Britney Spears Confirms ‘X Factor’ Departure: Next Stop, Vegas?

Everyone else has already weighed in on Britney Spears‘ fate on The X Factor — even Britney herself, saying she’d “definitely” be back. But today(January 11) Britney confirmed rumors of her exit, making her departure official. Spears released a statement saying, “I’ve made the very difficult decision not to return for another season…it’s time for me to get back in the studio…I can’t wait to get back out there and do what I love most.”

This comes as welcome news for those of us who are eager for her to hunker down in the studio to ensure a magnificent return with her next album. But it seems Queen Britney is going to jump right into another demanding job: that of Las Vegas headliner. TMZ says Brit is in talks with one of the Ceasars Group hotels to do a nightly, “Celine”-style show in Sin City. Blackjack dealers at said hotel are surely relishing the chance to hear the joke “hit me, baby, one more time” a couple hundred times per shift. Read on for Brit’s full statement on her X Factor departure.

I’ve made the very difficult decision not to return for another season. I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it’s time for me to get back in the studio. Watching them all do their thing up on that stage every week made me miss performing so much! I can’t wait to get back out there and do what I love most.”

Are you going to miss Britney on The X Factor? Let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter and Facebook.