Latest Simon Cowell News

• Simon Cowell will leave American Idol and launch X-Factor
• Dianna Agron dresses up in honor of Anna Paquin
• JustJaredJr. interview with Ashley Greene
• Mark McGuire finally admits to using steroids
• Elin Woods is busy being a mom
• Victoria Beckham dresses down for her kids
• Japanese re-enactment of Usain Bolt’s victory
• Nicole Richie celebrates Harlow’s 2nd birthday
• Anna Paquin celebrates her Golden Globe nomination
• Conan O’Brien spends Sunday with his family
• Christina Aguilera continues to film Burlesque
• Terrence Howard calls off the engagement with his fiancee

Check out these shots of celebrity guest judges at the American Idol auditions for season 9 hopefuls!

Stars like Katy Perry, Mary J. Blige and Neil Patrick Harris, lent a hand to Kara Dioguardi, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell and helped choose singers who would make it to Hollywood!

Guest judge Victoria Beckham told People she tried to find the best in everyone who auditioned.

“I believe in constructive criticism and I am a very positive person, so I always tried to find something good and helpful to focus on, be it someone’s singing, their looks or their overall style,” Vic said. “Having been a performer, I know how difficult it is to be that person standing there being judged. I didn’t want to trample on people’s dreams.”

American Idol starts up again this Tuesday (January 12) at 8/7c!

Other celeb judges pictured: Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Kristin Chenoweth and Joe Jonas

More Here! »

EW sat down with American Idol judges Simon Cowell and AI newbie Ellen DeGeneres to talk about what season 9 of the show has in store!

Here’s what Simon and Ellen had to share:

Ellen, on whether she worries about negativity from viewers: “Yeah, sure. And I understand it. I was one of those people that was skeptical, like, ‘Why are they adding a fourth judge? I don’t understand this.’ But I do think that Kara adds a lot to the show now. And also, it’s not just a new judge. It’s a new judge in the place of someone that they loved. I mean, a lot of people loved Paula, and I don’t want to be the person that took Paula’s job away from her. Which I wasn’t. I’m not going to be able to please everyone. I gave up trying to do that a long time ago.”

Simon, on criticism of his gay-themed banter with Ryan Seacrest: “Let me tell you something: We are the least racist, homophobic show in the world. What we do have, thank God, is a sense of humor. I hate political correctness. I wouldn’t go into any show saying anything is off-limits. If we have to abide by a ton of rules, we might as well call it a day now.”

Ellen, on what she’d do if Simon left the show: “If Simon goes, I go! I will not be there without Simon.”

For more from the Idol judges, visit EW.com!

Bigger cover pic inside…

More Here! »

American Idol is back for its ninth season a week from today, and here’s your first look at Ellen DeGeneres with host Ryan Seacrest and fellow judges Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Simon Cowell!

The two-night season premiere will air next Tuesday (January 12) at 8/7c on FOX and Wednesday (January 13) in the same time slot. According to Access Hollywood, the premiere week will feature auditions from Atlanta and Boston.

Ellen won’t be on the judging panel until February; instead, guest judges will be sitting in during the initial audition rounds. Look celeb judges including Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris, Joe Jonas, Katy Perry and more!

10+ pictures inside of Ryan Seacrest and the American Idol judges…

More Here! »

A shirtless Simon Cowell relaxes on a holiday trip to the Caribbean with his friends and family on Monday (December 21).

The 50-year-old Idol and X Factor judge took a ride on a jetski and looked like he was having a blast!

Simon’s brother, Tony, recently ignited rumors of Simon’s departure from Idol, saying on his weekly podcast (via EW), “Meanwhile, Simon prepares for a new season of Idol - or should I say, his last season of Idol.”

“As I sit here with my family in the sunny Caribbean, a press statement is being prepared, which will confirm what everyone expected: Simon will leave Idol at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of X Factor to U.S. TV in 2011.”

Hmm…

More Here! »

• Simon Cowell had an unforgettable party for his 50th
• Pete Wentz: Death to the emo haircut!
• Kate Voegele will hit the road
• Cheryl Tweedy is electrifying in Elle
• Will Smith is a high school football fan
• Find out where Brad Pitt goes to get away from it all
• A suspect in the Erin Andrews peephole case has been arrested
• Beyonce talks about the VMAs incident
• Taylor Momsen’s feeling topsy-turvy
• The Gosselin sibs have a parachute party
• The Ugly Betty season 4 premiere has been pushed back one week
• David Letterman apologized to his staff Monday and said his wife’s been “horribly hurt” by his behavior. “I got my work cut out for me,” he said during his mea culpa.
• Lady Gaga films an episode of Gossip Girl today on the Lower East Side.
• MTV has received consent from Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein’s family to air reality series, “Gone Too Far.” The series, created and hosted by AM, would premiere Monday night.
• The Real Housewives of New York is getting a new cast member: Sonja Morgan. The 45-year-old former movie producer and socialite is a real life friend of Countess LuAnn de Leseps.
• Jon Gosselin came in to the Sprinkles Beverly Hills store with a bunch of paparazzi snapping photos outside the window. After a few minutes, the staffers lowered the shade for his privacy and for the sake of the other guests in the bakery. He was grateful to the staff when they tried to protect his privacy. He took a box of four out to the photographers and then came back inside to enjoy his cupcakes at the bar. He bought about a dozen of an assortment.

• Simon Cowell wants Paula on the show, and always gets what he wants
• Hailey Glassman knows exactly how to use a bong, and is caught red-handed
• Demi Lovato chats with MySpace Music Feed
• Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner get close
• Kate Hudson and Alex Rodriguez officially an item
• Rachel Bilson supports Phillip Lim’s store opening
• American sportscaster Erin Andrews photo gallery
• Tila Tequila relaxes at the AXE lounge
• Lisa Rinna is proud of her bikini body
• Lady Gaga wears an outfit made of frogs?

• Simon Cowell’s ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour gets attacked
• Miley Cyrus to audition for Footloose?
• Beyonce likes it when her body is still curvy
• Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling like to walk together
• John Mayer Twitters about his love life
• Claire Danes at the American Ballet Theater
• Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson getting married?
• Ursula Vargues is an Argentinean stunner
• Sharon Stone wears a heck of a gown
• Olivia Wilde does gymnastics for GQ