There’s a reason Simon Cowell lives in a V-neck T-shirt: He’s already sweating the competition his “X Factor” will face come fall.
Cowell had laughed off the notion he would overpay to restaff his judge’s table, but news last week proved otherwise, as he signed Britney Spears for upwards of $15 million.
But he’s not stopping there.
Sources told On the Money that NBC’s mega-hit “The Voice” is hoping “to go head-to-head” with Cowell in the music-show ratings war this fall — one NBC is currently dominating.
Cowell, who previously admitted his US version of the show didn’t meet expectations in its first season, is fully aware the peacock is looking for some unfriendly competition, and he is hot to add another big name to the fold: Gwen Stefani (pictured) — but not as a judge. Stefani would be the backstage host, replacing Steve Jones.
What’s hard to pinpoint is how much he is willing to spend — or has left in his budget — for the sultry singer.
Consider this: Cowell splurged on Spears after canning his “best friend,” Paula Abdul, who only earned $2.5 million. The other judge he dismissed, Nicole Scherzinger, raked in a paltry $1.5 million.
A source confirmed Stefani has been contacted and is interested, while estimating her price tag as between $5 million and $7 million.
The source added, “[Cowell] is feeling the pressure and knows only a big-time, well-respected name will do if he wants anyone to flip the channel from ‘The Voice.’”
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and if this is true, I doubt she will accept. Isn't she releasing an album with No Doubt soon?
