British pop star, Cheryl Cole
Sorry, America, you won’t be meeting Cheryl Cole after all.
The upcoming Fox talent show, The X Factor, hasn’t even premiered in the U.S. yet and already it’s gone through some dramatic cast changes. While it was long-rumored that American Idol pals Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul would be together again, joining their reunion would also be music producer L.A. Reid and British pop star and judge of the U.K.’s X Factor, Cheryl Cole.
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But now People is reporting that Cole won’t be on the show, after all. Despite having reportedly already judged some early episodes of the show, Cole will supposedly be replaced by the Pussycat Dolls’ lead singer Nicole Scherzinger.
There is speculation that she was fired, but other reports suggest that she was simply homesick for the U.K. Either way, Cole’s show biz pals are rallying behind her. Russell Brand lamented her leaving on a British TV show, saying, “Our Cheryl, kicked off X Factor? Oh no! She’s Britain’s sweetheart.”
What is it that makes Cole so lovable? We guess America will never know. (via People)