Cheryl couldn’t hide her emotions over Stacey’s performance… despite trying to hide her Geordie accent
SHE was quickly sacked from X Factor USA, but Cheryl still managed to spot one of the show’s biggest stars, Celebrity Big Brother’s Stacy Francis.
Cheryl couldn’t contain her emotions as single mum Stacy auditioned for the panel in 2011 and told a tearful Stacy she was “utterly blown away” by her performance.
CBB star Stacy who was then 42, wowed the panel with Aretha Franklin's (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and following her powerful performance, Chezza was the last judge to sit down after a rapturous standing ovation.
And as Cheryl gave Stacy some gushing feedback, it’s clear to hear that she was toning her strong Geordie accent down for the American audiences.
"I was completely and utterly blown away with every single word you sang,” she enunciated.
“I could feel the whole room was willing you to win and you just won. You’re amazing."
Later, as the judging panel which included L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, Cheryl told the tearful Stacy: "One hundred thousand per cent yes."
Despite Cheryl trying her best to soften her Geordie accent, just days later she was sacked from the show, with at the time sources blaming US audiences not understanding her.
However three years later in 2014, Simon blamed her “crazy hair and outfit”, and even said she’d put on weight.
He told The Radio Times: "When I saw her I didn't recognise her. Literally. The hair and outfit were crazy. Just totally crazy.
"I asked her manager, 'What's she wearing, what's happened to her hair?'
"He was defensive about it. I haven't a clue why she turned up like that.
"She'd put on a bit of weight, but not loads. That wasn't the issue.
"The only way I can describe it is that it wasn't Cheryl sitting in that seat. She'd lost her confidence."
