Nicole Scherzinger has quit 'The X Factor'.
The former Pussycat Doll, who has been a judge on the ITV talent show for the past two series, has reportedly made the "agonising" decision to leave to focus on her music career.
A friend of the star told The Sun newspaper: "It breaks her heart, but Nicole is sad not to be able to go back to the show this year. She has agonised over this decision for months.
"She put her music career on hold last year but now she has to focus on her music."
The news comes just days after 'X Factor' boss Simon Cowell announced he would return for the next series, replacing Gary Barlow, and would like Cheryl Cole to join the panel once again.
Show bosses were keen to keep Nicole, 35, who recently signed a new recording contract with Sony, but those close to Simon say she will "always be part of the 'X Factor' family."
Nicole is believed to have inked a £3 million recording deal and is due to release a new album in coming months, her first new material in three years.
Simon admitted this week he's been in talks with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, 30, to come on board after a three-year absence but said it's been difficult to try and persuade her.
Speaking about her possible return, he said: "To be fair to Cheryl, it hasn't been about the money with her. It's about whether she wants to do it and whether she can handle the pressure, so I'm not quite sure yet [if she will come back]."
Simon added: "She had her poker face on."
The 54-year-old music mogul wants to recreate the success of the series in 2010, when One Direction started their journey to becoming the world's biggest boy band.
The show pulled in 19 million viewers and saw Matt Cardle crowned the winner, while just 11.5 million watched as Sam Bailey was named champion last year.
Meanwhile, sources say Simon is also keen to sign Rita Ora as a new judge on the show.

Madonna "hates" her own music.
The 55-year-old singer is tired of hearing her own songs so would never work out to a soundtrack of her own material.
She admitted: "I don't work out to my music - I hate my music! I mean, I'm sick of it.
"I love my music, but I'm just kind of sick of it. I like to hear other people's music when I work out."
The 'Hung Up' hitmaker - who has children Lourdes, 17, Rocco, 13, and Mercy and David, both eight - is known for her toned physique but she isn't always happy with her body.
Speaking at the opening of her Hard Candy Fitness gym in Toronto, Canada, she said: "I have a love/hate relationship with my body. "Some days I'm happy with it and other days... I wasn't born with Gisele Bundchen's body unfortunately, so you got to work for it - but it's OK."
Madonna - who is dating 26-year-old dancer Timor Steffens - also admitted she isn't a fan of "big bulky" guys but does like them to be in shape.
Speaking to 'Entertainment Tonight Canada' reporter Roz Weston, she said: "You need to work out. I'm not into big bulky muscles, but a little more definition would be good.
"I like a lean, mean, fighting machine!"

Colin Farrell says his son is an "absolute stud".
The 37-year-old actor's son James, 10, suffers from Angelman Syndrome - a rare genetic condition that can impair speech, movement and balance - but he insists he is making incredible progress and makes him proud every day.
He told People magazine: "Every day, just breaking down boundaries. He's an amazing boy."
The 'Winter's Tale' star previously admitted James - whom he has with ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave - was one of the main reasons he checked himself into rehab for drug and alcohol abuse in 2005.
He said last year: "Everything he's achieved in his life has come through the presence and the kind of will that is hard work. He's a lot to be inspired by.
"Things like walking and talking and eating and feeding himself, all those things that so many of us naturally take for granted because they come so easily, to James, they come somewhat harder ... I remember the days when he couldn't watch 10 minutes of a film because he couldn't sit still, but now he can."
Meanwhile, Colin recently admitted James is still trying to bond with his half-brother, four-year-old Henry - whom the star has with Alicja Bachleda - but insists they're getting better as they get older.
He said previously: "They have two different moms so their crossover time isn't a lot ... so they're figuring it out.
"They're good together. They're funny together. They're finally getting used to the idea that the other one isn't leaving anytime soon, that they're both here to stay."

Lil' Kim is pregnant.
The 39-year-old rapper has revealed she is expecting her first child and she can't wait to be a mother to her little one when it arrives.
She told Us Weekly magazine: "I'm so excited! I'm a few months along. I can't wait to be a mum!"
The 'Magic Stick' hitmaker sparked rumours she was pregnant when she turned up at New York Fashion Week yesterday (12.02.14) sporting a huge baby bump beneath her clingy dress.
She then took to the stage at the Blonds Fashion Week after party in New York to sing 'Lighters Up', which she dedicated to the late Notorious B.I.G.
She told the crowd: "It's also going to be Biggie's birthday and the anniversary of his death soon so we [as she points to her belly] love you."
However, the brunette beauty is showing no signs of slowing down and is adamant the baby won't stop her working.
She said: "I'm still going to work. I'm still going to be hardcore, the baby has made me even more of a beast!"
Lil' Kim has decided to keep the identity of her child's father private at this time, but she was last romantically linked to professional boxer Floyd Mayweather, 36, and the pair were still dating last September.

