Former "X Factor" judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger have remained pretty tight-lipped regarding the news that Britney Spears and

href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lovato__demi/artist.jhtml">Demi Lovato [article id="1685066"]will replace them[/article] 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

target="_blank">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

href="http://www.breatheheavy.com/2012/05/official-x-factor-austin-texas-auditions-post/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed"

target="_blank">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 [article id="1685206"]new judges[/article].