Even before the first season began last summer, there was speculation that Mariah would be joining Simon on the show. She was even due to appear at the Judges’ Houses stage of the competition, but was unable to fly due to Hurricane Irene scuppering her travel plans.
Speaking to The Mirror about Simon's plans to finally get Mariah on the panel, a show insider said: “Simon wants nothing but the best for The X Factor - and Mariah is the best.”
However Mariah’s husband Nick Cannon has publicly dismissed suggestions that she will join Cowell on the X Factor USA, branding it a “step down” for the star. On his radio show Nick said: “Why would my wife want to be on a show like that? For somebody who has a legendary career, I don’t know why they would do that.”
Simon Cowell obviously is still holding out hope for Mariah to join the second series, telling People Magazine: “I'm a huge fan of hers, not just as an artist, but as a person, and I love her to death."Would you like to see Mariah on the next series of The X Factor USA?