GWEN STEFANI: NEW 'X-FACTOR' HOST?

Breaking from her motherly duties to tend to her lucrative career endeavors, Gwen Stefani was spotted heading into a local studio in Santa Monica, California earlier this afternoon (April 30).

Donning a striped shirt along with a hot pink lip, the 42-year-old performer tweeted of her recent music-making outings, “Studio at the end of the race - take 2 'Psycho' gx” and “Singing - send me vibes gx”.

In other career news, a source recently revealed to the New York Post that Miss Stefani may be replacing Steve Jones as the new host on the American version of "The X-Factor,"Claiming that Simon Cowell is willing to spend up to $7 million for her, the insider added, "[Cowell] is feeling the pressure and knows only a big-time, well-respected name will do if he wants anyone to flip the channel from The Voice."

The “Hollaback Girl” singer previously stated that she would not like a judging position because she doesn’t like confrontations, but she does have a background in the world of reality competition programs after having been a mentor on the hit show “American Idol.”

BRITNEY SPEARS: "THE X-FACTOR'S" $15 MILLION WOMAN?

Pop princess Britney Spears is said to be on her way to taking her spot back in the lime light after reportedly striking a deal to fill one of the judging seats on "The X Factor" - though she comes with a hefty price tag.

The 30-year-old is said to be raking in $15 million to fill one of the two openings available due to Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger's departures from the reality singing competition show.

Miss Spears' contract will be six times what former judge Abdul made during the show's first season - which was reportedly $2.5 million - but it seems as if Cowell is willing to do whatever it takes to get Britney into the seat next to him.

Simon told Billy Bush in February, “The fact that she’s one of the most talked about — not just pop stars, but people — in the world today means that you’ve got this star power, she’s still hot, she’s still having hit records, and she’s still controversial. There’s a reason for that.”

The former "American Idol" judge could only hope for a a boost in ratings with the pop megastar on board after expecting 20 million viewers for the show's debut season last year, but instead it averaged closer to 12 million.

BRITNEY SPEARS CLOSING $15 MILLION DEAL TO JUDGE 'X FACTOR'

Britney Spears and "X Factor" have struck a deal that will line the singer's pocket to the tune of $15 million for next season ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Britney's team and "X Factor" big wigs are working out "the fine points" of the deal, but the major terms are locked.

Once the final contract is drafted and signed ... it will go to Jamie Spears, Britney's daddy and conservator, as well as lawyers for the conservatorship.  If they sign off, it must then go to the judge who oversees the conservatorship for approval.

Sources connected with the deal tell us ... it's a "virtual certainty" everyone will sign off.  By the way, we're told Jason Trawick is "very involved" in the negotiations.

Simon Cowell, the "X Factor" Executive Producer, told us on TMZ Live Tuesday, "I would love to have her on the show.  I think she would be a fascinating person to sit next to."  Simon said they may make an announcement within a week.

Britney would fill one of two vacant seats on the judging panel.  She's also way more expensive than the castoffs -- Nicole Scherzinger reportedly pulled in $1.5 million, while Paula Abdul raked in $2.5 mil.

"X Factor" refused to confirm or deny our story.

REPORT: BRITNEY SPEARS REJECTS $10 MILLION 'x FACTOR' OFFER

Unless "The X Factor" agrees to fork over more money, it seems Britney Spears won't be joining the show's judging panel anytime soon.
The FOX competition series reportedly offered the "Womanizer" singer a $10 million contract to join the second season as a mentor but, according to The Wrap, Spears shut it down in hopes of a much larger counter-offer.

Spears' camp is allegedly looking for $20 million for the singer to appear on the show, a much higher paycheck than former judge Paula Abdul, who earned around $2.3 million during her stint on "The X Factor" last year.

The negotiations with Britney come as producers are desperate to find one more big name celebrity to join Simon Cowell and LA Reid, as auditions have already started with the second season premiere date slated for September 2012.

Spears might be picking the stage over the judging panel as a source close to the singer revealed she is considering a resident performer offer at a Las Vegas hotel in the fall.

SIMON COWELL CALLS BEYONCE 'X FACTOR' RUMOURS 'COMPLETE NONSENSE

Skooter reporting 02/08/12

It’s uncertain yet who will fill the recently vacated judge's chairs on "The X Factor." Did you say Beyonce Knowles? One thing's for sure it won't be her. That is, if Simon CowellSimon Cowell is to be believed.

Last week “X-Factor” had a major shakeup where judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula AbdulPaula Abdul along with host Steve Jones getting the axe. And while the rumor mill twirled with gossip about Cowell offering "Single Ladies" singer Knowles an enormous sum to come in, the fame bad tempered Brit says it's not happening.

In an interview with “Extra” Cowell said he had no idea where the scuttlebutt came from. He read it online that he offered Knowles $100 million a year and he said that’s a complete nonsense.

Cowell also admitted that Fox executives began talking to him about a shakeup at the beginning of the year and it had to happen straight away. He also revealed that “X Factor” has been a lukewarm success and that his announcement that the show would be bigger than the “American Idol” was too ambitious.

"It's only because I opened my big mouth and said we were going to get 20 million [viewers]," Cowell said. "If I hadn't said that, everybody would be saying the show was a huge success."

X-FACTOR U.S SEASON II: PAULA ABDUL, NICOLE SCHERZINGER OUT, L.A REID STAYS

 

The iconic music producer, L.A Reid is the last judge standing in the hit talent show ‘X-Factor’ U.S, after the ousting of judges, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and host, Steve Jones. From reports gathered, the label mogul signed a deal on Sunday, February 5, 2012 to return to the show.

There are also speculations that the show’s creator, Simon Cowell is setting his eyes on songstress Kelly Rowland alongside R&B singer Mariah Carey for the next season. It is also rumoured that the producer made an offer to get star singer Beyonce on the show.

The second season is due to kick off in the later part of the year 2012.