Melanie Amaro Wins American X Factor

19-year old Melanie Amaro from Sunrise, Florida, was crowned champion of Fox’s “The X Factor” on Thursday (December 22), winning a $5 million recording contract and a spot in a Pepsi commercial that will air during next year’s Super Bowl.

Amaro beat out 30-year-old Columbus, Ohio, contestant Josh Krajcik for the title of “X Factor” winner. Chris Rene, the 28-year-old from Santa Cruz, California, came in third place.

When the results were read, an emotional Amaro exclaimed, “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!” She was swarmed by members of her family, and “X Factor” host Steve Jones struggled to get a word from her. After performing Beyoncé’;'s “Listen,” Amaro said, “God is good,” and thanked her fans.

“Thank you so much, thank you. I’m just, I’m so happy and I don’t know what to say,” she said. “This is something I’ve wanted for all my life!”

Amaro’s victory was especially sweet considering she was technically eliminated from the competition after Simon Cowell sent her home following one of the early rounds. Deciding he had made a mistake, Cowell paid a personal visit to her home and invited her to rejoin the competition.

In the end, Cowell was pleased with his decision, as well as America’s choice of Amaro as its first “X Factor” winner. “We came here to find a superstar, we found a superstar. Thank you to everyone who supported the show,” Cowell said. He called Krajcik “a worthy runner-up.”

Krajcik, the husky, self-described burrito slinger, congratulated Amaro on her victory. “Melanie deserves it, she has a wonderful voice,” he said. “I’ve had such an incredible experience here. I got to be myself and sing what I wanted to sing. I couldn’t be happier.”

Thursday’s results show followed Wednesday’s performance episode, when the three finalists performed duets with superstar acts: Amaro with R. Kelly, Krajcik with Alanis Morissette and Rene with Avril Lavigne. Following the show, Cowell heavily endorsed Amaro to be the winner.

The top 12 finalists opened the show with a group performance of Lady Gaga’s “The Edge of Glory.” The top three contestants also performed holiday songs, with Amaro doing “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Rene crooning “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and Krajcik taking on the Eagles’ “Please Come Home for Christmas.”

Girl Group Little Mix Wins Britain’s X Factor

Girl band Little Mix became the first group to win Britain’s “X Factor” show on Sunday, beating hairdresser Marcus Collins in the final.

The 4 singers, aged between 18 and 20, performed a cover of Damien Rice’s “Cannonball” as their winning performance, which will be their debut single.

Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock are guaranteed a record deal.

Little Mix was formed from soloists brought together by the show’s producers. They were forced to change their name from Rhythmix following complaints from a children’s music charity of the same name.

[video] Matt Cardle Wins Britain’s “The X Factor”

Former painter and decorator Matt Cardle won Britain’s “The X Factor” on Sunday, pipping Liverpudlian Rebecca Ferguson in the final poll in the ITV show watched by millions.

Cardle, 27, sang “Many of Horror” by Scottish band Biffy Clyro in the final, a track which will now be released as a single and is among the frontrunners to claim the coveted Christmas number one chart slot next week.

Cardle, from Colchester in Essex, had been coached by Dannii Minogue and was the bookmakers’ Favorite ahead of the show.

Ferguson, 24, performed “Distant Dreamer” by Welsh singer Duffy in her last performance. Her jazz-tinged vocals had won her many admirers throughout the series as she shook off her initial stage fright.

Cardle, who also plays guitar, was the other obvious stand-out act from the thousands who auditioned for the show.

Teenage boy band One Direction, bidding to become the first group to win the competition, were eliminated earlier in the final show and finished third.

Check out Matt Cardle’s performance of his new single “When We Collide” –

[video] Glee Cast Performs On X Factor

Photo Credit: Joe Viles/FOX

The cast of Fox’s hit show Glee travelled cross the pond to perform on X Factor in the UK. The New Directions Glee Club performed their hit song ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’ Amber Riley’s voice is insane! Simon and the judges gave them a standing ovation.

Check out their performance –

Katy Perry Performs ‘Firework’ on X Factor

Katy Perry was over in the UK, on soon-to-be husband Russell Brand’s home turf, to perform ‘Firework’ off of her new album, Teenage Dream. We love this song!

Check out Katy’s performance –

Leona Lewis To Start Recording New Album This Week

According to Leona Lewis’ manager Larry Jackson, the British singer will begin production on her new studio album this week! Reports claim that Simon Cowell wants the album to be released in summer 2011 to coincide with the launch of X Factor in the US.

We’ll always be excited for new music from Leona Lewis. Let’s hope it doesn’t suffer the same fate as Echo and please say she’s hired a new team of writers…

NEW MUSIC VIDEO: JLS ‘The Club Is Alive’

Do you know who JLS are? Chances are, if you’re a fan of Simon Cowell’s The X-Factor, you’ll remember that JLS were the runners-up on the fifth season of the show, coming in second to Alexandra Burke.

Now, after becoming one of the most successful acts to come off of the British reality show, JLS are set to take over the US with their current single ‘The Club Is Alive‘.

Check out the music video for JLS’ current single ‘The Club Is Alive’ –

Simon Cowell Leaving American Idol

After much speculation, Simon Cowell announced at the Television Critics Association press tour in California that this season of American Idol will, in fact, be his last.

Cowell has been in negotiations with Fox to expand his hit UK reality competition X Factor to the United States. Reports claim that X Factor will make its US television debut in 2011. Cowell will be serving as executive producer and judge.

With Or Without Simon Cowell, ‘Idol’ Will Continue

Fox is close to reaching a deal with 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia to keep American Idol on the air through 2014 with or without Simon Cowell. Currently, the network has secured Idol through 2011, but rumors have been swirling that Simon Cowell plans to leave the show after the upcoming season in a move to bring his hit UK show X-Factor to the States.

Will X-Factor end the Idol franchise?

Simon Cowell Leaving American Idol?

Simon Cowell’s brother says that Simon will be leaving American Idol in 2010. Simon Cowell has become one of this richest men in television, earning about $75 million in the united states last year.

Cowell is also a judge on the hit t.v. show in the U.K., “The X Factor” which he is in negotiations with right now.

And according to Simon’s brother, Tony Cowell, the British star is so keen on making that program a success, he’s preparing to retire from “American Idol.”

He says, “A press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave ‘Idol’ at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of ‘X Factor’ to U.S. TV in 2011.”

The news comes just months after judge Paula Abdul quit the show over an alleged pay dispute in August. She has been replaced by talk show host, Ellen Degeneres for the 2010 season.

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