Simon Cowell will be surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women at the judges’ table during the new season of The X Factor, as Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubino have been confirmed as the FOX series’ newest mentors.

After much speculation, the network has confirmed that the two ladies will appear on Season 3 of the singing competition.

The songstresses join Season 2 judge Demi Lovato at the panel, replacing Britney Spears and L.A. Reid.

“It’s taken more than a decade but I’m delighted to finally be on a panel with three girls (I think!),” said Cowell in the press release.

“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.”

Rowland and Rubio both bring to the table experience in judging music competitions, as the former was previously judge on the UK version of The X Factor while the latter appeared on the Mexican version of The Voice.

“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!” Rowland said in a statement.

“I love The X Factor! I can’t wait to find the next big music star here in America,” added Rubio. “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!”

The X Factor‘s third season will premiere in Fall 2013. Auditions for the new season will start as early as this May.

FOX’s The X Factor judge L.A. Reid was on top of the world after his prodigy, country crooner Tate Stevens took home the top prize Thursday night.

“I feel wonderful. I feel euphoria. I feel great,” Reid enthused after Thursday’s two-hour finale. “The greatest feeling I’ve had is watching this guy win. He deserves to win. Things like this don’t always happen. But, the right guy won.”

Reid previously announced he won’t be back as a judge next season, but says he’ll stick with Stevens — who goes into the studio on January 2 — “as long as he’ll have me.”

Although Reid initially resented being stuck with the Over 25 group of contestants and seemed an unlikely match for a country singer, he’s long since embraced his winning contestant.

“I really grew to love him as a person, as a human being,” he says of Stevens. “Love the music that he makes, love his voice. I really love to help people. I live to be a hero to people, I really do, as corny as that might sound. I want to help him. I want see him succeed.”

What kind of music are they going to make together?

“I’m Tate’s mentor, so I’m just going to make sure that he records music that’s really true to his core. I’m not his label, I’m just his mentor. So it’s a better job,” Reid laughed. “I can actually help him kick other people around.”

Watch part of our interview with Reid above.

Do you think Tate is in good hands? Will L.A. be missed next season?

– Sharon Knolle

Just before last Thursday’s episode of FOX’s The X Factor, judge L.A. Reid announced that he isn’t returning to the talent competition next season.

Just days later, Reid joined fellow judges Simon Cowell, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato for a finale week press conference on Monday at the show’s Los Angeles soundstage with finalists Fifth Harmony, Carly Rose Sonenclar and Tate Stevens.

When asked whether they would miss Reid, Spears and Lovato simply said they would. Cowell, though, joked about the prospect of picking Reid’s replacement. “Anything Could Happen,” Cowell, who’s also an executive producer on the series, smiled.

Later, when asked if we’re in for a big shift on Season 3, Cowell commented on Reid’s exit again. “I don’t sit here plotting next year,” he started.

“On a personal level, I’m going to miss L.A.,” he later added. “And on a business level, I’m going to miss him because he’s a brilliant record maker.”

For now, he says he wants to focus on this week’s season finale and “the contestants sitting at the table, because they need this. It’s a fantastic break for all of them.”

Clearly, Cowell had high hopes this year after landing the “Princess of Pop” who definitely became an attraction for viewers wanting to see what Spears was like nowadays and for her fans who just wanted to see as much as they could of their icon.

But, despite Spears and Disney Channel grad Lovato joining the judging panel and the revamped (at times over-produced) new reality-style audition episodes, ratings still took a beating with the show attracting less than eight million viewers to its semifinal elimination episode last week.

“We were expecting that there was going to be a problem with the ratings this year. Not just with us, but with everything, because it’s overkill,” Cowell explained. “There are way, way too many talent shows on.”

“I’ve done this for 10 years,” he added. “I’ve had dips over the years. We’ve come back the following years where other shows died off. We got stronger. The thing that’s most important is the legacy you leave behind each year. The legacy that we’re going to leave behind, the talent, not just with these three but also with artists like Emblem3. That’s what we’re judged on.”

The X Factor’s Season 2 finale episodes air Wednesday and Thursday at 8 PM on FOX.

How do you feel about L.A. leaving? Do you think the show’s lower ratings are due to having too many talents shows on TV as Simon suggests? Weigh in below.

Just as Simon Cowell has rebuilt FOX’s The X Factor from the ground up for Season 2, one of his original judges is leaving.

