Kelly Rowland on the X Factor Finale: "My Name Is Kelly Rowland — I Don't Care. I'm Going to Say What I Feel"
Ahead of the two-night X Factor Season 3 grand finale on Fox, Kelly Rowland spoke with Premier Guide Miami about Beyoncé's surprise album drop, her confidence in finalist Jeff Gutt, her combative dynamic with Simon Cowell, and whether she would return as a judge.
From the Vault · 2013
This is an archival piece from the Premier Guide Miami collection. The coverage, context, and details reflect the time it was originally published.
Kelly Rowland said it plainly: "My name is Kelly Rowland. I don't care. I'm going to say whatever it is I feel like I need to say. I think that's why Si…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.
On December 17, 2013, Fox Broadcasting hosted a press conference call with The X Factor Season 3 judge Kelly Rowland ahead of the show's two-night grand finale — December 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. on Fox. Rowland was mentoring finalist Jeff Gutt in the Over-25 category. Premier Guide Miami's Daedrian McNaughton was on the call.
Kelly, you looked fabulous in Beyoncé's "Superpower" video. How did you manage to keep it such a secret, and what is your reaction to the album and her strategy? How do you think it will affect artists like Jeff moving forward?
I think that it was such a brilliant idea on my sister's part, and I feel like it actually pushes every artist to just think out of the box. I also feel like it was such a movement. It wasn't just a rolling out of an album; it was a movement that happened, which I actually told her. It was not my secret to tell, to be completely honest, and I think that it was genius — completely, completely genius. — Kelly Rowland
Yesterday Simon mentioned there will be changes in the judging panel. Will you be returning next year?
I don't know what's going to happen next year. I know I've absolutely enjoyed my being here this year, and if I was invited back I would definitely come back. — Kelly Rowland
On her confidence heading into the finale:
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Simon is supposed to say that — they're his act. But I truly have the best in The X Factor when it comes to being seasoned as an artist, when it comes to a specific sound, when it comes to just being authentic to who they are. I have the winner. I definitely have the winner. — Kelly Rowland
On what she learned from Jeff Gutt:
With Jeff, I've learned just about being authentic and just standing your ground of who you are as an artist. I think that's the beauty about Jeff Gutt, and I actually think that America has caught that. He has stuck to his style. He's only evolved since being here. He hasn't changed into anything else mentally or anything. He's just Jeff Gutt. He is an authentic artist, and I love that about him. — Kelly Rowland
On her relationship with Simon Cowell:
Of course we're friendly, but I'm passionate and so is Simon. So when he says how he feels about something and I disagree, I'm not going to hold my thought because it's Simon Cowell. My name is Kelly Rowland. I don't care. I'm going to say whatever it is I feel like I need to say too, and Demi feels the same way. I think that's why he has us on the panel. — Kelly Rowland
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