'X Factor' Will Pay Tribute to Whitney Houston

Simon Cowell revealed yesterday that he intends to replace former X Factor host Steve Jones with a pair of co-hosts when the show returns later this year. "What we learned is that because you have so much information to deliver, it's almost impossible for one person," says Cowell. "It's [a] more fun way to do it with two people. It's a different chemistry. I've always wanted a boy and a girl and that will definitely happen."

Cowell also told journalists that he has some plans to pay tribute to Whitney Houston on the show. "I've got a feeling we're going to see a Whitney tribute on The Voice and Idol before us," he said, noting that he intends to do something a bit different. "We're going to continue to pay tribute to Whitney. Her songs literally are timeless. Whether we find anyone as good as her, that's a whole different ball game."

L.A. Reid, the only remaining judge on the show aside from Cowell, addressed reports that Houston had been approached to join the panel in season two. "We loved Whitney and we would certainly have considered her, but it never came to that," said Reid. "There was interest, but we really didn't get that far."