Cheryl Cole would love to take six months out to meditate on a mountain

The ‘Promise This‘ singer – who, last year, divorced soccer player husband Ashley Cole and battled potentially-fatal malaria, which she contracted during a trip to Africa with rumoured boyfriend Derek Hough – often dreams of taking some time out from her hectic career.

She said: “It would be nice to take six months out and got to a mountain top and just meditate, let myself go.”

Cheryl also revealed she was tempted to have therapy after her marriage split, but her public profile means she doesn’t trust anyone other than friends and family.

She explained to the February edition of Elle magazine: “It crossed my mind but I’m not trusting enough to bare my soul to a stranger. I’m lucky that I’ve got friends and family to turn to.”

Despite refusing therapy, Cheryl admitted she didn’t cope as well as some people thought with all her problems last year but was determined to put on a brave face in public.

She said: “It’s very much a perception. Nobody knows what I went through behind closed doors.

“Nobody knows what it was like when I was on my own. Of course I held it together in public. Who wouldn’t?”

Cheryl, 27, is set to put her difficult year behind her with a planned move to Los Angeles after reportedly signing a deal to become a judge on the US version of ‘The X Factor‘.

Source: BANG Showbiz

The ‘Gravity’ hitmaker – who in the past has confessed to never having had a proper boyfriend – knows it’s important to strike a “happy medium” between her career and personal life, but admits she would struggle to fit a man into her busy schedule.

She explained: “I think it’s important to keep a happy medium – a good balance – because I love my friends so much and I think if I didn’t get to see them, then I would go a bit crazy.

“Do I have time for romance? I don’t know, maybe a little bit, I’m not sure. I’m not good at these questions.”

The blonde beauty appeared as a guest judge on Simon Cowell’s pop star search show ‘The X Factor’ earlier in the year but has been so busy recently she hasn’t even had the chance to watch the series.

Speaking about her ‘X Factor’ appearance on ITV1’s ‘Lorraine’ show, she said: “To be honest with you, I haven’t actually watched any of the episodes apart from the one that I was judging at – I’ve been so busy.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Cheryl Cole has named her fans “Cheryl’s Soldiers”

The ‘Promise This’ hitmaker has thanked her fans for standing out in the rain to see her to sign copies of her new book ‘Through My Eyes’ and has now given them a nickname to call themselves by.

She said: “Thank you so much to everyone who came out in the torrential rain to see me when I was at Waterstones last Friday. I clearly have the best and coolest fans in the world.

It was amazing to see so many faces – some familiar – and some new. I loved seeing you all and after hearing some of your stories I’m going start calling you guys Cheryl’s Soldiers!”

The 27-year-old singer – who is close to finalising her divorce with soccer player Ashley Cole – also revealed she will look out for her fans providing they do for her too.

Writing on her official Facebook page, Cheryl added: “You are the best. I really hope to see you all again sometime soon. I have your backs and I know you have mine.”

Last week Cheryl’s long-term musical collaborator will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas revealed his belief she would become a big hit in the US if she were to join the country’s version of UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ as a celebrity judge.

He said: “I’ve heard she’s going to be a judge on ‘The X Factor’ in the States. Wow, she’ll do great. The public will love her.

“I hung out with Cheryl recently… She’s cool. She’s a great artist and we’re good friends.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Cheryl Cole talks to her dogs on the phone

The ‘Fight For this Love’ singer insists the worst thing about being away from home for work is being separated from her pet pooches Buster and Coco.

The 27-year-old star tries to get the two Chihuahuas on the phone when she’s apart from them but the mutts aren’t very receptive.

She said: “When I’m away I miss the dogs like crazy. I used to talk to them on the phone but I don’t now because I’ve discovered they’re not interested. They don’t listen!”

Cheryl also revealed when she wants to relax and forget about work she will spend a night at home watching TV with her canine friends.

