Nicole Scherzinger

Britney Spears, Demi Lovato Praised By Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger

24 May 2012 13:17:03 EDT

'I'm always for the underdog coming back,' Abdul says of new 'X Factor' judge Spears.
By Jocelyn Vena

Former "X Factor" judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger have remained pretty tight-lipped regarding the news that Britney Spears and Demi Lovato will replace them on the next season of the Fox show. Until now, that is.

This week, Abdul sat down with Wendy Williams on her talk show and had only the kindest things to say about both of those ladies.

"I think it's going to be great, and I'll tell you why. I think people are anticipating seeing Britney Spears. She's overcome a tremendous amount of adversity. And I'm always for the underdog coming back.

"She's a big star," Abdul said in footage posted on Perezhilton.com.

"And then there's a new budding star, Demi, with her music," she continued. "Her songs are great. She's riding a wave that's really exciting. It's a younger demo."

Scherzinger is also sending positive vibes Spears' way. She toured with her back in 2009 and added a bit of advice for the pop star. "Britney is so bubbly and warm and everyone loves her anyway, so she just has to be herself," Scherzinger told E! News. "I think that it's something that we can't deny, but there's something about Britney that we ... are always rooting for her and behind her, no matter what."

According to Britney fansite Breatheheavy.com, Spears and Lovato will sit at the judges' table for the first time on Thursday (May 24) in Austin for auditions. Spears is expected to work an eight-hour day. She will also be in Austin on Friday for more auditions.

Cowell confirmed at the Fox upfront earlier this month that this week would mark the beginning of filming with the new judges.

Related Artists

Paula Abdul Exits 'X Factor'

30 Jan 2012 23:48:08 EST

Fellow mentor Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones are also out; a source tells Deadline 'none of the three left on their own accord.'
By Kara Warner

For any "X Factor" fans who are thinking season two of the Simon Cowell-created singing competition will be business as usual, think again, because Monday (January 30) marked a veritable bloodletting of the show's key talent and judging panel.

In addition to the losses of mentor Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones, original "American Idol" diva and delightfully unpredictable judge Paula Abdul will also not be returning to the program. A source close to Cowell told Deadline.com that all three personalities were asked to leave the show.

"None of the three left on their own accord," Deadline editor Nikki Finke wrote of what her insider source told her of the mass exodus. "It was cleaning house day at the so-so rated show."

Despite their frequent onscreen bickering and banter, Cowell spoke highly of Abdul when it was announced that she would be joining him on "X Factor." "I missed her the second she left ['Idol']," Cowell told Deadline last year. "Always loved working with her even though she can be a pain. I don't know what it is about her, but I've always clicked with her. You just have to get that chemistry, and she's right. I've never found anyone better than her."

Former Pussycat Doll and "Dancing With the Stars" champ Scherzinger was also sent packing, although a source close to Scherzinger told E! News that she left the show to focus on her music career. "She's spoken to Simon [Cowell], and he's given her his blessing," the insider told E! Scherzinger often became emotional during elimination episodes, shedding tears and expressing sympathy for ousted contestants.

As for inaugural "X Factor" host Jones, the cheeky Welshman broke the news himself via Twitter on Monday. "I won't be hosting next seasons X Factor which is a shame but I cant complain as I've had a great time," Jones tweeted to his more than 94,000 followers. "Good luck to everyone on the show."

Jones had decidedly big shoes to fill stepping into the gig, with comparisons instantly made to "American Idol" host/ media mogul Ryan Seacrest. Throughout the season, the reviews of Jones' hosting skills were decidedly mixed.

As far as we know, L.A. Reid will continue to work alongside Cowell on the judging panel. There has been no word yet from Fox on who might replace Abdul, Scherzinger and Jones, or when season two will premiere.

Who do you think should join "X Factor"? Share your ideas in the comments!

Related Artists

Nicole Scherzinger Solo Album Delayed Again

14 Oct 2011 10:53:44 EDT

Killer Love now reportedly slated for December 6 release.
By Gil Kaufman

After waiting more than five years for the domestic release of former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger's debut solo effort, surely her fans can hold on for a few more weeks?

The long-delayed Killer Love, which dropped in an alternate version in England in March, was slated to finally wash up on American shores on November 15. But according to the Hollywood Reporter, the disc has once again been delayed, pushed back a few weeks until December 6. No reason was given for the latest delay and the singer's label, Interscope Records, would only say that the new release date would be "early December."

