Rod Stewart Reportedly Takes Fill-In Gig on ‘The X Factor’

We’re not quite sure how it happened, but all of a sudden, accepting a judges’ position on a reality competition series is the hippest thing to do — and with everyone from Steven Tyler to Britney Spears getting in on the action, Rod Stewart has decided to join the fun by filling in for Kelly Rowland on the U.K. version of ‘The X Factor.’

The show is still searching for a permanent replacement for Rowland, who cited the ever-popular “scheduling conflicts” as one of the reasons for her abrupt departure, but in the meantime, Stewart seems like a solid — albeit temporary — choice for the position. Although his albums have tottered into dinner music territory over the last decade or so, Stewart remains one of classic rock’s cheekiest personalities, and putting him at the table should liven up the proceedings on a show whose ratings flagged last season.

Showrunner Simon Cowell seems to agree, according to a source for the U.K.’s Daily Mirror, who’s quoted as saying, “Rod is a genuine living legend and exactly what the show needs…He’s sold more than 100 million records worldwide so he knows exactly what it takes to succeed in the tough world of showbusiness, and hopefully he’ll also be a big draw for viewers who might not have been fans of ‘The X Factor’ before.”

Stewart’s last album, 2010′s ‘Fly Me to the Moon…the Great American Songbook Volume V,’ peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard album charts. He’s currently in the midst of a two-year residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, as well as working on an album of blues standards with Jeff Beck.