The pop beauty – who is a judge on Simon Cowell’s pop star search show ‘The X Factor’, a member of Girls Aloud and has a successful solo career – added to Britain’s HELLO! magazine: “I love spending time with Buster and Coco. That’s how I relax, just chilling out with them. They’re only Chihuahuas so they’re only little, but they’ve got big personalities. I think Buster sees himself as lord of the manor and if I’m away and my mum takes him up to Newcastle (Cheryl’s hometown) it’s like he’s kingpin up there as well. Coco is nervous of other people so she follows me everywhere and looks to me for protection. She’s my little baby.”

In 2009, Cheryl claimed she trusted her dogs more than her now ex-husband Ashley Cole following revelations her had cheated on her.

She said at the time: “I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t trust anybody in life except my mother and my dogs. I’m scared to let people know how much they mean to me, and it’s scary that you can love a small hairy thing so much.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Katy Perry wants to sleep with Cheryl Cole.

The ‘Teenage Dream’ hitmaker – who was recently a guest judge alongside the Girls Aloud singer, Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell on ‘The X Factor’ – is in awe of the ‘Fight for This Love’ hitmaker and would love to romance her if she wasn’t in a relationship with Russell Brand.

Katy said: “I adore Cheryl – she’s amazing. I’m very happy with my own English stud but if I wasn’t with him I’d be trying to date Cheryl. “Nobody should be as beautiful as she is. I know people get turned on by Simon’s power but if I was single I’d rather sleep with Cheryl than Simon.”

The US star also hinted that Cheryl has landed a role on the US version of ‘The X Factor’ – which is set to launch next year – and says she would love for them to work on music together.

She added: “After ‘The X Factor US’ I think she’ll be a fashion icon. The US is going to love her – and I want to perform with her.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Cheryl Cole is to visit some of the poorest parts of Africa in bid to help in the fight against malaria

The Fight for This Love singer – who is currently recovering after her own battle with the potentially-fatal disease after contracting it during a recent holiday to Tanzania – will go to the poverty-stricken areas to raise awareness of the illness, which causes 3,000 preventable deaths in the continent every day.

A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: ‘It is a very brave decision. Cheryl has thought long and hard about it. This is a life-changing, landmark experience for her. She’s seen how malaria destroys people’s lives and now has first-hand knowledge of just how serious it is. Cheryl got the best care possible when she got back from Tanzania and she is very grateful for it. But she is aware that millions of Africans are not so lucky.

‘After what she has been through, you might have thought Africa was the last place she’d be wanting to go to. But the reverse is true.’

During her trip – which will take place next year after she finishes on the latest series of UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ - the 27-year-old star will meet the families of malaria victims, promote anti-malaria mosquito nets and tour remote hospitals.

Last year, Cheryl helped to raise money to buy over 500,000 nets by claiming Mount Kilimanjaro.

Source: BANG Showbiz

The Boyzone singer – whose 12-year union with former model Yvonne was rocked by revelations he had had an affair with a dancer – has been working as a judge on Australian TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ and says the break from their native Ireland has given the couple the chance to repair their fractured relationship.

Ronan – who has children Jack, 11, Marie, nine, and Ali, four, with Yvonne – said: “We’ve been left to our own devices but we are now a happy family. It’s all good, thank God.”

Friends of the couple are thrilled that Yvonne has agreed to give the ‘Life is a Rollercoaster’ hitmaker a second chance and believe their temporary move Down Under is the best thing that could have happened.

A source said: “Their love is strong and Yvonne wanted to give it a second chance and decided to follow him to Australia.

“That time together has done them the world of good and Yvonne has been able to forgive him. It’s what he thinks is best for the children.”

Ronan and his family are expected to return to their Dublin home before the live stages of ‘The X Factor’ begin in Australia in three months.

Ronan, 33, recently thanked fans for getting him through the “scary” time that followed details of his affair with Francine Cornell being revealed in May.