The U.S. version of the Scherzinger disc is slated to feature production by a slew of heavy hitters, including Lady Gaga collaborator RedOne, Jim Jonsin, The-Dream, Harvey Mason Jr. and Tricky Stewart. Sting ("Power's Out") and Snoop Dogg ("Peep Show") are among the reported guests. 50 Cent lends some verses to the first single, "Right There."

A spokesperson for Interscope could not be reached for comment at press time about the release-date change. Scherzinger began work on her solo debut in 2005, only to shelve that album and start over again on the new effort several years later.

In the meantime, Scherzinger is busy with her other full-time gig as a judge on Simon Cowell's "X Factor." On Thursday night's baseball-delayed mentors' home-visit episode, Scherzinger hooked up with Enrique Iglesias to judge the talents of her assigned group of mentees: the over 30s. So far, Scherzinger, who was tapped as the fourth judge after original fourth judge Cheryl Cole was let go early in production, has served as a type of younger doppelgänger for Paula Abdul.

Veteran choreographer Abdul, who has locked down the role of the often weepy, sensitive mentor with the heart of glass, now appears to have an emotional friend in Scherzinger, who has frequently been moved to tears by some of the auditioners.

While Scherzinger has also shown some tough tendencies when facing off against Cowell, during Thursday night's first mentor episode she mostly chilled on the couch with guest helper Iglesias and awkwardly bobbed her head while making intense faces as he watched singers Elaine Gibbs and Stacy Francis do their thing. She had a hard time, though, keeping a poker face while formerly homeless James Brown wannabe Dexter Haygood did his Mick Jagger-meets-David-Lee-Roth version of Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love."

Related Artists

Nicole Scherzinger

'X Factor' Auditions Wrap Up With Teen Rapper Brian Bradley

29 Sep 2011 22:57:04 EDT

Teenagers ruled final audition episode before Boot Camp.
By Adam Graham

Fox's "The X Factor" wrapped up its audition rounds Thursday (September 29), sending its final batch of singers — including more than a few teenage contestants — to its version of Hollywood Week, known as Boot Camp.

First up was Brian Bradley, who definitely had the X factor, if the X factor is massive self-confidence.

The 14-year-old pint-size Brooklyn rapper stepped in front of the "X Factor" judges with the ego of a 10-times-platinum superstar. He said the reason he hadn't yet been signed to a record deal was "politics, man," and then picked a mock beef with Simon Cowell that led to him performing his original song, "Stop Looking at My Mom." With its old-school boom-bap and instantly catchy hook, "Stop Looking at My Mom" came on as strong as Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" did the first time you heard it, and the judges were instantly sold. Four "yes" votes later, Bradley was headed to Boot Camp.

Bradley mixed brash overconfidence (he said his contemporaries were Jay-Z and Kanye West, and claimed in five years he'd be "better than Jay-Z") with an endearing teenage innocence. After he was passed through, he said his plans to celebrate involved going home and jumping up and down on his bed.

Bradley had so much confidence he could afford to let Jazzlyn Little borrow some. The 16-year-old was so meek onstage in front of the judges that it looked like if there were a hole for her to climb into, she would have happily disappeared from view. But when she sang Mary J. Blige's "I'm Going Down," the shyness melted away, and she gave one of the most powerful auditions we've seen on the show thus far. L.A. Reid praised her "superstar voice," and Paula Abdul dubbed her "a little brilliant gem." Of course she's headed to Boot Camp, where her biggest obstacle will be belief in herself.

The teenage parade continued with 17-year-old Cari Fletcher, a classically trained vocalist whom Cowell dubbed "boring" after her version of Heart's "Alone," though he decided to let her through anyhow; and Ausem, a duo made up of two 15-year-olds, Austin and Emily. The pair performed Christina Perri's "Jar of Hearts" and the judges had much more confidence in Austin than they did Emily, but since they were a package deal, it was all or nothing. After much debate, Nicole Scherzinger gave them the "yes" they needed to advance in the competition, though it came with much reservation, and Emily already seemed nervous about meeting the challenge ahead.

Viewers were also briefly introduced to 14-year-old Nick Dean, a Justin Bieber type who earned passing marks from the judges for his original song "Walk Away"; the Brewer Boys, a brother duo made up of 13-year-old and 17-year-old siblings; Paige Elizabeth Ogle, an 18-year-old whose animated version of Lady Gaga's "Yoü and I" earned her what Cowell called his "easiest yes so far"; and Emily Michalak, who at 12 just barely met the show's age requirement but passed through to Boot Camp anyhow.

