Brandy loses 'Talent' to Sharon Osbourne

Brandy loses 'Talent' to Sharon Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne's high-profile wife Sharon Osbourne will be replacing singer Brandy as the judge of NBC's reality series America's Got Talent, the network said on Thursday. Another change is that host Regis Philbin will not return for the next season, and Jerry Springer will take over as the host.

Though NBC did not cite the reason, it is believed to be Brandy's involvement in two wrongful death lawsuits facing her as a result of a December 30, 2006, accident that left a 38-year-old woman dead. “Brandy has enjoyed her association with the program. However, she felt she couldn't give the new season the attention and commitment it deserved,” a publicist for the 28-year-old singer was quoted as saying.

On the show, Osbourne will join David Hasselhoff and Piers Morgan on the judges' panel. The 54-year-old celebrity has earlier been associated with America's Got Talent creator Simon Cowell through British talent show The X-Factor which she judges along with Cowell and Louis Walsh. Her other showbiz stints include British talk show The Sharon Osbourne Show and MTV reality show The Osbournes based on her family and life with Ozzy. She has also successfully managed her husband's music career.

“Sharon Osbourne is show business personified and she has seen and done it all. She will make an excellent fit with David and Piers, who we're delighted to have back for another great season,” said Craig Plestis, a spokesman for NBC Entertainment. The new season will premiere on May 29 with the new judge and the new host.

Meanwhile, in addition to the federal misdemeanor case, Brandy is facing two lawsuits, one by the 38-year-old victim Awatef Aboudihaj's parents and another by her sons, 14-year-old Mirwan and 10-year-old Kareem. The incident occurred on December 30 last year at 10:30 am, when the Have You Ever singer was on the Los Angeles freeway in a Land Rover. Brandy's car collided with another, causing it to collide with another car, causing a domino effect. Aboudihaj's car was hit as well and then smashed into by another vehicle, causing the woman severe injuries. She succumbed to her injuries the next day. If convicted in the federal case, Brandy faces up to one year in jail and a US$1,000 fine.

However, in January this year, Aboudihaj's parents brought about legal action against the singer, demanding US$50 million for the wrongful death of their daughter. Later in February, her sons, who were with their mother in the car when the accident occurred, also filed a similar lawsuit against Brandy, seeking damages for injuries that they claim might leave them with permanent disabilities.