Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio join US ‘X Factor’ judges panel in ratings quest
Pop singer Kelly Rowland and Mexican singer-actress Paulina Rubio have signed onto The X Factor judging panel replacing Britney Spears and music mogul L.A. Reid, the Fox television talent competition produced by Simon Cowell said on Monday.
Rowland, who rose to fame with R&B group Destiny's Child, and Rubio will be charged with re-igniting the Fox series that failed to stave off falling ratings after giving Spears a reported $15 million salary last year.
Rowland, 32, and Rubio, 41, will join Cowell, 53, and pop singer Demi Lovato, 20, on the judging panel.
"It's taken more than a decade but I'm delighted to finally be on a panel with three girls (I think!). 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," Cowell said in a statement.
Cowell has revamped the judging panel after each season, firing singers Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger following a disappointing first season in the ratings.
The X Factor viewership fell to an average 9.7 million per episode from about 12.5 million in 2011.
Rowland, who has expanded into a solo career outside of Destiny's Child, joined the judges panel on the UK X Factor in 2011, bringing with her 20 years of experience in the music industry.
Grammy-winning artist Rubio is one of Latin music's best-known stars, with more than 20 million records sold worldwide.
Alongside her role in The X Factor, she will also be one of three musical coaches on La Voz Kids, the Spanish-language version of The Voice singing competition on Telemundo, aimed at children.