"The X Factor" is upping the sexy factor -- TMZ has learned Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio are signing on to be judges for next season. 

Sources connected to FOX tell TMZ the pair are in final negotiations to join the show ... with only minor details left to be hammered out before they sign on. 

We're told the deals will be done in the next few days, possibly as early as tomorrow.

Rowland and Rubio would be replacing Britney Spears and L.A. Reid ... and joining returning judges Demi Lovato and (of course) Simon Cowell.

A rep for Fox had no comment.

Khloe Kardashian has been eliminated from "X Factor."

Fox released a statement moments ago, claiming Khloe will NOT be returning as a host for Season 3 ... but Mario Lopez will.

The network didn't give a reason for chopping Khloe, but said, "We really enjoyed working with her and wish her all the best in her future endeavors."  Translation:  Sayonara sucker!

We think they screwed up by making her read a teleprompter -- it was a total "deer-in-the-headlights" experience watching her struggle through the shows.

He went from Smokey Robinson to Smokey and the Bandit in less than 30 minutes -- a contestant on "X Factor" stole a car after his audition and went on a crazy chase before he was subdued.

Orrion Wilson from Florida -- of course -- was plum out of money after his audition near New Orleans. He didn't have enough for bus fare, so he went to a gas station ... lying in wait ... until a chump left his car running and went inside for cigarettes or something. Wilson took off in the car and led cops on a 75-mph chase, which ended with the rusty trusty "pit maneuver."

Wilson told authorities he did well in the audition and expected to return for round 2 in NYC, but needed some wheels to get there.

Wilson is still in custody.

If he doesn't get on "X Factor" ... he's perfect for "Fast & Furious 7."

Khloe Kardashian did not go the way of Paula Abdul ... and Nicole Scherzinger ... and Cheryl Cole ... and Steve Jones ... and has NOT been 86'd from "X Factor" ... this according to Kim Kardashian.

Rumors have been swirling all week long ... that "X Factor" honchos didn't feel Khloe was a good fit for the show and won't be bringing her back as a co-host next season.

But last night at LAX, Kim told us, "A lot of people say a lot of incorrect things on the daily."

When we asked what really did happen, Kim said, "Probably nothing."

Our "X Factor" sources tell us ... no decision on Khloe's fate has been decided at this point ... but exec. producer Simon Cowell is definitely thinking about staffing for next season.

We're told Simon believes Khloe is definitely strong in certain areas ... and not strong in others.

Last season, Khloe didn't sign on to do the show until the last minute ... so, it doesn't seem like there's a rush to make the decision right now.

Britney Spears just released a statement confirming the story TMZ first reported ... that she's leaving "X Factor" and will go back to making music ... but Spears notes it was a "very difficult decision."

"I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it's time for me to get back in the studio," Spears said.

She continues, "Watching them all do their thing up on that stage every week made me miss performing so much!  I can't wait to get back out there and do what I love most."

Spears would've made $15 million to return to the show next season ... but it's not like she'll be hurting for cash. She's currently working on her 8th album and is in serious talks to headline a show in Vegas.

Demi Lovato is rich and famous, and can afford to live just about anywhere she wants ... but we've learned she's been living in a fairly spartan sober living facility for more than a year.

It's actually pretty awesome ... Demi does not want to fall back into the grip of addiction, where she found herself back in 2010, when she admitted she had problems with anorexia, bulimia and cutting.

After going to rehab, the 20-year-old seemed better, but ultimately felt she needed the support and guidance from counselors and other addicts who understood her situation.

Sources tell us ... shortly after her inpatient rehab, she moved into a facility in the L.A. area.  It's interesting ... considering she also owns a very nice home in L.A..

We're told during the entire season of "X Factor" Demi felt it was best to come home to the facility, where she wouldn't lose her way.

As for how long she'll stay there ... it's undetermined.

In a town with a lot of stars who never figure it out, it's pretty amazing when you see someone as young as her make such good decisions.

Britney Spears will NOT be a judge on "X Factor" next season -- and it's entirely her doing ... TMZ has learned.
 
We have unimpeachable sources who tell us Britney loves the show but wants to focus on her music ... which she is doing right now.  Britney is in the studio recording her 8th album, with some help from Will.i.am and producer Hit-Boy, the brains behind Kanye and Jay-Z's "N****s in Paris."

One of our sources tells us ... "Britney loves Simon, she likes Demi Lovato but her thing is music."

We're told after she completes the album, Britney is seriously considering going on tour again.

Walking away from $15 mil ...Yeah, she's that rich.

Demi Lovato took a page out of Britney Spears' down-home playbook, and spent Christmas day stuffing her face in an unexpected, but awesome, place -- the International House of Pancakes!

Demi hit up an IHOP in Texas with her family for dinner on Tuesday, and the 'X Factor' judge's ruling was -- AWESOME!  She tweeted ... "Literally the best Christmas I've ever had."

The only person more excited than Demi about the meal -- a rep for IHOP who tells TMZ, "We are thrilled that Ms. Lovato came to IHOP for her Christmas Dinner and we look forward to her visiting us throughout the year."

No word on what Demi ordered, but we always recommend the "Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity" ... 'cause it's fun to say.

Simon Cowell has TWENTY THOUSAND reasons to cry over Thursday night's "X Factor" results show -- and it's all thanks to a rich-person bet he made with L.A. Reid. 

TMZ has learned ... Simon and L.A. made a wager at the beginning of the season ... and if either judge had a contestant win the whole shebang ... the losing judge would cough up $20k.

So when L.A.'s contestant Tate Stevens took home the crown ... he grew just a tiny bit richer than he already is. And since Simon's no sore loser, we're told he plans on cutting the check ASAP.

We're pretty sure it's illegal for the rich people to make this bet in the State of California -- but hey, who are we gonna tell?

Simon Cowell -- who normally says exactly what's on his mind -- was holding back BIG TIME on the subject of LeAnn Rimes last night ... 'cause while he insisted the singer was sober, he DEFINITELY couldn't say it with a straight face.

Simon was outside Mixology at The Grove in L.A. last night, when we asked about LeAnn's bizarre duet with Carly Rose Sonenclar on "X Factor" this week ... the one that left people thinking she was hammered.

Simon told us he thought the performance was "interesting" ... and he didn't believe LeAnn was on drugs or alcohol at the time. Buuut ... the giant poop-eating grin on his face makes it hard to believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.

Still, Simon says ... LeAnn is welcome back to the show any time she wants.

Carly Rose Sonenclar's family is royally pissed off at LeAnn Rimes for -- as they put it -- trashing their daughter's "X Factor" performance Wednesday night.

Sources connected with the family tell us ... the 13-year-old girl's mother is livid that Rimes would dare say Carly Rose was "nervous and had trouble hitting the right notes" when she sang "How Do I Live."
 
As you know ... Carly Rose did a duet of the song with Rimes on the show. People on social media went crazy after the performance, claiming Rimes was drunk.

TMZ broke the story ... Rimes insists she was sober, but says if things were awkward, it was only because, "I was trying to help this 13-year-old girl who was having some trouble with the song."  Rimes later claimed she never gave a quote, but we can tell you ... her rep specifically gave us the quote and told us we could use it.

Carly Rose's mother and other relatives are telling people they can't believe LeAnn threw their daughter under the bus, and that it was clear -- Carly Rose was a pro and even out-performed LeAnn at her own song.