Entertainment News: cheryl cole

Cheryl Cole, a singer who was briefly a judge on the U.S. version of "The X Factor" last year before being replaced by Nicole Scherzinger, has sued Blue Orbit Productions, the company that produces the show, for $2.3 million.

Cole's lawsuit states that the singer had a "pay or play" clause in her contract for two seasons, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Cole was paid $1.8 million for the first season but not paid the additional $2 million for the second season.

Cheryl Cole will not serve as a judge on the U.S. version of "The X Factor" after all and will be replaced by Nicole Scherzinger, a member of the group the Pussycat Dolls who was previously announced as one of the FOX singing contest series' hosts.

"FOX, FremantleMedia North America and Syco TV today confirm Nicole Scherzinger will be replacing Cheryl Cole on the judging panel of 'The X Factor,'" read a statement from the network and the production companies, the latter of which was established by show creator and current judge Simon Cowell, formerly of "American Idol."

"The X Factor" might be experiencing a huge shake up at the judges' table.

Cheryl Cole has reportedly been axed as a judge on the show and, according to a report by People magazine, is being replaced by former Pussycat Doll singer Nicole Scherzinger.

Spokespeople for Fox had no immediate comment on the matter and Cowell's spokesperson declined to comment. Cole has not talked about the reports publicly.

Cheryl Cole has been confirmed as a judge for the U.S. version of the singing contest series "The X Factor," joining the acerbic Simon Cowell and music mogul L.A. Reid.

A fourth judge is also set to be announced ahead of the show's debut in the fall of 2011 on the FOX network, which also airs "American Idol," the hit series with a similar format that Cowell had left last year.

Is Simon Cowell courting Cheryl Cole AND his former "American Idol" colleague, Paula Abdul, for his new FOX talent series "The X Factor?"

Cole, a 27-year-old British pop singer, has been a judge on the original UK version of the talent series since 2008 and it has been reported for weeks that she may join a U.S. adaptation of the show that Cowell is launching in the United States this fall.

Will Cheryl Cole join Simon Cowell's new FOX show "The X Factor"?

Cole, a 27-year-old British pop singer, has been a judge on the original UK version of the talent series since 2008. Cowell, who left "American Idol" last year, has sat on the panel since the debut of "The X Factor" in 2004. He is producing the U.S. version of the show, which is set to premiere later this year. Cole has not commented.