He said: “It has been a really scary time. Thanks so much for all the support from you over the past few weeks. You were the ones who kept me going.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Randy Jackson — Nearly an ‘American Idol’ Casualty

Randy Jackson is the only judge returning to “American Idol” next season … but that almost wasn’t the case.

Randy Jackson – American Idol

Sources close to production tell TMZ there was “serious talk” of a clean sweep of the judge’s panel … but we’re told Idol brass wanted to keep a connection to the original judge’s table, so Randy was spared.

As we previously reported, Simon Cowell left for “The X Factor,” Ellen DeGeneres stepped down after one season and Kara DioGuardi was let go — leaving Randy as the only remaining judge.

Welcome back, dawg!

Source: TMZ

Simon Cowell wants Cheryl Cole to stay single.

The music mogul has reportedly ordered the 27-year-old singer – who is a judge on his UK TV show ‘The X Factor’ – to curb her rumoured romance with dancer Derek Hough in order to concentrate on getting back to full health after recently been stricken with potentially-fatal malaria.

A source told Reveal magazine: “Simon has had serious words with Cheryl and gave her a list of things she needs to sort out.

“He’s demanded that she puts her love life on hold – he feels Derek is a distraction that she simply doesn’t need. Derek is always hanging around on set with her and Cheryl is constantly trying to keep him happy.”

The 50-year-old star is also said to be planning to find a lifestyle coach to help the ‘Fight for This Love’ singer – who split from soccer star husband Ashley Cole in February following allegations he had been unfaithful – juggle her hectic schedule.

The source added: “Simon wants Cheryl to accept more help, rather than try and battle on by herself.

“He told her everyone in the US has a lifestyle guru and that he will get someone to work with her.

“Cheryl hates the idea because she is a very private person, but Simon is insisting on it. He believes having someone with her is the only way to guarantee she will eat, sleep and talk about her problems.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Cheryl Cole wants to raise money to stop the spread of malaria in Africa.

The pop star was hospitalised after contracting the potentially fatal tropical disease during a trip to Tanzania and while she has been recovering she has decided she wants to help sufferers in the continent.

A friend of the star said: “Cheryl wants to raise money for mosquito nets and better medicines across the worst-affected regions of Africa. After hitting such a terrible physical low, she has come to realise just how awful the disease is and how lucky she has been to receive the best medical care.”

The 27-year-old singer – who had to pull out of the audition stages of pop star search show ‘The X Factor’ and cancelled her scheduled appearances at the V Festival in August so she can fully recover – was discharged from hospital earlier this month and is now convalescing at her home in Surrey, South East England.

Meanwhile, Cheryl’s estranged husband Ashley Cole is selling the north London apartment he shared with the Girls Aloud star before they married.

The soccer player – who is currently in the process of getting divorced from Cheryl – is evicting his tenants from the property so he can put it on the market.

A source told The Mail on Sunday newspaper: “Ashley informed his tenants that they were being evicted three weeks ago, even though their tenancy is not over. He is hoping to sell up by the end of next month. He wants no more ties to Cheryl or the homes they once shared.”

Ashley, 29 and Cheryl moved into the apartment in 2004 before they got engaged. After they married they relocated to a £6 million Surrey mansion in 2008.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Leona Lewis has thrown herself into animal charity work to get over her split from her Boyfriend

The ‘Bleeding Love’ singer spent the weekend at a bear sanctuary in Romania for the World Society for the Protection of Animals after completing her debut UK tour in a bid to try and take her mind off her childhood sweetheart Lou Al-Chamaa.

She told The Sun newspaper: “It’s amazing. The bears are magnificent. After a life of abuse they are finally happy.”

Leona and Lou – a former trainee electrician who was handed a job with record label Sony BMG as a talent scout after Leona became famous – announced the end of their 10-year relationship last month.

While the split was said to be amicable and blamed on their busy work schedules, it has since turned nasty with Lou demanding a £1.5 million payout for helping her become famous.

