He’s had his hands in some of the most successful albums and TV shows of the last 20 years, and made enough money to never have to work another day in his life — so the list of people Simon Cowell needs to listen to is awfully short.

But when Mariah Carey says she wants to appear on Simon’s new series, ‘The X Factor,’ he pays attention.

“You can’t say no to Mariah,” Cowell explained during a recent interview. “We have to find a role for her. I’m a huge fan of hers — not just as an artist, but as a person, and I love her to death.”

Despite earlier rumors suggesting Carey might take a spot on the judges’ table, her new role as mother of two infant twins will keep her too busy for full-time ‘X Factor’ work. So, what does that mean for her spot on the show? No one seems to be quite sure yet.

One thing Cowell does know is that adding Carey to a lineup that already includes Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger could create a diva overload. “We just can’t shut Paula and Nicole up,” he joked. “Add Mariah into the mix as well and you won’t even have anyone singing.”

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