Well, it's (almost) official. Britney Spears will not be returning to the 'X Factor,' but she wasn't fired. The 31-year-old star has quit.

Although early reports claimed that Simon Cowell was leading the charge to get Spears canned, the pop star actually left the show out of her own volition. The singer is focusing on her music career, with plans to release an eighth studio album and launch a supporting tour. A TMZ source said, "Britney loves Simon, she likes Demi Lovato but her thing is music."

Us Weekly also has two sources confirming that the femme fatale has left the show, however, she may have walked away before getting the impending axe. In December, an insider told the magazine, “Britney will get the boot. Producers wanted her for the long haul, but it isn’t working.”

Spears was paid a whopping $15 million for the single season, but another source says she didn't earn her paycheck. “They paid all that for her to say ‘amazing’ and offer half-claps,” the source said. Brit-Brit didn't exactly fall flat on the show, though. She coached 13-year-old contestant Carly Rose Sonenclar to a second place victory.

In addition to her music career, Spears has her eyes set on the small screen. The star, who has already amassed a list of on-screen credits, is reportedly looking for a recurring role on a TV sitcom this year.

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