“I have decided that I will not return to The X Factor next year,” L.A. Reid told Access Hollywood. “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.”

Reid is currently the chairman and CEO of Epic Records. The record executive and music producer is responsible for finding many of today’s most successful stars including Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Pink.

Reid says that he’s leaving solely for business reasons and that he’s still on very good terms with the show and fellow judge and executive producer, Cowell.

“I love Simon,” he said. “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.”

Cowell chose to keep Reid on after Season 1, but fired judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger along with host Steve Jones. This season, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato filled the empty judging spots while Mario Lopez and Khloe Kardashian Odom were hired to co-host the FOX talent competition.

Representatives for The X Factor didn’t immediately respond to Celebuzz’s request for comment.

Perhaps the most jaw dropping of Thursday night’s eliminations on FOX’s The X Factor was that of Diamond White.

The 13-year-old phenom sang for her life against fellow teen, Arin Ray, during the live show, belting out an amazing and interesting rendition of Elton John’s “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.” But despite having a voice and stage presence beyond her years, she was sent home.

White’s judge and mentor Britney Spears said making the tough decision was “really just dreadful.”

“I love Diamond but one had to go and we had to make that decision and it’s really tough because they’re so incredibly talented,” she told reporters after the show. “She has an amazing voice for such a young age so it was really hard to do that.”

Fellow judges Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid both agreed “100 percent” that Spears definitely had the hardest decision of the night.

Cowell went so far as to say, “I think I probably would have put Diamond through automatically and I would have had Beatrice and Arin.”

However, he didn’t discredit Arin’s performance of “I Look To You,” telling reporters, “To be fair he did well. He didn’t come out sulking or thinking he’s going to lose. It was an unlucky night for [Diamond]. She’s so good.”

Celebuzz later caught a poignant moment between the Cowell, Reid and White as she approached their table.

“I’m really sorry. I really am,” Cowell said to White. “You’re the one we should have kept.”

“It’s true,” agreed Reid.

So how is White doing these days, post-elimination?

“I’m actually feeling pretty awesome,” she said with a smile. “I made it to the top 16 out of hundreds of thousands of people so I think that’s an awesome goal. Now that this door has closed I’m going to go on to bigger and better things. My next goal is shooting for Madison Square Garden.”

Though she didn’t make it to the Top 12, things are looking up for the young star.

Upon telling Reid that maybe he should put her on his label, the music mogul said, “Oh you know I have some friends who just adore her. Friends in entertainment, who each week have emailed me and just raved about her.”

“She’s special. She really is,” he added.

The X Factor live shows continue next week on Wednesday and Thursday at 8 PM EST/tape delayed PST on FOX.

Were you surprised to see Diamond go? Do you think Britney made the right choice? Sound off in the comments below!

Judge L.A. Reid is so furious at The X Factor producers that he has banned certain individuals from working with him, a source close to the FOX show revealed to Celebuzz.

Reid — the music mogul responsible for signing and bringing Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne and Mariah Carey to fame — is “peeved” at the category of contestants that he has been assigned to mentor.

“L.A. is so mad at some of the producers,” a source on the show revealed. “He refuses to even answer their calls; he’s been so mad for weeks and weeks now.”

At the end of Wednesday’s episode, the singing competition moves from 120 contestants at Boot Camp to the next phase of its sophomore season — Judges’ Homes — where Reid will be told he must work with the Overs, the source said.

“Last year Simon (Cowell) had the girls, L.A. had the guys, Paula had the groups and Nicole had the overs,” the insider confirmed.

“L.A. had been telling everyone that he wanted to mentor a younger category in 2012.”

At the end of last week’s episode, a teaser showed Reid apparently getting upset. He even slammed down a phone and stormed away from the cameras, in fury.

“That was when the producers called to tell him his category,” the source added.

“He did have a diva moment when he didn’t get what he wanted!”

FOX has yet to reveal who gets assigned various categories, however Reid was photographed with Bieber on the roof of a building in Los Angeles during August. At the time, it was suggested the pair was with some of The X Factor over 25s group.

“Producers have had to tell L.A. that he has loads of talent in his team but he initially refused to admit it,” the source added.

“Even Justin Bieber had to remind him about the talent in his group.”

The Backstreet Boys spoke to Celebuzz recently and revealed who has impressed them on the 2012 version of The X Factor. Watch below.

