Hinting that the 'I Will Always Love You' hitmaker had shown interest in joining the talent show, the British producer admits he is devastated by her sudden passing.
- Feb 13, 2012
AceShowbiz - Whitney Houston was one of the names included in the list of possible "The X Factor (US)" judge, Simon Cowell has confirmed. Calling into "Piers Morgan Tonight" on Saturday night, September 11, the creator of the new reality series said that the late singer was indeed in consideration to take one of the vacant spots left by Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger.
"We were ironically going to meet on Monday and of course, one of the names we were going to be talking about in that meeting as a possible mentor on the new series of X Factor was going to be Whitney Houston," the former "American Idol" judge said, revealing that Houston was one of the stars who are going to be discussed during a meeting planned to take place a day after the ongoing Grammy Awards.
Cowell went on suggesting that the six-time Grammy Award winner had shown interest in joining the second season of the FOX show. "The rumors that had got back to us ... and that's often what happens when people want to be on these shows, somebody tells someone to get the word out, it's normally a sign that they are interested," he told CNN's host Piers Morgan.
"Given the choice, I would have liked to have taken her under my wing as well, because she would have been the ultimate, ultimate mentor to any contestant coming on the show," the "X Factor" creator further gushed. On her shocking death, he admitted, "I am absolutely devastated by this news. I am so sad for her. She was undoubtedly one of the greatest superstars of all time. One of the greatest voices in our time we're likely ever to hear."
Houston was found dead on Saturday, in a bath tub of her Beverly Hilton Hotel room. An autopsy on her body has been completed, but Los Angeles Deputy Chief Coroner Ed Winter said "the cause of death is deferred pending toxicology and further testing."
