Spice Girl Mel B Joins 'America's Got Talent' as Judge

Former pop star will replace Sharon Osbourne on show's eighth season

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/20/2013 9:29:13 PM

NBC has hired Spice Girl Mel B (Melanie Brown) to take Sharon Osbourne's seat at the judging panel on the upcoming season of America's Got Talent.

The singer will join judges Howard Stern and Howie Mandel for AGT's eighth season. Brown (aka "Scary Spice") previously served as a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor for two seasons (FremantleMedia produces both AGT and X Factor).

Osbourne departed the show after last season after a dispute with NBC involving her son, Jack.

AGT averaged a 3.2 rating with adults 18-49 and 10.9 million viewers in its three weekly telecasts this summer, down 11% and 16%, respectively from last year, despite the addition of Stern, which was expected to boost ratings.