Xciting changes: Simon Cowell has hinted about who he'd like to see on X Factor USA Pic: ©Rex Features
Simon Cowell wants to make the new season of X Factor USA Xtra special, and he’s admitted he’d like to sign up legendary performer Madonna and pop princess Katy Perry to add a bit of sparkle to the judging panel.
The music mogul, who quit X Factor UK to launch the US version last year, was speaking in an interview for Extra.
And he hinted that Katy and Madonna could very well be filling the spaces on the panel left by Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul, who confirmed they will not be returning for the new series.
Talking about Madonna joining the show, Simon said: "Yes I think she would be great, in terms of experience and success."
He also seemed rather keen on securing Firework singer Katy - who previously stepped in as a guest judge on the UK version.
Simon said: “I worked with Katy once, I think she would be fun. I think she is hard, in a good way and she's feisty."
Katy and Madonna are just two of the big stars linked to the job; others include former X Factor UK and USA judge Cheryl Cole, and So You Think You Can Dance host Cat Deeley.
R&B and soul diva Mariah Carey was also rumoured to be in the running, but Cowell denied this, saying: "I don't think Mariah would make that commitment. I really, really don't.
“She's just had kids, you have to work five days a week on this show and do all the travelling as well, so she won't be on the list."
He also said Elton John wouldn’t be signed up as a judge because "he wouldn't do it, and he'd be really difficult to work with,” and laughed off rumours that he’d offered new mum Beyonce $100 million (£63 million) to join, brushing off the rumours as “absolute nonsense”.
XCITING DEVELOPMENTS:
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