Auditions are over on FOX’s The X Factor and this week finds its 120 or so contenders arriving for boot camp in Miami. But, don’t le the lush locale fool you. Boot camp doesn’t sound like a vacation.

“I love the idea of going into boot camp and really turning it up for these contestants and making it even tougher for them. Because on the first audition, God knows how long they’ve rehearsed for their first audition,” judge and Epic Records executive L.A. Reid tells reporters of the competition’s next phase on a recent press call.

So, just how tough is boot camp? And does Reid think new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato would’ve been up to the challenge?

“I think that both Britney and Demi would have been able to handle it,” Reid, 56, says confidently. “These girls are really talented and they were trained to work hard. They didn’t become a success, because they were slackers. Both of them worked really, really hard coming up the ranks.”

“Obviously Demi is younger and still has a lot of work to do,” he continued. “Britney Spears is so accomplished. But in getting to that place, I think she toured the world so many times and went to so many rehearsals and they put in the work. I think that the kids that we have in boot camp, we’re putting them through drills that are a fraction of the drills that Britney Spears has gone through. I’m saying that knowing that boot camp is tough and we’re putting these guys through rigorous, rigorous tasks to really see if they’re qualified to go through to the next round.”

There have been many changes on the FOX competition show since it first debuted last year. And even with one season under his belt, Reid says he’s not exactly the judge he wants to be yet.

“In Season 1, I was way too friendly,” he says. “And then in Season 2, I ended up even nicer. If I’m around for Season 3, I’m going to turn into a real mean guy because I don’t like this nice version of myself.”

Reid says he personally hates nice people and so he isn’t pleased about how he’s come off so far on The X Factor, especially in light of his fellow judges.

“I like Simon because he’s always mean,” he explains. “I like Britney, because she’s mean. And this year, it feels like me and Demi are like the nice people. I don’t like that.”

Clearly, Reid has an appreciation for Spears’ career and how she has taken to her role as a new judge this season. But, of all the great Britney moments so far (and the many amazing facial expressions), Reid’s favorite moment probably ranks high on viewers’ lists as well.

“My favorite Britney moment is really easy,” he reveals. “The other night, a contestant performed ‘Ice Ice Baby,’ and Britney got up and started popping off. And I’m telling you, that was the moment for me just watching her getting excited and watching her dance and become Britney right before my eyes. It was like magical and I loved it.”

Watch a first look at boot camp above and re-live Spears “popping off” below.

The X Factor airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 PM on FOX.

Are you excited to move on to X Factor’s boot camp? How do you think L.A. Reid compares to the other judges? Tell us in the comments section below.

Here we go! FOX’s The X Factor featuring new judges Demi Lovato and the one and only Ms. Britney Spears is getting ready to launch.

To celebrate the revamped show, the network threw a huge premiere party at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday night where Spears, Lovato and fellow judges Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid’s hand and footprints where immortalized forever.

Not only did the four judges get to make their mark (literally), but they also participated in a question and answer panel after the first episode was screened. Toofab.com had all the scoop on what went down during the two-hour episode and we’re here to break it down for you.

So what can you expect from Cowell and Co. when you turn on The X Factor Wednesday?

New judges Spears and Lovato kill it during the premiere, especially Spears.

In addition to the much-reported “constructive criticism” she delivers which can border on the Cowell variety, you also get a peek at who Brit Brit really is especially in behind the scenes footage with her fellow judges. The “Baby One More Time” singer also loves her gum and her Pepsi.

Spears also has a bit of an awkward moment when the panel has to say no to Don Philip, one of her old duet partners.

Lovato, meanwhile provides some great commentary from a younger perspective. She also connects with a fan that is sure to make you cry (Seriously, get your tissues! Cowell cried!). One of the last auditions on the show is from a girl who has been viciously bullied and belts out Jessie J‘s “Who you are.” The young singer thanks Lovato for her fight against bullying and the two even happen to share similar tattoos with the message, “Stay Strong.”

For those looking to The X Factor for some pretty people, there are definitely contestants for both guys and girls to stare at. While the male audience gets some of the best singers in the competition thus far, the female audience can expect a Justin Bieber look alike and a surfer boy band. Even Lovato appeared taken with the southern California trio, Emblem 3.