Lou claims to have filled in the form for her to audition for UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’, which she went on to win, making her a global superstar who is worth millions.

A friend of Lou’s said: “He believes he has played a huge role in Leona’s success. They have been together for more than 10 years and he has encouraged her to fulfil her potential. He believes he has the rights of a common-law husband.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Cheryl Cole is still unable to talk following her battle with malaria.

The ‘Fight for this Love‘ singer has turned yellow from jaundice, is still on oxygen, and was hours from death following her infection with
the disease – believed to have been caused by a mosquito bite while she was holidaying in Tanzania with her rumoured boyfriend Derek
Hough.

A source told the News of the World: “We nearly lost her and the battle is far from over. She is so weak and this horrible illness has taken complete hold of her.

“It got so bad she was literally only hours from death’s door. Thank goodness she was diagnosed in time. “Even now she can’t talk. She drifts in and out of consciousness and when she comes round all she can do is sob.

“There was no news coming out of the hospital because it was all so touch and go. We couldn’t give any assurances to fans because there
weren’t any to give.”

The insider added she was still in a “very serious” state despite leaving the London’s University College Hospital late last week to be
treated in a private clinic.

The source said: “Seeing Cheryl like this is so painful. She could easily have dead. And she’s not better, she’s not even close. It’s
still a very serious situation and she’s really going to have to battle.”

It is also not thought she will be able to return to UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ for a while, putting the live shows – which begin in
late September – in jeopardy.

The source added: “Cheryl’s not going to be back for a long time. She won’t be seen in public for at least two months. This is a big wake-up call. She can’t go on as before or she’ll push herself to the brink again.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Dannii Minogue has given birth to a baby boy.

The singer-and-TV star – who moved back home to her native Australia to prepare for the birth of her first child with British boyfriend Kris Smith – delivered the tot in Melbourne on Monday (05.07.10).

The couple have named their son Ethan Edward Smith.

A statement released on behalf of Dannii, 38, and Kris, 31, said: “Kris Smith and Dannii Minogue are thrilled to announce the arrival of Ethan Edward Smith on 5 July 2010.

“Mother and baby are doing well and dad is very proud. They request their privacy at this special time to adjust as new parents.”

Dannii previously admitted she never saw a baby in her future until she got pregnant.

She said: “I just never thought it was something I would do. I had never been broody. No clock was ticking. And I would never have wanted to do it unless I was in the right relationship. He felt like ‘The One’.

“Kris loves me pregnant and that’s a big, big help. You do have hormonal days and I think if anything was said that left me thinking, ‘What did he mean by that?’ it might have got to me. But he is loving every minute of it.”

Dannii’s sister Kylie is expected to head home to Australia later this month to meet her nephew.

While Dannii has not taken part in the audition rounds for UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor‘ this year she is expected to return for the final auditions and the live shows alongside fellow judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole.

Source: BANG Showbiz

The singer is currently working as a judge on Simon Cowell’s pop star search show ‘The X Factor’, and has been introduced by the music mogul by her maiden name Cheryl Tweedy.

Simon joked with the crowd about her name change as Cheryl – who requested a “quickie” divorce from her England soccer player husband Ashley Cole in May – walked into the audition room at yesterday’s heat in London yesterday (23.06.10).

Simon said: “Who would like to hear from Cheryl…Tweedy? It is, now, isn’t it?”

An onlooker said there was a roar of applause for Cheryl as she walked in and the audience all stood up to welcome the ‘Fight for This Love’ singer.

Another member of the audience said: “Cheryl’s face didn’t give much away. Simon was sort of joshing but she didn’t laugh or look annoyed.”

Cheryl, 26, is now going to have laser treatment to remove her “Mrs C” tattoo she has on the back of her neck.

