
Rich -- who wrote LFO's hit "Summer Girls" in 1999 -- suffered a stroke after a lengthy battle with leukemia, according to his brother. We're told he passed away in a hospital this afternoon.
Cronin was 35.

Britney Spears might miss a lot more 'X Factor' auditions ... because she can! Simon Cowell gave Brit damn near free reign in order to sign the pop star to that $15 million deal -- but is it backfiring? We'll tell you what peeps on the set are saying.Plus, Chris Jericho's…