American Idol host Ryan Seacrest thinks Simon Cowell will be a “very generous” husband.

Cowell, 50, is rumoured to be engaged to his make-up artist girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy, 36, after she stepped out with a large ring on her wedding finger.

Seacrest was asked how Cowell will be as a husband and he told UsMagazine.com: “Self-centred! But he is very generous.”

He added: “I hope that if they are building a life together, there aren’t too many mirrors around to distract him from his girlfriend!”

Seacrest added that he doesn’t know anything about the plans of a possible wedding.

He said: “I don’t know that there is a wedding. I have not seen an invitation!”

American Idol hopeful Casey James is judge Kara DioGuardi’s newest crush and here he is as a fresh-faced schoolboy.

James, 27, who was a member of the jazz band and tennis team during his years at Millsap High School, in Texas, caught DioGuardi’s eye when he performed an acoustic version of Bryan Adams’ hit Heaven on the US talent show.

On his senior page, James wrote that his greatest influence is his grandfather and that his plan was “to be a famous blues musician”.

Simon Cowell’s pal “Nasty” Nigel Lythgoe has said the American Idol judge will marry his new girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy.

Lythgoe, 50, revealed that Cowell, also 50, and new girlfriend Hussainy, 36, have known each other for seven years and called them a “beautiful couple”.

He added that Cowell would make a brilliant dad and that he uses his pets as substitutes for children.

Lythgoe, who is said to be currently dating model Jerry Hall, said: “I know how much he loves animals. He is using them to supplement his need for children. I think it would be good for him to worry about someone else and a family other than himself.

“There needs to be little Cowells running around the house!”

He added: “Simon and Mezhgan have known each other for seven years. Good luck to them. They make a beautiful couple. I am rather hoping Simon is going to ask me to be his best man. I really wish them the best.”

But while he may be a frontrunner, he could still have to convince execs that he can draw in viewers.

A TV insider said: “Guy has been in the music business since Madonna discovered him when he was 17, and he has a lot of the same experience as Simon.

“[But] his competition just can’t live up to his level of experience, and the people behind the show are slowly starting to realise it… producers are worried that viewers in suburban areas won’t know who Guy is. Simon has an incredible following, but the same can’t really be said for Guy.”

Oseary also looks after the career of Madonna’s ex, baseball star Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez.

A source close to Israeli-born Oseary, 38, said: “He was thrilled to hear that Fox was considering him. He thinks it would be great for his image. And it’s great exposure to boot.”

It follows a denial from actor Jamie Foxx that he would replace Cowell.

And US shock jock DJ Howard Stern has said he would take the job – if they paid him $100 million.

Meanwhile, Mariah Carey’s ex-husband, music mogul Tommy Mottola, has also found himself linked to the job. But television executives are said to be worried about giving him the role.

One told a US newspaper: “People really only know him as Mariah Carey’s big bad ex.

“And producers are worried he’ll even be harsher on contestants than Simon was.”

Cowell has said this season will be his last on American Idol so he can launch his X Factor show in the States.

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Pants On The Ground lyrics: From the ninth season of American Idol Last night

Pants on the ground
Pants on the ground
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground

With the gold in your mouth
Hat turned sideways
Pants hit the ground
Call yourself a cool cat
Lookin’ like a fool
Walkin’ downtown with your pants on the ground

Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground
Lookin’ like a fool
Walkin’ talkin’ with your pants on the ground.

Get it up, hey!
Get your pants off the ground
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground

American Idol judge Randy Jackson has hinted that Paula Abdul could appear on the US version of The X Factor.

Jackson, 53, is a judge on Idol and fellow judge Simon Cowell, 50, recently revealed he is to leave the show to set up a US version of talent show The X Factor.

Jackson admitted that he still hasn’t got over the departure of ex-judge Paula Abdul.

At a press conference, he said: “We look down the table sometimes and think: ‘Where’s Paula?’ It takes a little getting used to and we’re really sad about that, but welcoming Ellen [DeGeneres] to the fold… She’s funny, she’s charismatic, she’s really cool.”

Talking about the show, which will soon start its ninth season, he said: “I think we’re going to have a very funny, interesting season ahead of us.”

Jackson was also asked about Abdul making a return to Cowell’s new US X Factor.

He said: “I know she’s going to be back on something in a huge way because she’s mad talented. The thing I always say about this genre, especially in the music entertainment side, is expect the unexpected. You never know!”