By Jen Heger - Breaking Celebrity News Assistant Managing Editor

Britney Spears is telling her close friends and associates that despite fears to the contrary, she is ready to take the judge's seat on The X Factor and that she is more than able to deal with the pressure, Breaking Celebrity News is exclusively reporting.

Howard Stern is amongst those who have publicly stated the belief that Britney will be a major flop on the hit show, but behind the scenes and closer to home, even her own fiancé, Jason Trawick, has voiced his concerns.

As previously reported, Spears was in New York City for the Fox Upfronts last week and was far from well put together. The 30-year-old singer had ratty hair and bleeding, bitten down nails, the results of years of living on her nerves, adding to concerns that she isn't ready to undertake her new, high profile role.

"Britney is well aware of what the critics are saying about her. She is anxious to prove to everyone that she isn't just a ditzy blonde and she is hunkered down with Jason, who will be with her at all times during the auditions and filming," a source close to the situation tells Breaking Celebrity News. "Britney has been asking a lot of questions about the process and is seeking advice from Simon Cowell about how she c