Demi Lovato The X Factor

The foregone conclusion is now an official reality: Demi Lovato will return as a judge on Season 3 of The X Factor.

Confirmed Fox and Simon Cowell today in a press release:

“I couldn’t be happier that Demi wants to come back this year. She’s a superstar in her own right and was a fantastic mentor last year. Even though she can be really, really annoying – I truly enjoyed working with her and so did the artists. I’m especially pleased she’s back, even during her world tour!”

The X Factor will look very different this fall, aside from Lovato and Cowell as panelists.

L.A. Reid is out. Britney Spears is out. Khloe Kardashian is a goner.

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Nothing is official yet, but Simon Cowell made it clear in an interview this week:

He'd love to have Demi Lovato back as an X Factor panelist.

“I liked having Demi on the show," producer Simon Cowell said Monday on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. "She’s fun to work with."

Of course, even if/when Lovato does return, L.A. Reid and Britney Spears have departed as panelists, while it's impossible to believe Khloe Kardashian will return as co-host.

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Britney Spears is out, Demi Lovato hopes to be in - and the singer also has a strong idea of who she wants to join her at The X Factor judging table.

Lovato tells Extra that 2013 will be a busy year for her with music and touring, but if the show asked her to return for Season 3, "I'd say yes."

And with both Spears and L.A. Reid departing the struggling series, Demi also weighed in on her ideal panel mate:

"I would love to see Lady Gaga. I don't know if that is possible or not."

Gaga does have some free time on her hands at least, as the artist has been forced to cancel her tour due to hip surgery.

Would you want to see Lady Gaga as a judge on The X Factor?

The X Factor hosted a party in Beverly Hills last night in honor of the show's final 12 contestants.

Who will come out on top and win Season 2? That's a question for another time.

But which of the show's three female participants - Britney Spears, Demi Lovato and Khloe Kardashian - looked hottest on the event's red carpet. That we can determine right here and now!

Study their fashion choices and vote now:

Three hours of The X Factor Season 2 are in the books.

What did everyone think? Are you shocked that Britney Spears seems coherent so far? Impressed by Demi Lovato's heart and attitude? Sick of Simon Cowell's t-shirts?

Looking forward to more talent taking the stage? Convinced we've already seen the winner cross our television screens?

Or have you simply been watching The Voice?

Jennel Garcia on The X Factor

After one week of this Fox competition, it's time to stop and evaluate the two most important aspects of it: the judges and the contestants. Weigh in below and let's find out who made what grade...

GRADE BRITNEY SPEARS AS A JUDGE:

GRADE DEMI LOVATO AS A JUDGE:

TELL US: WHO HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE SINGER SO FAR?

Demi Lovato and Britney Spears may have a few harsh things to say to X Factor contestants this fall, but the young singers and brand new judges cover the latest issue of TV Guide Magazine - and have nothing but positive things to say about each other.

"She's a very good judge. She toughens me up," Britney says of Demi, who has shown an unexpected strict side throughout auditions so far, actually ordering a couple hopefuls to get the heck out.

And how does Lovato feel about Spears?

"I don't think a lot of people have gotten to see her personality and her sense of humor," Demi gushes. "She's cooler than me."

And older. Lovato, who just turned 20, is awfully young to be judging contestants. But she sees that as a positive, telling the publication:

"I really feel like being the first young judge on any of these vocal competition shows is a lot of pressure, but at the same time, it’s great because I get to bring in a perspective from the audience that’s around my age. I can spot somebody who has talent and who’s memorable and could be a pop star."

Be warned, future X Factor hopefuls: Demi Lovato means business. Especially when it comes to drugs.

The new judge - whose history with substance abuse is well-known - reportedly stopped a couple of contestants in their rapping tracks this week because their lyrics included references to "bath salts," a synthetic powder that has been compared to cocaine and crystal meth - and was even rumored to be responsible for zombie attacks in Miami earlier this year.

Said an E! News source of the Greensboro audition:

"She wasn't having any of it. She said 'It's really irresponsible to be rapping about drugs in front of kids.' Then they tried to make excuses and Demi said, 'You talked about bath salts, I heard you.'"

Lovato ordered the young rappers to exit the stage, the insider added, and the "rest of the judges completely backed her."

Between this example, and reports that Britney Spears recently walked off the X Factor set because a drag queen tried to pay tribute to her with a rendition of "(You Drive Me) Crazy," there's little doubt:

Season 2 of the Fox competition will bring the serious drama!

The first promo for The X Factor season 2 asks viewers if they're ready for a pair of very famous new judges.

But what about those judges themselves? Demi Lovato and Britney Spears sure sounded ready today when they touched down in Austin, Texas for their very first round of auditions.

"So excited to be going to Austin this week for @TheXFactorUSA auditions!" Spears, who was accompanied to Austin with Jason Trawick, Tweeted. "Will I see any of y'all there on Thurs or Fri?"

Added Lovato via the same social network:

"It's my first day... woo hoo!! Who's coming??!!! #XFACTORUSA."

Approximately 200 hopefuls will face Demi, Britney, Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid during four three-hour show tapings over the next couple days. And from there, it's off to another city... and then another... and then another.

Which of the new panelists has you most excited?

UPDATE: A source tells TMZ that Spears walked off the set a few contestants in after a singer butchered her song, "Hold It Against Me." It's unclear if she was upset or just needed a break, but a few subsequent crooners auditioned in front of one empty chair.

Fox has one question for viewers: Are you ready?

During last night's American Idol finale, the network aired its first promo for season two of The X Factor. It included, of course, shots of the show's two new judges: Britney Spears and Demi Lovato. It also featured a cackling Simon Cowell asking folks, what the heck was I thinking?

We have no idea, as neither Britney nor Demi seem like ideal choices for a live competition that involves banter, quick wit and the ability to actually critique others. But, hey, we'll be happy to be proven wrong.

Watch the trailer now:

X Factor Season 2 Promo

They won't be competing against each other, but it's nevertheless on between Duets and The X Factor.

On the ABC Upfront party red carpet this week, John Legend - one of the four singers who will be teaming up with amateurs across the country on the new singing competition - was asked about the new X Factor judges, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, and replied:

"You know it's interesting. It should be very interesting. I don't have much to say," Legend told E! News. "It's interesting when people, you know, are judging singing competitions when they aren't really singers."

Ouch! Interesting is one diplomatic word for it, yes.

Robin Thicke, who will also appear on Duets, gave the young ladies some credit at least: "Oh come on, everything Britney does, she excels at. Demi is a lovely young lady, and I'm sure they'll do nothing but make the show a lot more fun to watch."

Which of these X Factor judges has you most excited?