The pop star cited “unreasonable behaviour” as the reason behind the end of their three-and-a-half-year marriage, after numerous women claimed to have slept with Ashley during their relationship.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Simon Cowell’s fiancee wants him to hide his “protruding nipples”.

The music mogul – who is famed for his plain white T-shirts and high-waisted trousers – has allegedly been forced to take fashion advice from his make-up artist fiancee Mezhgan Hussainy because she’s fed of seeing his oversized ‘man boobs’ bulging out of his tight tops.

A source told the National Enquirer magazine: “Mezhgan started helping Simon pick out his clothes, and it’s made a huge difference. She detests those tight T-shirts he used to wear. She’s got great taste and, fortunately, it’s starting to rub off on Simon.”

Simon’s make-over is certainly set to be a hit with his friends.

Dannii Minogue, Simon’s fellow judge on UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor‘ has previously blasted his “uncool” and boring dress sense, and urged him to stop wearing T-shirts.

She said: “He’s letting the side down a bit. We just need him to ditch the boring trousers and T-shirts.

“It’s so much fun dressing up. I think it’s a really important part of the show – the contestants come along expecting a special day.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Susan Boyle has been blasted by opera legend Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

The New Zealand-born soprano was asked about the Scottish singing sensation’s version of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, which she also sings, but dismissed 49-year-old Susan as a product of “whizz” and “bang” reality television.

Speaking to the Radio Times, she said: “Let’s get off that subject, move on. I’m doing something classical, not whizz-bang. Whizz-bang disappears. It goes ‘whizz’ and then ‘bang’.”

The 66-year-old star – who is holding a competition on British station Radio 2 to find a new operatic talent – also took a swipe at popular reality TV shows, claiming she loathes the frenzy which surrounds them.

She said: “You insult me by even wanting to bring it into this conversation. I’m not interested. My competition has nothing to do with ‘The X Factor’, which I can’t bear.”

She also accused the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judges – which include music mogul Simon Cowell – of not doing a very good job, claiming her judges “know what they’re talking about”.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Cheryl Cole has been voted the Sexiest Woman in the World.

The Girls Aloud beauty – who separated from her soccer player husband Ashley Cole in February following his alleged infidelities – is still a favourite with the men of Britain after winning the top spot for a consecutive year for FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll.

The 26-year-old singer – who is also a judge on UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ – beat ‘Transformers’ actress Megan Fox and Victoria’s Secret model Marissa Miller into second and third place respectively.

Colin Kennedy, Editor-in-Chief of FHM claimed the “nation’s sweetheart” was an obvious winner for this year’s poll.

He said: “After hogging the headlines and dominating TV screens for 12 solid months the nation’s sweetheart romped home for a second successive year, leaving all challengers in her curvaceous wake.”

Other stars featured in the top ten included The Saturdays singer Frankie Sandford, who came fourth, and glamour model Keeley Hazell, who was placed fifth.

‘Twilight’ star Kristen Stewart was the highest new entry, being voted into sixth place, while Kelly Brook jumped 41 places from her position last year to take seventh spot.

Models Adriana Lima and Abbey Clancy came eighth and tenth respectively, with ‘Sin City’ beauty Jessica Alba placed ninth.

FHM 100 Sexiest Women 2010: Top Ten

1. Cheryl Cole

2. Megan Fox

3. Marissa Miller

4. Frankie Sandford

5. Keeley Hazell

6. Kristen Stewart

7. Kelly Brook

8. Adriana Lima

9. Jessica Alba

10. Abbey Clancy

Source: BANG Showbiz

Cheryl Cole claims working on ‘The X Factor’ has made her “more confident”.

The Girls Aloud star is unsure whether she will be offered a job on the US version of Simon Cowell’s show and she is still “shocked” by her success as a judge on the UK version of the pop star TV talent search.

She said: “Frankly, it has come as a shock to me. It is a really scary thing. Why would they give it to me? They don’t know me and I’ve got this heavy Newcastle accent. My turn on the UK show may have blinded the nation.

