UK newspapers are reporting that Kelly Rowland has been forced to pull out of her X Factor judging gig after coming down with a throat infection earlier this week.

The former Destiny’s Child star and solo chart-topper told producers that she would not be able to appear just 24 hours before the show was scheduled to air. X Factor’s 2008 winner Alexandra Burke quickly replaced Rowland for this past weekend’s episodes.

Rowland told The Sun:

I’m so sick — I have no idea what is wrong with me, but I have the worst sore throat. I’ve been in tears all week. It got so bad that I stopped eating and drinking and got so dehydrated the doctor put me on a drip. Even now I can’t swallow anything — not even my own saliva. The doctors don’t even really know what’s wrong, either. They say whatever I have is extremely rare.

Her illness follows a tense episode of X Factor in which Rowland and fellow judge Tulisa Contostavlos got into a major argument over one of Kelly’s contestants, Misha B.

There is no word yet on when—or even if—Rowland will be returning to the show. Although a spokesperson for the singer told The Sun:

Her doctors aren’t permitting her to fly. Kelly will return to the show as soon as she’s recovered.

You can read all the details about the argument and the R&B star’s illness at this link.

Do you think Kelly is sick or has the drama and stress of the competition gotten to her?