Kelly Rowland In "Final Talks" For X Factor USA With Line-Up Announcement Expected Today

20 May 2013, 11:33

Simon Cowell has promised to announce the 2012 judging line-up this week ahead of auditions.

Kelly Rowland is the hot favourite to be announced as Britney Spears' replacement on The X Factor USA when the new panel line-up is announced later today (20th May).

The 'Down For Whatever' singer, who served as a judge on the UK series back in 2011, had already been tipped for the job last month and is now said to be in "final talks" to sign a contract for the show.

Mexican superstar Paulina Rubio is also expected to sign on for this year's panel as a replacement for L.A. Reid, after both Reid and Britney confirmed they would not be back this year.

"[Kelly] Rowland was on the highest-rated UK season," a source close to the series told E! News this past weekend. "We have a lot of faith in her as a judge."

Check out a picture of Kelly Rowland attending the Billboard Music Awards 2013 over the weekend below (Credit: PA):

Returning judge Simon Cowell has confirmed that the full panel for the 2013 series of The X Factor USA will be announced later today ahead of the first auditions in Charleston tomorrow (21st May).

We start x factor auditions in charleston on Tuesday," Simon tweeted over the weekend. "The new panel will be announced Monday. This is going to be an interesting show!"

Kelly Rowland is also due to begin promoting her new album 'Talk A Good Game' in the coming weeks, which officially drops on 3rd June and will feature guest appearances from her Destiny's Child bandmates Beyonce and Michelle Williams.