Simon Cowell has yet to make any decisions about who will join him as a judge on the American version of his X-Factor singing competition when it debuts on Fox in the fall, but the rumored candidates are among the biggest names in pop music. According to Reuters, Mariah Carey, George Michael, Jessica Simpson, and Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls are all in the running.

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In an interview with Access Hollywood, Cowell made it clear that he was not in a rush to make any decisions, though he has been in contact with Carey about the gig. Cowell also said that his former American Idol sparring partner Paula Abdul is in talks to reunite with him on the judges' panel of the new show.

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Though The X-Factor will be superficially similar to American Idol, the show will have higher stakes – the winner will get a $5 million record contract, the largest prize in the history of American television – and more thorough mentoring for its contestants from big-name stars.

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