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.

JANET JACKSON NOT HEADED TO "X-FACTOR"

She’s had a long and successful music and acting career, but Janet Jackson isn’t looking to put “X Factor” judge on her illustrious resume.

According to a report, the “Black Cat” songstress just can’t swing the gig schedule-wise and she told press she’s bowing out of the conversation.

Janet stated that signing on for a television job is simply “unrealistic” at this time, though she’s "very flattered that 'X Factor' let me know I was being considered for next season."

Last month, Anderson Cooper repeatedly asked Janet if she was on the judge’s panel and she finally replied, "No, I am not. But that's all I really think I should say."

AVRIL LAVIGNE IN THE RUNNING FOR 'X FACTOR' JUDGE JOB

With two judging slots to fill, it seems the folks at "X Factor" might not have to look far to fill one of the spots ... because former L.A. Reid protégé Avril Lavigne is interested in the gig ... TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, Avril had her people reach out to the folks at "X Factor" to let them know she'd like to be considered for the job. Our sources says Avril feels that since she came up in the biz at such a  young age, she can mentor the kids on the show the right way.

We're told talks are already happening between the two sides.

Besides her connection to Reid, Avril performed on the finale of season one of "X Factor" with finalist Chris Rene.

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."

BEYONCE OFFERED HALF A BILLION DOLLARS FOR 'X FACTOR' CONTRACT

BEYONCE could finally become the highest paid entertainer and the girl who runs the world, that is if the rumors of a $US500 million ($467 million) X-Factor paycheck are true.

Simon Cowell supposedly called the singing superstar on her Video Phone and offered her $100 million a year, for a five year contract with X-Factor USA., Mediatakeout.com reported.

The news comes from an “extremely reliable source” the very same source who reported Jennifer Lopezwas joining American Idol in 2010, the website claimed.

Cowell wants a big name female star on the panel, the source told Mediatakeout.com. Mariah Carey is all right, but she's not that spicy today. He wants Beyonce because that would immediately give him the leap needed to beat American Idol.

The report was released just days after Cowell announced the removal of former judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who are reportedly "laced with hurt and disbelief" at being dumped.

Anxious to revive the franchise, Cowell believes Beyonce is the magic button.

Beyonce Knowles would be the highest paid female entertainer in the world, if this is true, and push her and husband, Jay-Z’s combined revenue to well over $1 billion.

Knowles and Cowell didn’t made any comment regarding this rumors but MediaTakeOut.com said to wait for a “major” career statement from the singer in the next month.

Knowles is not a stranger to the X-Factor franchise. In 2008 she played a role as a mentor and performed a duet with the winner.

Source: News.com.au

MELANIE AMARO WINS US 'X FACTOR'

Chris Rene, Melanie Amaro and Josh Krajcik

The 19-year-old from Sunrise, Florida won a $5 million record deal and a starring role in a Pepsi advert. She was crowned the first season US X Factor winner in a Finale show that held in Los Angeles yesterday Thursday Dec. 22, 2011.

Soulful 30-year-old singer Josh Krajcik of Wooster, Ohio came second, while Chris Rene, the recovering 28-year-old singer-rapper from Santa Cruz, Calif., came in third place.

Lady Gaga Set For X-Factor UK Performance, Nov. 13

US singer and songwriter Lady Gaga is set to perform at the British television music talent competition X-Factor  - two years after a memorable performance involving an oversized bathtub in 2009.

The Grammy Award winning singer will appear on the show on November 13 and will perform her newest single ‘Marry the night’ after failing to make an appearance last week, ContactMusic reports.

In related news, the singer arrived Belfast a few hours ago in preparation for MTV Europe Music Awards at the Odyssey Arena today, Sunday November 6, 2011. Gaga is nominated for six awards.