Nicole Scherzinger Replaces Cheryl Cole as "X-Factor" Judge

Following much speculation, FOX has finally confirmed the replacement of Cheryl Cole by Nicole Scherzinger as judge on "The X Factor."

The network officially announced the change to the Simon Cowell created show after several reports pointed Cheryl's outing more than two weeks ago.

A statement released to the media explained, "Nicole will join Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul on their search across America to find the next global superstar or group to win the life-changing $5 million."

Rumors suggested that Cole was dropped due to her heavy Northern English accent, however, a source close to Scherzinger told press, "With the pressure building for this show to be a success, Cheryl was a much bigger risk and instinctively, as time went on, Nicole felt more and more like the right choice. Nicole was so disappointed before when she wasn't picked, but now, thankfully, she is in the role she was always meant for. And Simon knows that."

Taking the stage for the the show's finale, Nicole Scherzinger was the guest performer on "Britain's Got Talent" on Saturday night (June 4).

Clad in a skin-revealing white ensemble, the former Pussycat Dolls darling churned out renditions of her hit songs "Right There" and "Don't Hold Your Breath" during the UK talent show gig.

Tweeting about the appearance, Nicole happily wrote, "Just did Britain's Got Talent! Thankyou UK for all ur love and support! Hope ur feeling #Rightthere! Keep it right there!"

As for her upcoming judge duties on the U.S. version of "The X Factor," Miss Scherzinger recently told The Daily Mail, "I'm not at all nervous about The X Factor. Simon [Cowell] has this unbelievable way of making you feel at ease... Simon Cowell is a genius - he's also very funny."

Also looking back on her efforts on her time on the UK version of the hit show last year, Nicole said, "[Cowell] and Louis Walsh were amazing to work with. They'd sit together and say incredibly awful things to each other and then burst out laughing, like brothers. There's never a dull moment around Simon, because there's always something going on; his brain never stops working."

As for Cheryl Cole, it seems she is facing another downgrade after being let go from the American version of “X Factor”.

The brunette beauty judged auditions in two cities (which will air) but failed to impress the show's higher-ups so they may dock her down from judge to “guest judge.”

A TV source said, “If Cheryl is made to look like a guest judge or an experiment that went wrong it would have big implications for her career and could kill her American dream. Being dumped from the show has been bad enough, I can’t imagine she will be looking forward to reliving the auditions on screen.”

Staying mum about the situation so far, Cheryl has still not spoken out about the decision to cut her just days into her new role.

And though Scherzinger is said to be very grateful for her new gig, she's also fearful that British fans will react negatively.

A source revealed, "Nicole is really upset at what happened to Cheryl. She knows her well and thought she would have been a great in the show. She knows how people in Britain are so proud of their stars and want to see them do well in the States too, so she is aware there could be a lot of unhappiness surrounding the rejection.”

"The last thing she wants is bad blood between herself and Cheryl and anyone thinking she might have been lobbying to get her place. Nicole wants to see her do well in whatever she does next and hopes there won't be any hard feelings."

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