Rumors of The X Factor hiring Britney Spears for one of the two unceremoniously vacated judge’s seats have been burbling since February. Word has intensified in recent days, with E! News being the one to confirm it without really confirming it. Sources say Britney will accept a $15 million deal, making her one of the most well-paid people on TV and in popular music, notably passing Jennifer Lopez’s $12 million American Idol paycheck. “The fact the money is now set means that there is nothing stopping this from becoming a reality,†says one shadowy super-secret source. Another source says Spears’s future husband and co-conservator (UGH …) Jason Trawick could become an X Factor producer. “Jason is expected to be there every day Britney is on set. He is her rock and will help guide her through the process. He is the person she trusts the most,†says E!’s second super-secret source. Hopefully this mind-boggling development gets cemented shortly so we can fire the X Factor rumor mill back up to churn out candidates for the last vacant judge’s seat and the dual hosting spots that have yet to be filled.