Cheryl Cole raises troops' spirits after her X-it from USA

Its 10 years since a 19-year-old Cheryl Tweedy captured the nations hearts on ITVs Popstars: The Rivals. Since then, through ups and downs, the Newcastle lass has become the nations first and foremost sweetheart.This week the Chronicle has been celebrating a decade of Cheryl. Today, Entertainment Editor GORDON BARR looks at 2011 to the present in his final instalment

THE year 2011 should have been when Cheryl Cole sprang to worldwide superstardom.

Despite being one of the best-known faces in Britain and parts of Europe, she wasnt yet a global superstar.

But Simon Cowell had big plans for the Heaton lass and, after months of speculation, he announced her as one of the judges for the new US version of The X Factor meaning after three years Cheryl would no longer be a mentor here in the UK.

It was all smiles and big hair-dos as she arrived in the States for the start of the auditions, but it was all to suddenly turn sour.

Cheryl was dropped from the judging panel amid rumours producers feared the American audience would not understand her Geordie accent.

It was the start of a long spat with Cowell, but the pair have now made up and this week Cheryl has been back on the UK version of the show helping Gary Barlow whittle down the potential finalists in the judges houses.

Although she disappeared from the limelight for a while in 2011 following her dramatic rejection in the US, she was back on form a few months later in a different part of the world. Standing to attention and surrounded by grinning soldiers, Cheryl became the new squaddies sweetheart as she posed for pictures at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

She travelled to the war-torn country in a bid to boost morale among the troops and her presence certainly seemed to lift spirits.

Cheryl underwent hostile environment training for the trip, which came as the forces marked 10 years of British operations in the country. She travelled out with soldiers from 20 Brigade on their way to start a gruelling six-month tour of duty.

One soldier said: I couldnt believe it. Not only does she look amazing but its a pretty big gesture. Its cheered everyone up.

Cheryl she has now dropped her surname has had lots to cheer about too in 2012, with her third solo album riding high in the charts and her debut solo tour about to start next month.

Her A Million Lights Tour will see the singer perform in her home city on October 16 and 17 at the Metro Radio Arena. On the day she announced her tour, she told the Chronicle: I am so excited to be back out there.

Its the best part of what I do and I cant wait. The Newcastle show is going to be amazing.

Whatever has happened to Cheryl over the years even that car accident with will.i.am last month and all the rumours of romances one thing has stayed constant: her determination.

Shes a proud Geordie and stays in touch with many of her friends from her school days. Earlier this month she attended a childhood friends wedding in Jesmond.

She deserves congratulations for her 10 years at the top.