A well-known pop singer is reportedly close to a deal to join Simon Cowell’s "The X Factor" as a judge for the show’s second season, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

The deal to bring Britney Spears to the Fox singing competition would be for a salary of close to $15 million — exceeding Jennifer Lopez’s $12 million deal to join "American Idol" last year, the story notes.

"Cowell and Fox had focused on getting Spears on board before moving to filling the other vacant judge chair on the show. The recruitment of Spears would bring the star power Cowell & Co. had been looking for," Andreeva writes.

Cowell has been effusive in his praise for Spears, telling a radio interviewer that he was "fascinated" by her and that she has "resilience," the story notes.