X-Factor Will Honor the Late Whitney Houston

February 23, 2012 5:34 PM

Photo by Jakubaszek/Mark Davis for Getty Images

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Though he assumes The Voice and American Idol will beat him to the punch, Simon Cowell plans on paying tribute to the late Whitney Houston during an episode of next season’s X-Factor.

The tight-shirted television personality and producer also plans on mixing it up this year after recently firing almost EVERYONE on the star-making talent show.

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Though The Voice and American Idol will get the jump on Cowell’s X-Factor with potential Whitney tributes, but the show creator has plenty of time to figure out something special and unique before premiering this Fall.

“It’s going to be a whole different feeling when contestants come out and sing her songs, because she’s not around anymore,” Cowell told the LA Times. “We’re going to continue to pay tribute to Whitney… Her songs literally are timeless.”

Cowell also mentioned that since releasing Steve Jones of his hosting duties, he plans on using a new approach.

“What we learned is that because you have so much information to deliver, it’s almost impossible for one person,” he told Variety. “It’s more fun to do it with two people. It’s a different chemistry. I’ve always wanted a boy and a girl and that will definitely happen.”