only Mariah could have come up,” as Simon puts it.

Eventually, they seemed to have agreed that Mariah would be on the show, but Cowell didn’t say in what capacity. It wouldn’t be that much of a stretch to assume she’ll be one of mentors.

In the same interview, Cowell also spoke about YouTube sensation Rebecca Black and how he expected to hear at least a few contestants sing her “Friday” hit, hopefully to better reviews than the ones she got for her performance.

In other X Factor news, confirmation has also come that Simon Cowell is officially out of the British version of the show, the one he created and that’s been on the air since 2004, scoring record ratings.

PopEater says ITV has confirmed Cowell’s departure, saying that talks are now being held to see if he could return for the live shows – or at least make a few appearances, whenever his schedule would allow it.

“I constantly hear we are in crisis but in reality we have an amazingly constructive relationship with Simon and are very much reading from the same page,” ITV director Peter Fincham says, adding that Cowell will remain “an enormous presence backstage” on the show.

Until the names of the other two judges are announced, check out Simon’s interview with Jackie Brown.