Call it a clash of the divas! Following a tumultuous first ‘X Factor‘ season, Nicole Scherzinger is rumored to be leaving … And to have a pretty pricey replacement: None other than the best selling female artist of all time, Mariah Carey, may fill the Over 30s judge’s designer shoes!

Sources have been whispering that because Scherzinger wasn’t comfortable seeing contestants get eliminated, she wanted out. Once Mimi heard the news, she reportedly let Simon Cowell know she’d be willing to take Scherzy’s place.

The move, while dramatic, would hardly be surprising. Scherzinger was rumored to have a potential country switch with U.K. ‘X Factor’ judge Kelly Rowland, but it appears that may have fallen by the wayside as she focuses on other projects. In an interview in December, Scherzinger revealed that she was looking forward to finally finishing and releasing her long-delayed album, ‘Killer Love,’ and that she wanted to focus on a burgeoning acting career as well.

Scherzinger’s rumored emotional motives are also likely to play a role in the decision. The former Pussycat Doll faced massive backlash when her deadlock vote sent fan favorite Rachel Crow home. “I’m used to being on stage and performing and singing for people and people cheering for me,” Scherzinger said. “I am an artist first, not a judge first! The elimination process for me has been very difficult.”

For her part, Carey has always been welcome on ‘X Factor’ — but factors like weather, scheduling and cash kept her at bay. Cowell was determined to find a role for Carey on the series. When it was decided that she would be his guest during the judges’ home auditions, Hurricane Irene nixed her travel plans. In December, Carey’s request for a $300,00 payout to perform ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ with teen phenom Justin Bieber was denied.

While we’ll miss Scherzinger — tears and all — we’d love to see what advice and sass Mimi has up her sleeves!

More From 92.9 NiN