Kanye West will be among the first guests on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers'. The 'Bound 2' rapper is part of a star-studded line-up including John Mayer, Lena Dunham and US Vice President Joe Biden, who will all appear throughout the week when the chat...

George Clooney thinks he'd never secure a role in 'Downton Abbey' because his English accent isn't good enough.
'The Monuments Men' actor, whose co-star Hugh Bonneville plays Robert, Earl of Grantham in the ITV period drama, praised the show but ruled himself out of joining the cast.
He told The Sun newspaper: "We all love that show, it's huge. I am too lowly for a part, I don't think they want me.
"I can't do the accent either. It's all very Dick Van Dyke."
Hugh later praised the 52-year-old star, who also wrote and directed 'The Monuments Men', which is based on the true story of a team of soldiers who recovered millions of pieces of artwork stolen by the Nazis in WWII.
Hugh, 50, said: "Working with George Clooney was a great experience. He's brilliant at directing, he has a great leadership style and he is, of course, an actor's director.
"It's been a lot of fun getting to be a part of his world.
He added: "There is this rumour that he's terribly handsome but I don't think we should fool ourselves. I'm clearly the hunk of the picture."
Meanwhile, George recently hinted he is thinking about retiring from the big screen in the near future to focus on his work as a producer and director.
He said: "The audience kind of tells you when it's time to get out from in front of the camera, and it's getting close I think."

Dan Osborne says he has a big penis.
'The Only way is Essex' star says he is "confident" about the size of his manhood and claims it's so large that he wouldn't consider getting a tattoo down below because there wouldn't be enough ink to finish the artwork.
Speaking in the latest issue of Attitude magazine, Dan laughed: "Probably not [down there], the pain would be unbelievable and, of course, there ain't enough ink to do the job.
"I've had tattoos since I was 18 years old. I might get the odd couple more, but I'll probably leave it for a while."
Dan admits his muscles could be larger, but he insists he doesn't wish to be better endowed as his manhood is already big enough.
He added: "I'm quite happy with my muscles. I'd like 'em a bit bigger but I'm fine with 'em. And I've already got a big d**k!"
While the 23-year-old hunk is happy with his body, he admits he would be reluctant to bare all and won't be participating in a full-frontal photoshoot any time soon.
Dan mused: "I'd be alright with [doing a full-frontal photo shoot] but I don't think my agent would really appreciate me doing it. But am I confident with what I've got down there? Yeah, very confident."

David Walliams thinks Davina McCall is "strong" for competing in a Sport Relief triathlon.
The 42-year-old comic has praised the former 'Big Brother' host for taking part in the gruelling seven-day charity challenge - which sees her cycling, running and swimming from Edinburgh, Scotland, to London - and believes she is doing a great job.
David raised over £1 million for Sport Relief in 2006 by swimming the English Channel and understands the hardship Davina, 46, is going through.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz, he said: "I think it shows that in these challenges you are pushed to the absolute limit. But I know she's quite a strong person both mentally and physically.
"The best way we can get behind her is donating, because that'll be the biggest thing that will make her happiest, to know people are behind her and care."
The 'Britain's Got Talent' judge admits he couldn't tackle a triathlon like 'Got to Dance' host Davina because he is not good at running or cycling.
He added: "The reason I couldn't do a triathlon is because you have to do three different things. I'm only good for swimming, whereas on a bike, I'm too heavy, and going for a run, I'm too heavy. You have to be lean to do the other things."
In support of Davina, BT has declared today (13.02.14) Dial for Davina Day and will donate 1p to Sport Relief for every phone call made from a BT home phone line, BT business line and every call made from a BT payphone.
To participate in Dial for Davina Day, people should simply pick up their BT phone and make a call on Thursday, February 13.

Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme ripped into LA band Imagine Dragons during a foul-mouthed rant.
The band, who missed out on a gong for Best Rock Performance to the group at the Grammy Awards last month, also slammed the awards ceremony at a gig at the Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas at the weekend.
Video footage has emerged of Josh introducing their track 'I Appear Missing' and joking: "This next song is Imagine Dragons", before being heckled by the crowd, to which he responds: "Just f***ing kidding. Wait, wait, wait, you've got to admit, you're all imagining dragons right now."
He then said: "You know, f**k everything, f**k the man, f**k Imagine Dragons and f**k the Grammys, f**k all this shit.
"We're supposed to be here with you, we ain't supposed to be, like with some, like the band's d**k in our hands."
Josh then thought about the comment and added: "Although, there ain't nothing wrong with it."
The singer and his band mates - Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore - also performed at the Grammys but had their set cut short during the show's finale, which also featured Nine Inch Nails, Dave Grohl and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham.
Los Angeles band Imagine Dragons, who released their album 'Night Visions' in 2012, won Best Rock Performance with their single 'Radioactive', beating Queens of the Stone Age, who were nominated for their track 'My God Is The Sun'.
Earlier this week, footage of Josh pushing an invader off the stage and calling him a "f***ing d*****bag" also surfaced online.
After pushing the man back into the crowd, he said: "Don't do that ... I don't know what you're trying to do. You're lucky I didn't f**k you up, bro. I'm here to play for you, not j**k you off, you f***ng d*****bag."

