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Simon Cowell bans X Factor hopefuls from singing Jennifer Hudson songs

The Voice UK might have made the transition from BBC to ITV earlier this year, but that doesn’t mean that it has been welcomed with open arms by everybody.

In fact, the Voice and X Factor rivalry continues to be so strong that Simon Cowell has even banned X Factor hopefuls from singing Jennifer Hudson songs, according to reports.

Simon still has rivalry with The Voice.
Simon still has rivalry with The Voice.

Jennifer is currently one of the most popular judges on The Voice UK and her hit song from movie Dreamgirls, ‘And I Am Telling You’, is normally the go-to for many X Factor auditionees to show off their vocal range.

However, Simon has now forbidden contestants from performing it.

A source told The Sun: “X Factor and The Voice may both be on ITV now but Simon still wants to be the best show and there’s rivalry there.

“This one girl tried to sing And I Am Telling You, which Jennifer sang in Dreamgirls, but Simon stopped her immediately and told her to sing something else.

Simon also wants hopefuls to sing original songs.
Simon also wants hopefuls to sing original songs.

“He did let her try another three tracks so it’s not like he shot her down there and then.”

Simon reportedly told the girl that the track was “too heavily linked to another show”.

Banning Jennifer Hudson isn’t Simon’s only change to the audition process either, with the music mogul reportedly encouraging contestants to sing their own song.

The insider continued: “He’s pushing for singer-songwriters and told producers he wants all-rounders. There have been loads of people singing original songs.

The Voice UK is back on a new home after the BBC lost the rights to the talent show (Copyright: BBC)
The Voice UK moved to ITV earlier this year.

“A girl band and a boy band in Manchester were particularly incredible, as well as a girl in her twenties who made Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger cry with her song.”

It is also thought that less novelty acts, such as Honey G and Jedward, will be proceeding in this year’s series of the show, with Simon keen to ensure the X Factor is “all about the music”.

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