Viewers should also expect to roll their eyes throughout the two-hour extravaganza especially when the judges’ encounter a creepy 50-year-old man who sings about candy as well as the tons of horrific singers dressed in crazy and eccentric outfits.

Though, be careful not to dismiss all the contestants based on appearances, as one of those fantastically dressed folks will make an impression on the judges.

Ever wonder what it was like to be a contestant? The revamped The X Factor has you covered on that front too. You will see and hear some contestants from the moment they appear on screen bringing a bit more reality into the singing competition. The premiere episode also finds some contestants acting as additional “judges” when two mean girls provide commentary on everyone they see.

The X Factor premieres on Wednesday at 8 PM on FOX.

The X Factor judge and executive producer Simon Cowell was at his tell-it-like-it-is best when auditions wound their way to the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Saturday, Celebuzz has learned.

Returning to the judges’ panel after missing last weekend’s auditions in Kansas City, Mo. with bronchitis, the 52-year-old Brit confessed to one hopeful contestant that he has a secret rebellious side!

“I’m bad… I do bad things,” he told the aspiring singer/childcare worker, who admitted she’s lived a rather tame life.

Fellow judge Demi Lovato chimed in too, telling the woman: “You just need to hang out with me for a weekend!”

“When this girl came onstage and professed to the judges that she’d never ever done anything bad in her life, Simon clearly thought it was time to liven up her life,” an on set source told us.

It came a day after Cowell defended Britney Spears, his high-priced replacement for axed judge Paula Abdul, with the declaration that he was “the unstable one” of the panel.

Here’s how a candid Cowell put the woman on the spot, according to our spy:

Cowell asked the auditionee, “Have you ever done anything bad?” to which she responded, “No.”

L.A. Reid: ”Not even ran a red-light when you’re driving?”

“No… well maybe, but I didn’t get caught,” she retorted.

Cowell: “So you’ve never ever done anything bad? Nothing at all? Have you ever even cheated on a boyfriend?”

“I’ve never had a boyfriend,” she said.

Cowell: “Well that can soon change!”

Reid: “Yes, Simon’s single!”

Cowell: “And I’m bad. I do bad things!”

So did the woman make it through to the next round?

The final word came from Spears, 30, who told her: “Singing is definitely not you’re thing sweetie.”

Talk about living the sweet life!

Following another round of successful auditions in Kansas City, Mo., Britney Spears and Demi Lovato surprised fellow judge L.A. Reid to a birthday cake for his big 5-6. Although Reid tried to keep his birthday under wraps, Spears, 30, and Lovato, 19, foiled his plans and brought out a chocolate cake.

Spears even serenaded the record exec for his big day.

Where was X Factor creator Simon Cowell when all of this as going down?

As Celebuzz reported, the 52-year-old music mogul was recently being struck down with a bout bronchitis and had to pull out of filming Friday and Saturday’s portions of The X Factor auditions. He’s currently resting in his multi-million dollar home in Los Angeles.

However, Cowell’s stand-in — Irish music manager Louis Walsh – was on hand to help ring in Reid’s birthday, which fell on June 7.

In fact, Spears and Lovato have gotten along with Walsh swimmingly this week.

Britney Spears Is White Hot at ‘X Factor’ auditions

8 Photos »

“I love Louis, he’s really fun and I think he’s absolutely adorable. I do miss Simon a little bit though,” Spears told Celebuzz after Kansas City’s the first day of auditions had wrapped.

Lovato added: “There is only one Simon… but Louis killed it tonight (Friday).”

According to reports, Cowell persuaded the executives at Fox that Walsh was the right man for the job and convinced them to fly his pal out on a private jet — a cost of almost $200,000.

“I absolutely love working with Louis,” birthday boy Reid told us. “I find him fascinatingly quick, thorough and remarkably entertaining.”

For more from this week’s The X Factor auditions, check out the gallery above!

Demi Lovato took a major shine to an X Factor contestant in Kansas City on Friday, gushing that his audition made her “feel giddy.”

“That (performance) totally made me want to make out with you,” the former Sonny with a Chance star, 19, said during filming.

“We should get together and meditate. That made me giddy and I haven’t been giddy for a while.”

A source on the set of the hit Fox show told Celebuzz: “Demi loved this guy. She couldn’t stop saying how cute he has. L.A. Reid joked afterwards that he should leave his number.”

Auditions for the The X Factor are continuing through the weekend without Simon Cowell, who has bronchitis.

