Paula Abdul has revealed that her relationship with fellow X Factor USA judge Simon Cowell is like that of "an old married couple without the sex". 

The 'Straight Up' singer dropped in to The Today Show yesterday, September 20, to promote the talent contest which is due to premiere tonight in the USA and explained that Cowell has taught her how to grow:

"I've always known I'm a strong woman but he's really taught me some inner strength. He always provoked me and challenged me and the more I stood up for myself and the more I stood up to him the more he embraced me."

"We're like an old married couple without the sex - by choice! We get along so well. It took ten years to understand each other."

She admitted to host Ann Curry that she's so excited to be a part of X Factor USA and feels very at home working as both a judge and mentor, adding:

"This is a job where it's totally in my wheel house. I started my career behind the scenes mentoring and coaching and doing stage tours and helping create something very special."

"The X Factor is amazing because people say, "What is it?" I say that it's hard to articulate because it's not so tangible - it's what you witness when someone walks in and you know you're watching something very important and you're emotionally affected and connected with it."

Watch Abdul talk about what to expect from the debut season of X Factor USA below: