Britney Spears, Demi Lovato Praised By Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger

'I'm always for the underdog coming back,' Abdul says of new 'X Factor' judge Spears.

By Jocelyn Vena







<P>Former "X Factor" judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger have remained pretty tight-lipped regarding the news that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> and <a
href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lovato__demi/artist.jhtml">Demi Lovato</a> <a href="/news/articles/1685066/britney-spears-demi-lovato-x-factor.jhtml">will replace them</a> on the next season of the Fox show. Until now, that is.</P><P>This week, Abdul sat down with Wendy Williams on her talk show and had only the kindest things to say about both of those ladies.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Spears Explains Why She Wanted To Be A Part Of 'X Factor'" id="vid:769620" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>"I think it's going to be great, and I'll tell you why. I think people are anticipating seeing Britney Spears. She's overcome a tremendous amount of adversity. And I'm always for the underdog coming back.</P><P>"She's a big star," Abdul said in footage posted on <a href="http://perezhilton.com/2012-05-24-wendy-williams-500th-show-paula-abdul-x-factor-drama-simon-cowell#.T75eV9xfFM4" target="_blank">Perezhilton.com</a>.</P><P>"And then there's a new budding star, Demi, with her music," she continued. "Her songs are great. She's riding a wave that's really exciting. It's a younger demo."</P><P>Scherzinger is also sending positive vibes Spears' way. She toured with her back in 2009 and added a bit of advice for the pop star. "Britney is so bubbly and warm and everyone loves her anyway, so she just has to be herself," Scherzinger told <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/marc_malkin/britney_spears_new_x_factor_judging_gig/308323#ixzz1vntHzHMj"
target="_blank">E! News</a>. "I think that it's something that we can't deny, but there's something about Britney that we ... are always rooting for her and behind her, no matter what."</P><P>According to Britney fansite <a
href="http://www.breatheheavy.com/2012/05/official-x-factor-austin-texas-auditions-post/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed"
target="_blank">Breatheheavy.com</a>, Spears and Lovato will sit at the judges' table for the first time on Thursday (May 24) in Austin for auditions. Spears is expected to work an eight-hour day. She will also be in Austin on Friday for more auditions.</P><P>Cowell confirmed at the Fox upfront earlier this month that this week would mark the beginning of filming with the <a href="/news/articles/1685206/britney-spears-x-factor-concept.jhtml">new judges</a>.</p>







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