sowetan news: Demi Lovato Confirmed As 'X Factor' Judge

Monday, May 14, 2012

Demi Lovato Confirmed As 'X Factor' Judge

Lovato and Britney Spears expected to be at Monday (May 14) Fox upfront event.
By Gil Kaufman

Demi Lovato
Photo: Tom Pennington/ Getty Images

America will meet the rebooted panel of "The X Factor" on Monday and filling the fourth slot at the judges' table will be Demi Lovato. The 19-year-old Disney star is expected to make the announcement of her high-profile gig on Monday at the Fox network upfront presentation, which will also officially reveal the worst-kept-secret in TV: that Britney Spears has joined the show as well.

Lovato is one of the many names  that have been in the mix for the gig, which at one point also included Avril Lavigne, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey.

TMZ confirmed that Lovato has scored the gig, which will put her on alongside series creator Simon Cowell and music executive L.A. Reid when the show comes back for its second season in the fall.

Last week, Spears finalized her deal, which will reportedly pay her $15 million  for one season's work. Spears and Lovato replace Paula Abdul and former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, who were fired in January after the first season of the heavily-hyped show failed to live up to Cowell's lofty expectations. Both Lovato and Spears are expected to be on hand on Monday when Fox announces the show's new lineup at its upfront presentations.

Though Lovato has a summer tour planned , those dates will reportedly not conflict with her new duties on "X Factor."

A spokesperson for "X Factor" could not be reached for comment at press time.

Last week, MTV News asked some media experts whether the move to "X Factor" makes sense for Spears and the general consensus was that it did. "I think it is a good move, actually," said Entertainment Weekly  writer Tanner Stransky. "I think she has so many people on her team watching what she's doing and being careful. I think nobody would let her take a misstep, but I think it's the right move right now."

The only concern is how the reclusive star might deal with the increased scrutiny and requirement to think on her feet on live TV. "I think everyone is a little concerned, simply because Britney has been very press-shy since she's been in her conservatorship, and everything is incredibly guarded and incredibly controlled," said Keith Caulfield, associate director of charts at Billboard. "And there can be uncontrollable moments on 'The X Factor,' and if things are not completely in control and things are not rehearsed, things could go wrong. With a live show, anything can happen, and that can be very exciting but, at the same time, a little worrisome."

Lovato and Spears, 30, are the kind of young singers that "X Factor" producers were seemingly looking for to give the show a more youthful appeal and share their experience with contestants. Both are former child stars who've struggled with personal issues  and neither has experience appearing on live network television.

Do you think Demi Lovato will make a good "X Factor" judge? Let us know in comments below.

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