Demi Lovato Discusses ‘The X Factor’ and Simon Cowell

Demi Lovato The X Factor Interview
Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell, Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio star on 'The X Factor' (Photo Credit: Nino Munoz / FOX)

Demi Lovato survived the change-over of judges on Fox’s The X Factor and is returning for her second season as a judge/mentor of up-and-coming singers. This coming season Lovato will once again be working with Simon Cowell as they try to discover the most talented singers from among thousands of auditions.

Joining the row of judges for this new season will be The X Factor newcomers Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio.

During the 2013 summer Television Critics Association The X Factor panel, Lovato confessed to being nervous having to answer questions in front of dozens of reporters. But she managed to get past her interview jitters to talk about returning to the popular singing competition, which will debut its third season on September 11, 2013.

Demi Lovato The X Factor Interview

You’re the one person who’s really figured out how to play with Simon in a way. What was your attitude toward Simon when you first joined the show? And what was kind of instinctive about how to interact with him?

Demi Lovato: “I’m not really sure. Last year, I came into this experience with nobody tells him, ‘No.’ And also, you know, I’m just sticking up for my country. [Laughing] He’s been in our country so many years telling Americans what they’re doing wrong and making fun of them. So, I’m just doing my part as a citizen, anyway.

But also I felt like, I guess, being 19 last year I had a naive sense of confidence. I wasn’t intimidated by him as people normally would be. And then this year, I’d done it all last year. We have such a great friendship now that it’s just that’s how we are with each other. This year, I’m not the only one that does that – and that’s what makes this season, I believe, stand out more. Because he’s up against three women that will absolutely do the same thing, so the way I like to put it is last year the banter between me and Simon times three.”

Fifth Harmony got a record contract and now they’re on Disney. Do you consider them a big success?

Demi Lovato: “I want to say, with Fifth Harmony, when I watched their music video for ‘Miss Movin’ On,’ Simon actually showed it to me…well…all of us. Because we get so involved, we put our everything into these contestants, I actually watched it and cried because I sat there and I had the chills. I thought, ‘Wow,’ even though this wasn’t my category and I didn’t… Well, we all collectively, kind of, put them together. I still felt like I was a part of it and they are going to be [big], mark my words. Put it in ink so huge because, individually, each one of them is ridiculously talented.”


You’ve had a huge hit this year. If you weren’t doing this at this point in time and hadn’t committed, might you be touring instead to promote the album and the song?

Demi Lovato: “Well, first off, this is what I would want to do, period. I was crossing my fingers that I would be asked back, and here I am. So that’s pretty cool. But I also am a really, really hard worker. Last year I was recording an album during the live shows, and during the auditions, I was actually touring. So I work nonstop. And I might have been touring, but this is actually more fulfilling to me at the moment because when you see the look in the contestants’ eyes, you see their dreams, and we are providing them with the opportunity to achieve their dreams.

That’s what’s amazing about this show is some shows may say that it’s not about creating a pop star, but we want to help these people break out in the industry, whether they win or not. And it’s been truly incredible to help, along with the rest of this panel and the entire show, fulfill dreams and be a part of that journey. I can’t tell you how incredible it is. And then not only that, but when I tell you that  when [Paulina] says that we’ve bonded, that’s almost an understatement because this is my family up here and these are my sisters.”


When you go back out and do live engagements now, does this experience charge you up that much more when you get out onstage yourself? 


Demi Lovato: “Absolutely. I believe I’m the youngest judge on any of these shows and that’s a lot of pressure to live up to. So when you are recording an album or you are touring or performing, not only do you have your fans looking at you, just hoping that you are making good music and performing, you are doing that for your fans, but then you have their parents now watching you, saying, ‘Okay. Is she worthy of being a judge on the stage?’ So every single time I go onstage or I’m recording an album, anything, I’m constantly thinking about not just the younger demographic, but the demographic that our show reaches out to all over the United States. And then, of course, fans in other countries look it up on YouTube or whatever they find it from.”