Britney Spears' X Factor debut: The critics weigh in

The pop icon debuts as a judge on Fox's The X Factor, despite concerns about her history of instability and her qualifications to judge other singers

Britney Spears on "The X Factor"
(Image credit: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)

She's been a Mickey Mouse Club star, a teen-pop phenomenon, a mom, a head-shaving hysterical, and a tabloid whipping girl. Now, Britney Spears can add another bullet point to her resume: Reality show judge. Last night, Spears debuted on Fox's singing reality series The X Factor, alongside fellow adjudicators Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, and Demi Lovato. Cowell's decision to recruit Spears was an attention-grabbing gamble: Despite Spears' huge, loyal fanbase, her numerous public breakdowns have made her unpredictable — and some wonder if her own wispy, atrophied singing skills leave her unqualified to criticize other singers at all. Was hiring Spears just stunt-casting? Here, 4 takeaways from her first night in the judge's seat:

She's a surprisingly tough critic

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