Janet Jackson Declines Judging Spot on ‘X Factor’

Janet Jackson, Pink, Katy Perry, Fergie, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne — the reported candidates for the two open judges’ spots on Fox’s The X Factor keep rolling in. But one of those artists appparently isn’t interested: Jackson has taken herself out of the running.

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The singer tells TheInsider.com that she’s “very flattered that X Factor let me know that I was being considered for next season, but it just wouldn’t be possible.”

Jackson says previous commitments to her Number Ones Up Close and Personal Tour and Lionsgate (which produced her 2010 film, Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls) keep her from accepting a TV gig at this time.

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Although the artist’s reps tell the site that she never took any meetings to discuss joining X Factor, The Hollywood Reporter’s sources said she was in very early talks about joining the show in mid-February. She also tiptoed around the idea when she appeared on Anderson Cooper’s daytime show, Anderson, on Feb. 20.

During a press call last week, Simon Cowell said he would be taking meetings during the next few weeks with those who have expressed interest in the positions formerly held by Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger. He also said that the series will replace Steve Jones with two hosts on Season 2 – a male and a female.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter: @TheRealJethro

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