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Simon Cowell: Britney Spears Is in Awe of Me
Monday December 1, 2008

Simon Cowell and Britney Spears

Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images; Patrik Stollarz/Getty Images

Britney Spears won over one of America's toughest critics with her string of comeback performances last week: Simon Cowell!

As part of a promotional tour to tout Tuesday's release of her new album, Circus, Spears, 26, performed "Womanizer" on Cowell's X-Factor Saturday. It marked her first UK television performance in four years. (Watch a video here)

Cowell had high praise for the singer, telling KIIS-FM's Ryan Seacrest he was impressed by her professionalism.

"Of all the artists I've had on this show, there was more buzz, more excitement for this girl," he said. "Literally it was as if the president was on the show. She was terrific. Very professional. I like ["Womanizer"], I think it's a good record."

Look back at Britney's career highlights.

How would the notoriously nasty American Idol judge grade Spears' performance?

"9.5 [out of 10]," he told Extra. "This girl's got huge star quality....You've got to hand it to her. She's a great performer."

"I would literally have her on my show every week for the next 10 years," he told Seacrest.

What did the pair chat about backstage before Spears' performance? Not much, Cowell says.

See photos of Britney through the years.

"To be fair - and this may be a bit egotistical - I think she was in awe of me," he joked to Seacrest. "It was like she was just staring at me. At the end of it, I just said 'Look - touch me - I'm human!' And I think that broke the ice."

Tell Us: Do you plan to buy Britney's new album?

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