Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland and international pop star Paulina Rubio will join The X Factor judging panel alongside Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato for season three, Fox revealed on the show's Facebook and Twitter pages Monday night.
The announcement came hours after a Missouri concert venue inadvertently leaked half of the news in a tweet warning ticket buyers that Rowland's tour had been canceled.
Due to X-Factor related sched. conflicts, the Kelly Rowland & The-Dream tour has been cancelled. All tix will be refunded at pt of purchase.— The Midland (@themidland) May 20, 2013
Rowland and Rubio had been heavily rumored to be close to finalizing deals, and Fox couldn't hold off any longer, as auditions for contestants begin Tuesday.
“It’s taken more than a decade but I’m delighted to finally be on a panel with three girls (I think!)," Cowell quipped in a statement. "Paulina and Kelly both have great taste and massive experience in the music industry and together with Demi, this is going to be a fun panel. It just feels like the time to do something different."
The two replace departing judges Britney Spears and L.A. Reid. Before last season, Spears and Lovato revealed their involvement as judges via Twitter, Path and Facebook.
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Rowland and Rubio have yet to tweet about their new roles, but Rowland will appear on The Tonight Show Monday, and will likely will discuss the gig with Jay Leno. She shared that news with her 5 million Twitter followers and 2.8 million Facebook fans.
“I am very excited to be reuniting with Simon Cowell and The X Factor family,” Rowland said in a statement that was posted to The X Factor's Facebook page. “It feels great to be able to take this journey here at home in the states!”
Rowland previously was a judge on the UK version of the show.
Rubio also has a strong following -- 6.6 million Twitter followers and 1.2 million Facebook fans -- that will help the show spice up its social presence. She issued fighting words to Cowell, who is known for heckling his fellow judges: "Simon, be careful what you wish for, let’s see if you are ready to handle me, empieza la fiesta, amigo!”
The two winners of the show's first two seasons, Melanie Amaro and Tate Stevens, haven't found as much success as their UK counterparts, which include Leona Lewis, One Direction and Cher Lloyd. The show airs in 191 countries.