Britney Spears Nears 'X Factor' Deal

Pop star would reportedly bank $15 million to join judges' panel on Simon Cowell's reality competition.

Several stars — from Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey to, at one time, the late Whitney Houston — have reportedly been discussed as possible replacements for Nicole Scherizinger and Paula Abdul, though no deals have been announced. The buzz surrounding Spears seems to be the most reliable, as sources close to the show report that her fiancé and former agent Jason Trawick is actively negotiating the deal.  Whitney Houston

Cowell reportedly reached out to Spears personally to gauge her interest in joining the show and has been singing her praises publicly, saying in a March conference call with reporters that he is "fascinated" by Spears and believes work on "The X Factor" will be easy for the hardworking singer.

"This girl has resilience. I would think that if she's managed to sustain a family, a career, which is tough, ["X Factor" would be] a walk in the park," Cowell said. "I would be fascinated to hear what she has to say. She's still hot, she's still having hit records and she's still controversial. There's a reason for that."

A point of conflict has reportedly been Cowell's insistence that Spears sign a two-year contract with the show, while she wants the option of opting out after just one season if she feels the gig is not a good fit. Whether Trawick and Cowell were able to reach an agreement on the issue has not been made public.