“By sitting in the judge’s hot seat I began to feel a change in myself. I just became more confident.

“For me, this was about conquering a new fear of doing something by myself. I don’t even know where I found the nerve to do it. When I waltzed into that room for the first time, I was honestly thinking, ‘What am I doing here?’ ”

While Cheryl is uncertain of her future in America, she has revealed she would like to do some work in India as she is fascinated by the country’s music.

She is quoted by the Times of India website as saying: “Indian music has different genres like folk, popular, pop, classical music and R ‘n’ B. I’d love to get myself introduced to the Indian classical music.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Sinitta has promised not to upstage Mezhgan Hussainy at her wedding to Simon Cowell.

The ‘So Macho’ hitmaker, who has previously dated the music mogul, insists she won’t try and stand out by wearing an attention-grabbing outfit, like the infamous palm leaf dress she wore on UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’.

She said: “What will I wear to the wedding? Oh my gosh. It’s going to be Mezhgan’s day so I don’t think I’m going to be trying to upstage her. The after-party however…”

Despite reports claiming Sinitta is helping her close pal plan his wedding, she insisted she is just going as a guest who will be “proud” of her friend.

She told BANG Showbiz: “It’s not me organising it, it’s actually another friend. I just get to turn up and support my little boy Simon. I’m just gonna turn up and keep pinching myself that it’s actually happening. I’m really pleased. It’s a big deal.

“I was like, ‘Simon, you are going to end up a very, very, very, very old man, with all of us chicks all around you’. They are in love and it’s cool.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Pals of the ‘Parachutes’ singer – who recently split from her soccer star husband Ashley Cole amid claims he had cheated on her with several women – are determined to help raise her spirits by not letting her stay single for long.

Choreographer Brian Friedman – who works with the Girls Aloud beauty on UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ – told the News of the World newspaper: “She deserves a great guy. Hopefully she’ll find him. I don’t know Ashley well. I only see him every once in a while at the show, but Cheryl’s my friend. So I have her back.

“When news came out about me moving her to LA, I’ve been getting non-stop contact from top guys in this city asking me to set them up with Cheryl.

“When – or actually if – she is ever ready to date someone, of course I will hook her up.”

It has also been claimed that dancer Derek Hough – who was pictured leaving the star’s hotel in the early hours of the morning when she fled to the US following her marriage split – is determined to win over Cheryl.

A source said: “He’s not used to women saying no to him and plans to use all his charms to win her round.”

Cheryl is said to be seriously considering a move to Los Angeles, where she can throw herself into work in order to get over her heartbreak.

Her friend Soulshock – real name Carsen Schack – revealed they chatted about the move when she appeared on Denmark’s version of TV talent show ‘The X Factor’, on Friday (05.03.10).

Soulshock – who is a judge on the programme – told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “I had a good chat to Cheryl for about an hour before the show.

“She didn’t want to talk about Ashley. She was speaking about LA and how she really wanted to get back there and start working on new songs.

“Cheryl is using her work as a real focus at the moment. She’s a very professional artist and there is nothing that will get in her way.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The ‘Bleeding Love’ singer – who shot to fame after winning the music mogul’s UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ in 2006 – admitted she has remained close to her mentor, but is still nervous about how he will react to her music.

Speaking about recording some new material, she said: “He didn’t come to the studio but I’d play him songs down the phone. It’s scary and you think, ‘Please like it!’

“We’ve formed more of a bond and we can be honest with each other.”

As well as Simon, Leona says she has lots of celebrity friends, in particular Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney and his family.

She said: “I have a relationship with the McCartneys. I respect their values and their opinions about vegetarianism because I’m a vegetarian. They’re really cool people.”

However, despite her successes, the singer admits she still gets overwhelmed when she meets other celebrities.