The music mogul, who is resting at his Los Angeles home, has enlisted Irish music manager Louis Walsh to fill in for him on the judging panel alongside Britney Spears, Reid and Lovato.

Walsh, who managed Irish boybands Westlife and Boyzone, worked with Cowell for seven years on the judging panel the British version of The X Factor.

New judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato are definitely through to the next round, this according to their X Factor boss Simon Cowell.

“He thought it was one of the best judging days he’d ever done,” a source close to the show — which held auditions in Austin, Texas on Thursday — told Celebuzz.

“Simon just loved the first day.”

As we were first to report, there was a lot of fun and frivolity on the set with Lovato, 19, at one point calling 52-year-old Cowell ”old and impatient.’”

Later, ex Idol mouth Cowell was joking about a contestant butchering one of Lovato’s own songs to which the “Skyscraper” songstress snapped back at the show head honcho: “At least I have a song Simon!”

Cowell responded, ”Demi, I think you need to sit in the naughty chair for a few minutes today.”

The insider, who watched from the audience, told Celebuzz: “Austin had a lot of incredible auditioning but it was a big day for new judges too and no-one knew what to expect,” the source added.

“But Simon thought both Britney and Demi were really great. Demi was really confident right from the start and took both Simon and L.A. (Reid) on.”

The judges took to Twitter to review their day, too:

Such an amazing day…can’t wait to do it again!!! #XfactorUSA

— demetria lovato (@ddlovato) May 25, 2012

Day 1 was sensational @TheXFactorUSA @ddlovato @britneyspears @SimonCowell #Austin — LA Reid (@LA_Reid) May 25, 2012

One of the best audition days we have ever done. @TheXFactorUSA

— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) May 25, 2012

Spears, 30, though had a controversial start to her X Factor tenure, reportedly leaving the set after being irked by a contestant’s performance.

That’s not true, according to our show insider.

“She took a break … for about 15 minutes – it wasn’t a big deal. She didn’t walk off, all the judges had a break,” the source said.

Members of the audience suggested Spears was visibly upset when an unidentified contestant belted out a version of her song “Hold It Against Me,” prompting her to quickly leave the panel.

“Britney looked a little shy in the first few auditions but by the second session she was really getting into it,” the source added.

“Right from the start, Britney knew what acts she liked. She wasn’t scared to disagree with Simon either.

“At one point in the afternoon, she even told Simon he was being too rude. Then a group performed and Britney started dancing and Demi joined in. ”

Said our onlooker: “No-one knew what to expect on the first day -  but they were all very happy.”

Team Simon or Team Demi? Comment below.

First he got a memoir, now 16-year-old Justin Bieber is getting his own biopic.

Paramount Pictures announced that it plants to turn the “Baby” singer’s life story into a 3D film. The currently-untitled film will reportedly be directed by An Inconvenient Truth director Davis Guggenheim and produced by Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid and Biebs’ manager, Scooter Braun.

The Bieber 3D project will follow his life story and be peppered with live performances from his current tour. It isn’t clear if this will be a documentary or a scripted film since Deadline Hollywood reports that Bieber will be “playing himself,” whatever that means.

Either way, the film is slated for release on Valentine’s Day weekend in 2011, so prepare yourself (and your heart) for Bieber’s romantic movie debut.

The teen cutie himself is pretty psyched about his first big screen exposure. From Justin’s Twitter:

just some incredible news…Next Valentine’s we r coming with a major 3D Movie telling the story with an Oscar winning director and also filmin the tour at MSG in NYC!!

Will you go see Justin in 3D? Oh, and make sure to crack open The Holy Bieble for guidance on all things Bieber-related.

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BUZZINGS: More Celeb Goodness

• Kanye West’s War Against Hipsters — Idolator

• The Hoff Talks About ‘The Cheeseburger Video’ — PopEater

• Halle Berry Rocks a Mean Bikini — The Superficial

New York City is getting dosed with some L.A. celebs thanks to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. At swank Manhattan eatery Cipriani, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Richie, and music mogul L.A. Reid dined together. 

With all that star wattage at one table it’s a miracle no one exploded.

An even bigger miracle? Nicole Richie at a dinner table. Nicole ditched her signature cut-offs for a pleather wrap skirt and head band.

Mary Kate Olsen was also rumored to be in the mix. But perhaps she turned sideways and a bread stick obscured her from photogs.