While they hogged the spotlight, Thursday's episode wasn't all about teenagers. High marks were also earned by Kelly Warner, a 22-year-old hairdresser at a nursing home whose bubbly disposition and sturdy vocal chops made up for her choice of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," one of the most overdone songs in the singing-show genre. Liliana Rose Andreano, a 26-year-old office worker who looked a bit like Olive Oyl, overcame her atypical pop-star looks and was called "magical" by Abdul after her winning version of "You Are My Sunshine." If "The X Factor" doesn't quite work out for Brennin Hunt, the 26-year-old already has the soap-star good looks to get cast on any number of daytime dramas as the brooding singer-next-door. And Tora Woloshin, a 21-year-old student who looked like Nicki Minaj by way of Amy Winehouse, was already feeling like a star during her version of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back."

With auditions wrapped, "The X Factor" Boot Camp begins next week, where the pool of contestants will eventually be narrowed to 32 and split into four categories: Boys, Girls, Over 30 and Groups. Each judge will be assigned to coach one of the groups, and singers will be picked off until eventually we get down to one singer who has that elusive X factor.

What did you think of Thursday's episode of "The X Factor"? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

Nicole Scherzinger

'X Factor': Simon Cowell X's Out Xander Alexander

22 Sep 2011 22:52:36 EDT

But Melanie Amaro wins the judges over with a powerful Beyoncé cover.
By Adam Graham

If Wednesday night's "X Factor" premiere focused primarily on positive auditions and warm-and-fuzzy backstories, Thursday's (September 22) episode upended that formula by highlighting failed singers and auditions that went nowhere.

The episode began in Miami, where not even a pep talk from Gloria Estefan could rile up any good fortune for the masses. A parade of hapless singers marched before the judges, with some of their stories backed by the sort of cozy instrumental beds that usually foreshadow a pass from the judges, only to have them, in the end, not quite pass muster with Simon Cowell and his crew. It wasn't until halfway through the first hour when the first singer was given the thumbs up to go to the next round.

That contestant was 21-year-old Nick Voss, who sported a modified Vanilla Ice haircut and looked a bit like onetime "One Tree Hill" hunk Tyler Hilton. With a hip-swiveling version of Elvis Presley's "Trouble," he impressed L.A. Reid, got Simon Cowell to say he "loved" him and prompted Nicole Scherzinger to dub him "Jim Carrey meets Jerry Lee Lewis, with a sprinkle of Elvis." He earned a green light to the next round.

Following a quickie montage of singers who made it through — including girl group 2Squar'd, soprano Jeremiah Pagan and bearded music instructor Brendan O'Hara — viewers were introduced to Melanie Amaro, the evening's standout who stopped the room cold with her impassioned take on Beyoncé's "Listen." Amaro wasn't given a hard-luck backstory or presented as a singer making her last ditch effort to sing for her life; she was simply a solid performer with strong vocal chops who managed to knock out the judges with her voice. Said Reid: "You have the gift, you have the soul, you have the spirit, you have the swagger. You have the X factor." Paula Abdul said Amaro's vocals were like nothing she's ever heard "in any audition that I've ever been on," and Cowell went so far as to say singers like Amaro were the reason he brought "The X Factor" to the United States. And instantly, the competition's early front-runner was born.

The second hour came from the show's Dallas auditions, with more hopeless singers appearing before the judges. A good deal of time was spent on the story of Dexter Haygood, a 49-year-old entertainer who could give Wednesday contestant Siameze Floyd a run for his money in the would-be James Brown department. The discovery of Dallas was 21-year-old Caitlyn Koch, a rugby player in her off-time who reinvented the Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love" as a piano ballad, the first time we've seen a singer do a top-to-bottom makeover on a song so far. Koch was given four "yes" votes from the panel and lived to see another day.

Thursday's episode closed with a singer who called himself Xander Alexander, a sassy 27-year-old who claimed he wanted to be "the next Donald Trump meets Martha Stewart without the jail time, meets Britney Spears meets Beyoncé without the ugly husband." He has a way with words, we'll give him that, but ultimately his tongue got him in trouble with Cowell, who didn't appreciate his constant backtalk (at one point, he referred to Cowell as "Simone"). Alexander's segment looked like it was going to build toward a happy ending for the performer despite his toxic attitude, but the judges pulled the rug out from underneath him at the last minute by not sending him through and ending the episode on a down note. Maybe we don't know everything there is to know about this show yet after all.

What did you think of Thursday's episode of "The X Factor"? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

'X Factor' Preview Signals Return Of Simon And Paula

13 Jul 2011 10:22:32 EDT

Promo teases a kinder, gentler head judge ... before showing Cowell will be no such thing on new show this fall.
By James Dinh

America got its first taste of Simon Cowell's highly anticipated American "X Factor" series (premiering September 21) during a new TV spot that aired on Fox Tuesday night (July 12) during the Major League Baseball's 82nd All-Star Game, and as expected, the teaser was nothing short of over-the-top.

The almost three-minute promo begins on an eerily positive note as judges Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A. Reid are approached by a young girl on the first day of auditions. "Hi. What's your name, sweetheart?" Adbul asks the contestant, who replies, "Lillian," and Cowell wishes her luck. After she delivers a less-than-mediocre rendition of "Annie" classic "Tomorrow," the judges — including Simon — lavishly praise Lillian.

The promo pans to shots of the panel greeting a line of fans while Cowell delivers some inspiring lines.

"Let's face it: A year is a long time," he says, as we see him uncharacteristically smiling and shaking hands like a politician. "We'll change your attitudes and this is a different decade. It's not about me anymore. It's about them. I want to make people's dreams come true.

"I even think about the environment," Cowell continues, as he gets into a Chevy Volt (one of several blatant Chevy product placements in the ad). "My attitude this year? Helping others make a better tomorrow."

If viewers didn't notice the comic nature of Simon's words, they sure caught wind when the series of terrible "Tomorrow" auditions pile up in a distorted montage, until he wakes up from the dream.

Following glamour shots of the four judges stepping out of private planes as Guns N' Roses' "Live and Let Die" blasts in the background, we finally get a glimpse of some not-so-scripted footage from the forthcoming reality competition. Now there's loads of critical feedback from Cowell and Reid, while Scherzinger and Abdul appear moved by some auditioners. Not only is the acerbic Simon back, but so is the unpredictable Paula, and we see her gushing over a singer, shoving a cup out of Simon's hand and snapping back at an audience member.

"What else did you expect?" Cowell asks the camera, as the ad comes to a close.

Related Artists

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger Avoids 'X Factor' Rumors

10 Jun 2011 09:57:35 EDT

'I'm just so happy to be a part of this show, no matter what,' the singer says about her new role on the program.
By Jocelyn Vena

Just days ago, official word came through that former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger would be sitting at the "X Factor" judges' panel instead of U.K. pop star Cheryl Cole. The announcement came after much speculation and debate about who the fourth judge on the Fox talent show would be alongside Simon Cowell, fellow former "American Idol" panelist Paula Abdul and music-biz executive L.A. Reid. Scherzinger spoke to The Hollywood Reporter during her first tapings as an "X Factor" judge in New Jersey this week, commenting that she "tries not to read" all the stories surrounding her and Cole. As for whether she found it difficult transitioning from being one of the program's co-hosts to a panelist, Scherzinger said, "Not at all. I'm just so happy to be a part of this show, no matter what ... I was nervous. I'm much more comfortable onstage." As for the woman she replaced as a judge, she called Cole "a lovely, beautiful girl." Scherzinger went on to say that "L.A. is my idol," and seemed enthusiastic about adapting the hit British show for American audiences. "[It's] frickin' wicked awesome," she gushed. "It's like a spaceship coming to America to give the people what they want." Abdul also had kind words for Cole. "As I've said, she's über-talented. She's lovely. We're friends. We have a great time together," she noted. In addition, Adbul had nice things to say about her former on-screen rival, Cowell. "[We're] having the greatest time," she admitted. "This sounds out of character ... We're laughing a lot. He's actually saying, 'I have to agree' with me. I have the horrible feeling the other shoe will drop. He's being charming in a weird way."

Related Artists

Nicole Scherzinger

50 Cent Joins Nicole Scherzinger On 'American Idol'

19 May 2011 22:04:45 EDT

Former Pussycat Doll performed her single 'Right There' with an assist from the rapper on Thursday night.
By Adam Graham

Nicole Scherzinger was "Right There" on "American Idol" on Thursday (May 19), as she performed her new single alongside 50 Cent.

The former Pussycat Doll and season 10 "Dancing With the Stars" champion slinked across the "Idol" stage in a barely-there white skirt and revealing top, and was joined onstage by a team of 10 backup dancers. She opened the performance in silhouette surrounded by purple light, and got right down to the business of the song. "I love when you put it right there, yeah, yeah," Scherzinger sang, gyrating her hips to the tropical-sounding track, produced by Jim Jonsin (T.I.'s "Whatever You Like," Eminem's "Space Bound").