She added: “I was star-struck when I met Samuel L Jackson and Daniel Day-Lewis at the Golden Globes. I was excited when I met Nelson Mandela, too. I performed at his birthday in 2008. I was really honoured.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The music mogul has been persuaded by the ‘Bleeding Love’ singer – who he mentored on UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ in 2006 – to support Sir Paul McCartney’s Meat Free Mondays campaign, in which people give up eating animal products once a week.

Leona – who met the Beatles legend at the end of last year to discuss getting Simon involved – said: “Anything I ask Simon to get involved in regarding my charity and environmental concerns he always does. He’s cool like that.”

Simon – who recently got engaged to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy – joins other committed vegetarian stars Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Kevin Spacey and Woody Harrelson in supporting Paul’s cause.

Leona is a long-term vegetarian and has even banned meat from being served on her upcoming tour because she is so against the butchering of animals.

She said: “The meat industry is polluting the environment. I’ve banned meat from all photo shoots to the tour itself simply because I don’t support the meat industry.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Lady Gaga

The ‘Bad Romance’ singer impressed producer-and-judge Simon Cowell when she performed in a giant bathtub on the UK version of the TV talent show last year and the music mogul is desperate for her to bring her eccentricities to the upcoming series. A source said: “Simon thinks Lady Gaga is great and really likes her energy. Conversations have been happening between Cowell’s US team and her people about what kind of role she could have on the show.” The 23-year-old American star is said to be checking her hectic schedule to see if it is something she could fit in, but with her relentless touring commitments it may not be possible. Earlier this month, Simon announced he would leave ‘American Idol’ to launch the US ‘X Factor’ after sealing a $160 million deal. Other stars being tipped for a position on the judging panel include former Spice Girl Mel B, Paula Abdul and Cheryl Cole.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Alexandra Burke emails Beyonce Knowles all the time.

The ‘Bad Boys’ hitmaker has struck up a close friendship with the US singer and though they struggle to find the time to see one another, remain in constant contact.

Alexandra said: “We talk through email. She’s a lovely woman, the most whole woman I’ve ever met and with her success you wouldn’t expect her to be, but she is. She’s the ultimate diva.

“We just talk about how everything is going. She asks me what I am up to, and how my career’s going. It’s just normal, weirdly normal.”

Beyonce isn’t Alexandra’s only famous friend.

The singer has remained so close to Cheryl Cole – who was her mentor when she won UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ in 2008 – that she was even invited to spend Christmas with the Girls Aloud star and her husband, soccer star Ashley Cole.

She told more! magazine: “We’re on the phone all the time – it’s ridiculous. She even asked me to come round on Christmas Day but I said I was spending it with my family.

“It’s just like she’s my second family, me and her always eat spaghetti together. She’s such a lovely woman but my God she’s feisty.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

The ‘Bad Boys’ singer – who has had a hectic year following the release of her chart-topping debut album ‘Overcome’ – is treating her loved-ones to a tropical break to thank them for their support while she launched her pop career.

A source said: “Alexandra is now seeing the fruits of her labours. Her family have always supported her and this is her way of saying thanks.”

The 21-year-old songstress will jet her mother Melissa Bell, brothers and other members of the family over to the exotic holiday destination.

She has reportedly also invited her previously-estranged father David Burke.

Alexandra was just six years old when her dad left the family and was brought up by her mother alone.

However, the pair were reunited last year as Alexandra rose to fame when she won British reality singing show ‘The X Factor’.

The holiday will provide Alexandra with a much-needed break ahead of a busy 12 months.

The singer recently revealed she is planning to make changes to her debut album ‘Overcome’ in order to try to crack the US market next year.

She said: “I’d love for America to go well next year. I’m working on an American version of ‘Overcome’.

“I’m writing a few things for it. Ideally I just want to lay down some ideas, present it to the label and then see what happens. I don’t think we’re going to change it that much for the American market as the videos will definitely stay the same.”

Source: BANG Showbiz