Kelly Rowland & Paulina Rubio Join 'X Factor'

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The speculation has been confirmed: Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio will join The X Factor's judges table.

The Destiny's Child singer and best-selling Mexican chanteuse join judge and executive producer Simon Cowell and 20-year-old singer Demi Lovato on the panel for the show's third season.


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"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 (trans: the party begins)!"

Both of the women have previous judging experience on singing shows, as Rowland once served as a judge on the U.K.'s X Factor and Rubio held a recent stint on La Voz Kids, a Mexican version of The Voice.

"I am very excited to be reuniting with Simon Cowell and 'The X Factor' family," said Rowland. "It feels great to be able to take this journey here at home in the States!"


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The two are replacing departed one-season judge Britney Spears and two-season judge L.A. Reid, who both cited a desire to focus more on their careers as the foundation for their exits.

In its three-season run in the U.S., The X Factor has housed six different judges, with only Cowell remaining on the panel for the duration of the show. Lovato is the first celebrity judge to return for a second season.

"It's taken more than a decade, but I’m delighted to finally be on a panel with three girls (I think!)," Cowell said. "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."


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The ink on Rowland's and Rubio's contracts will have hardly have time to dry before they get to work, as auditions for Season 3 of the singing show begin Tuesday.