Donning a fitted hat turned backward and cocked to the side along with a jacket, jeans and dangling chain, 50 Cent showed up midway through the song and quickly spit his eight-bar verse, before disappearing suddenly from the stage. 50's quick cameo — his "American Idol" debut — amounted to about 35 seconds of screen time.

"Right There" was released to iTunes this week and was in the upper-70s on iTunes' top songs chart on Thursday night. The single comes from Scherzinger's Killer Love album, which was released in the U.K. in March and is due out in the States later this year. The project has been gestating for years and has seen several massive delays, even after several singles were released in 2007, when the album carried the title Her Name is Nicole. The American version will reportedly feature a revamped track list from the international edition, including an unreleased collaboration with Snoop Dogg.

Scherzinger's appearance also served as a bit of cross-promotion for Fox; come fall, she'll co-host Simon Cowell's "The X Factor" alongside Steve Jones. Scherzinger appeared in an "X Factor" promo that aired at the end of Thursday's "Idol" broadcast.

What did you think of Nicole Scherzinger's performance? Let us know in the comments!

Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos

'Idol Party Live' With MTV News' Jim Cantiello

Related Photos

'American Idol' Season 10 Performances

Related Artists

Nicole Scherzinger Calls New Album 'Empowering'

20 Apr 2011 20:15:06 EDT

Pussycat Doll dishes to MTV News about recording 'dance anthems' with producer RedOne.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias

Nicole Scherzinger is currently in the process of wrapping up work on her solo album, Killer Love, set to drop later this year. For it, she's already hooked up with 50 Cent for the track "Right There," and she's working with some choice A-list producers for the long-simmering record.

"Well, I did a lot of the album with my producer RedOne and then I did sprinkles, other colors of the album with producers like Jim Jonsin and The-Dream and Tricky Stewart and Ne-Yo and I'm fortunate enough to have my boy 50 and Snoop on the album," Scherzinger told MTV News when we visited the "Right There" set in L.A. "So it's definitely got empowering, strong dance anthems and then I got an urban twist in there and some really good uplifting songs as well."

RedOne is certainly the man of the moment, helming hit tunes for Lady Gaga and J.Lo. Scherzinger said that working with the producer was amazing for many reasons, including their choice of locale while recording.

"It was amazing. We actually did most of the album when we worked together. We recorded in the South of France and in Spain and it wasn't just a really beautiful environment but it was a beautiful vibe," she recalled. "I just had a really big sound, a really strong sound in my head ... this loud dangerous image that I wanted to hear and put live onstage. And RedOne is an amazing musician, so he's able to put all these different sounds together and come up with an amazing hybrid. It's really fun."

Are you looking forward to new music from the Pussycat Doll? Tell us in the comments!

Related Artists

Nicole Scherzinger

50 Cent Joins Nicole Scherzinger For 'Right There' Music Video

20 Apr 2011 09:04:16 EDT

'Well, I was really wanting to date her,' 50 says of collaboration.
By Matt Elias

A surefire way to get buzz for your single is to invite 50 Cent to feature on it. On Tuesday, former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger took to Twitter to announce that she was doing just that.

"Shooting #RIGHTTHERE video w/ my boy @50cent @nicolescherzy & @50cent too hot for all these clothes!," Scherzinger tweeted, along with a photo of the two on the set.

MTV News was also on the Los Angeles set of the video for "Right There," directed by Paul Hunter. The still-unreleased "Right There," featuring a verse by Fif and produced by Jim Jonsin, will be the first U.S. single off Scherzinger's long-awaited solo debut, Killer Love. (A version of the album, sans 50 Cent, is already out in Europe.)

"I wanted to kinda keep the video pretty simple because I wanted it iconic," the songstress said, decked out in an eye-popping orange jumpsuit and olive-green jacket. "The way you get iconic pictures and memorable videos is just by keeping it simple. So we're in downtown L.A., and we're just wearing super-fly colors, and we're just feelin' it. Right now, we just shot a scene, it's just us against the blue skies — it's beautiful and we're just feeling the song."

Fif, who looked dapper in a blood-red trench coat and matching cap, joked that he sought out the collab for other reasons.

"Well, I was really wanting to date her," the rapper said with a grin. "They played the song, and I said, 'OK, I'll do it. Maybe I'll get a chance to do the video and be next to her and see what happens!' "

Related Artists