'The X Factor' has released its first official photo of the new judges panel.
The photo shows Spears seated between Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato, who is to L.A. Reid's left.
Lovato is said to have displayed plenty of "spunk" her first day on the job while Spears had a tough time saying no to contestants -- an issue that Jennifer Lopez [photos] encountered during the early auditions.
TMZ reported that Spears angrily walked off the set after one hopeful butchered a rendition of her hit 'Hold It Against Me' but the singer says it was merely because she needed a break.
"Britney walks off?," says Spears on Twitter. "LOL was just taking a little break people. I am having the BEST time!"
The auditions began in Austin, Texas. Two hundred aspiring singers are expected to face the judges during four three-hour show tapings over the next two days.
Watch a clip of them arriving for the auditions and being introduced to the audience: