It seems that X Factor judge Kelly Rowland is proving her worth on the talent show, with the ex-Destiny’s Child singer calling on her extensive contacts list and asking old pal Usher to join her in Miami during the judges’ house stage of the talent competition next month.
But Rowland wonât need to worry if the international R&B superstar can’t make it. Rappers P Diddy, Nelly and Jay-Z, along with dance star David Guetta, have all been approached as back-ups for the show, with the judges all set to know shortly which category they will mentor in the next stage of the competition.
A show source said last night: “Kelly has a lot of friends in high places but has asked Usher to be her wingman. He loves the show as he’s been on it a few times and gets on well with Simon Cowell and the top brass. Plus, he knows a thing or two about finding new talent as he was the man who discovered Justin Bieber.â?
“It’s fair to say Bieber has done pretty well for himself since.” You donât say…
Never one to be outdone, Gary Barlow will also be travelling to the States, taking hopeful contestants to friend Robbie Williamâs mansion in LA with the Take That members teaming up to mentor the lucky acts.
In what’s shaping up to be a star studded line up for the next stage of the completion, Tulisa is also said to have bagged a big celeb, with the N-Dubz singer set to be joined in Athens by British rapper Tinie Tempah. Not forgetting Irish charmer Louis Walsh of course, who will be jetting off to former judge Sharon Osbourne’s pad in St Tropez.
During the judges’ house stage, 32 lucky hopefuls fight for the final 16 places in the competition, with each judge having to painstakingly whittle down eight acts to four. However, there’s always the chance of a wild card twist again, which last year resulted in Brazilian oddball Wagner Carrilho going on to become one of the biggest stars of the series.
In other X Factor news, Tulisa’s cousin and fellow N-Dubz band-mate Dappy launched into a random foul-mouthed Twitter rant about the show, accusing it of being fake and saying it will never produce a genuine artist.
“F*** X factor and every thing they stand for, no real original music or artist will ever come off that fake show exept Leona Lewis..NaNa” the 24-year-old tweeted yesterday.
Earlier this month, he also said acts had it too easy and it was “unfair” that they found instant fame. All is not well in the world of N-Dubz it appears…
X Factor returns to our screens this Saturday at 8pm on ITV1.
