Simon Cowell Rules Out Mariah Carey For X Factor

23 March 2011

Simon Cowell has ruled out Mariah Carey as one of his 'The X Factor' judges in the US, because the pregnant singer will be busy with her twins when the TV show is launched.

The music mogul had been desperate to recruit Mariah for the upcoming show, but has had to admit defeat because the star will be too busy with her newborn babies.

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He tells the Los Angeles Times, "I can tell you officially that Mariah will not be on the panel, mainly because I think she's still gonna be pregnant at the time we start filming and she's gonna need some time off.

"She couldn't start working straight away, and they're long days."

There is a chance that she could appear on the show once the live singing rounds begin.

He adds, "She wants to be involved... we're hopeful there will be a role for her - and I'm not sure what yet - on the live shows."

Producer L.A. Reid has already been chosen as one of the judges, and celebrities rumoured to be in the running for the job include Cheryl Cole, Paula Abdul, Jessica Simpson and Nicki Minaj.