Rod Stewart Becomes X Factorl Judge - Replaces Kelly Rowland

[jobeterob]

These days, if you want to supercharge your profile and boost your currency with the kids, all you have to do is become a judge on a reality TV show – just ask Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne… and rocker-cum-crooner Rod Stewart, who is set to join the UK version of The X Factor, subbing in for judge Kelly Rowland.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, the show is still searching for a permanent replacement for the former Destiny's Child singer, who cited the ever-popular “scheduling conflicts” as one of the reasons for her abrupt departure, but in the meantime, Stewart seems like a solid - albeit temporary - choice for the position.

As the site notes, Stewart hasn't exactly been scorching the planet with his music these days… well, unless you're 65 and consider stuff from the 'American songbook' to be radical. But he was one of the greatest rock singers in his day, and he's very clever, as anyone who has ever seen him interviewed can attest. So, could be cool.

The UK's Daily Mirror quotes a source apparently close to X Factor braintrust Simon Cowell as saying, “Rod is a genuine living legend and exactly what the show needs…He’s sold more than 100 million records worldwide so he knows exactly what it takes to succeed in the tough world of show business, and hopefully he’ll also be a big draw for viewers who might not have been fans of the X Factor before.”

Stewart is in the midst of a two-year residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas [[where he rotates with Elton John, Celine Dion, Shania Twain and others), as well as working on an album of blues standards with Jeff Beck so the X Factor thing would likely be temporary… but you never know. Stay tuned.

[carlo]

Too bad he can't be a judge on the U.S. X Factor. They have Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato as judges. Boring...