Justin Bieber's mother is 'genuinely concerned' for her son.
Pattie Mallette is standing by the 'Baby' hitmaker after his recent bad behaviour - including being arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest, and allegedly being abusive to flight staff who asked him to stop smoking marijuana - but is finding it difficult to cope in the public eye.
A source close to Pattie told E! News: "As any mom of an adult child, Pattie is holding him close and talking to him about everything, but she can't make his decisions for him.
"As any caring mother would be, Pattie is genuinely concerned for Justin, and she has said in many interviews before that she doesn't have her head in the clouds and keeps in very close touch.
"She talks with him almost every day, which is likely more than any mom and a 19-year-old son ... and she is in the public eye dealing with all of this."
The source insists Justin isn't the only one going through a tough time and says Pattie has found it hard being accused of letting her son get away with his recent antics.
They said: "It's so hard to see people's opinions and accusations when they don't know her.
"If she is with Justin, she is accused of endorsing or enabling him, yet if they find out she is not with him, they accuse her for not being with her own child in a time like this."
The insider said Pattie would "never do anything to bring harm to Justin" and claims the pair have a great relationship but they have had "serious discussions" following his arrest and she never makes excuses for her famous son.
The source added: "Those close to her know from Pattie, that it's always challenging as a parent to raise your child in the way you know to be right, letting them grow as they need when they become adults and have strangers share their opinion in unfounded, often hateful ways.
"It would be hard to imagine that any parent wouldn't feel the same love, concern and responsibility as Pattie does in regard to her son's well-being. Pattie and [his dad] Jeremy both know that they are responsible before God and are focusing on their son's well-being in private."

Nigella Lawson's ex-husband Charles Saatchi has taken his new girlfriend Trinny Woodall on a romantic Spanish break.
The millionaire art dealer and his lover have been celebrating her 50th birthday by visiting art museums and dining in lavish restaurants in the country.
TV star Trinny posted a photograph of her and Nigella's ex on her Instagram account having breakfast in Madrid, along with the caption: "Half a century".
In another snap, Trinny is seen wearing a new black and white top and posts the message: "Gorgeous present", while also sharing photographs of a visit to a gallery and a snap of her daughter Lyla, 10, her child with ex-husband Johnnie Elichaoff.
Trinny started dating Charles, 70, after he split from TV chef Nigella last year. They married in 2003 but divorced seven weeks after photos emerged of him with his hand around her neck.
The break-down of their marriage was played out in public during the trial of their former aides Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo, who were acquitted of fraud in 2013.
Meanwhile, Trinny and Nigella were involved in a war of words online this week, after the fashion expert wrote a blog marking her birthday, seemingly making reference to when Charles put his hand around his ex-wife's neck in a London restaurant.
Trinny wrote: "It's great that, at 50, life can still grab you by the throat and shake you up.
"And it's even better when you've learned to cope with whatever's thrown at you - so long as it isn't a bedside lamp."
Nigella appeared to respond to the blog post by writing on Twitter: "Slut's Spaghetti -- aka pasta alla puttanesca -- is #recipeoftheday. Do I need to say anything more? (sic)"
The brunette beauty attached a photograph of the recipe, before later adding: "No agenda behind #recipeoftheday! Slut's Spaghetti an old fave of mine. (sic)"

Bella Thorne insists her upcoming album will fit everyone's taste.
The 'Winter's Tale' actress has revealed her new single will be released in the next "few months" and her debut studio collection will follow shortly with tracks from a variation of genres.
She said: "Everything is very different so it is hard to say I have some Coachella music, I have some R&B, some more Ke$ha talk-y music.
"I wanted there to be a song for everyone I don't want it to just be you hear a song on the radio and say, 'Oh that kinda sounds like Bella Thorne,' like she would sing a song like that. I want it to be so versatile and different."
The 16-year-old star has several movie roles lined up for 2014 - including 'Blended' - but she insists every bit of spare time she gets, she spends in the studio.
Although, she most looking forward to performing her songs in front of an audience.
She explained to MTV: "I don't think people realise how much work it takes to make an album. I'm in the studio for hours in that tiny little box and really the performing part is what I'm most excited about."