One of company’s biggest names was One Direction, who signed to the record company after coming third on the X-Factor in 2010.
The group is comprised of Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan – who have all since forged successful solo careers after their split in 2016.
Little Mix
Little Mix became the first group to win the X-Factor in 2011, and have since emerged as one of the show’s most successful acts.
The group have been named as one of the greatest girl groups of all time, the biggest girl group of the 2010s, and been described as ‘the biggest girl group in the world.’
Band members include Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall – with Jesy Nelson leaving in 2020.
Camila Cabello
Camila Cabello is a Cuban-born American singer and songwriter. She rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony, formed on The X Factor in 2012.
She has amassed billions of streams on music platforms, and her song Havana became the best selling digital single of 2018.
Leona Lewis
Another star included Leona Lewis, who won the third series of the X-Factor in 2006.
The lead single on her debut album Bleeding Love spent seven weeks at number one in 2007.
Leona became the first British female solo artist to reach the top five with eight singles after the release of her Christmas single with One More Sleep.
Fifth Harmony
Fifth Harmony finished third on the American version of the X-Factor in 2012, and subsequently signed a record deal with Syco.
Members include Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and Normani Kordei.
Camilla Cabello was also in the band before deciding to go solo.
Westlife
Westlife consists of Shane Filan, Markus Feehily, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and formerly Brian McFadden.
In Ireland, they have 11 number-one albums with a total of 13 top two albums, 16 number-one singles as well as 34 top-fifty singles.
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke won the fifth series of X-Factor in 2008,
Burke released the winner’s single Hallelujah, which became the European record holder for the most singles sold over a period of 24 hours, selling 105,000 in one day.
In June 2014, Burke replaced Beverley Knight in the lead role of Rachel Marron in the West End musical The Bodyguard
Ella Henderson
Ella Henderson came sixth in the 2012 series of the X-Factor, despite being a favourite to win.
Her debut album included the song Ghost, which topped the charts of 2014.
Some of the best coaches in the history of The Voice have been talent competition alumni themselves, like American Idol’s Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson. Now, with Kelly taking time off from the show after eight consecutive seasons, another superstar with a singing-competition background is filling her red chair: Camila Cabello, who famously got her start in the X Factor girl group Fifth Harmony. And after last season’s disappointing showing of Gen Z-friendly pop-star coach Ariana Grande, followed by The Voice’s unprecedented year-long hiatus, so far the likable Camila seems to be exactly what this series needs. To employ a favorite catchphrase of Kelly’s, Camila just might have the best shot of navigating this show this year.
“It feels very full-circle, because I also started on the singing competition show,” Camila explained on Monday’s Season 22 premiere, although – just like Kelly and J.Hud before her – she conveniently never mentioned the actual singing competition show that gave her her big break. Even the contestants took great pains not to mention The X Factor on the air. And there was a funny bit later when Camila’s castmates mistook her for someone who’d appeared on America’s Got Talent, Star Search, or America’s Funniest Home Videos, but not The X Factor.
As for those castmates, occupying the other chairs this Voice season are three returning coaches: EGOT-winner John Legend (Camila’s “bestie,” because she served as his team adviser last year) and meet-cute Voice power couple Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani. Blake seemed delighted to have Gwen back on the show (this marks their first time sitting on the panel together as husband and wife), but the incumbent coach was clearly was threatened by Camila, who came to the set with attitude, spunk, and actual cunning strategy that seemed to be working. At one point, Camila even dared Blake to turn for a country singer, Orlando Mendez, specifically because she wanted to spar with Blake. And (spoiler alert), Blake lost!
Blake was having a rough night overall – he didn’t recruit a single contestant for his team during the two-hour episode — so he pulled out all the stops, at one point bringing out a furry, hooved, ultimately uncooperative mascot that reminded me of that kidnapped goat Raquel from The Brady Bunch. (Because Blake is supposedly the G.O.A.T. of The Voice, get it?)
Blake also introduced a shady Season 22 tactic/gimmick, commanding stagehands to mute Camila’s microphone whenever she got too mouthy. Blake tried to cut Camila off during Monday’s first audition by country/pop singer Morgan Myles, and he was still trying during the final audition by Kacey Musgraves-channeling songbird Kate Kalvach. But Camila was so determined, she just couldn’t be silenced. And that’s when the hilarity ensured.
Below are the successful Blind Auditions of Monday’s Season 22 premiere:
Morgan Myles, 35: “Hallelujah”
Wow, seriously? This overdone song, right out of the gate? Obviously there have been many lovely, often Jeff Buckley-inspired renditions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” on The Voice (and Idol, and XFactor, and every other TV talent show), so I’m not sure we needed another one. That being said, Morgan’s version was “so pretty,” as Gwen noted, and when this “edge of country” industry veteran dirtied it up a bit and let out that growl, she caught all of the coaches’ attention. John called her performance “exquisite” and even “one of the best Blind Auditions I’ve seen in a long time.” Camila told Morgan, “You have a gorgeous tone. I want to hear records from you.”
Who turned? All four coaches, but Camila blocked Gwen! “I did my homework. I know how Blocks work, and I thought immediately, ‘Gwen’s going to want her,’” the crafty new coach explained. “The new kid on the block blocked me!” Gwen gasped.
Result: Team Camila! I guess Camila comparing Morgan to Rihanna was more convincing than Blake sharing war stories about his own early, struggling Nashville days. “We all should be a little scared of Camila,” John noted.
Omar José Cardona, 33: “Separate Ways”
Omar the showman had such theatrical tendencies, I wish he’d reenacted Journey’s laughably bad “Separate Ways” music video, with Paul Mirkovich’s band miming along to air instruments in the background. I think that might have improved this performance, honestly. I appreciated Omar’s mic-stand-brandishing and ‘80s rock influences, but he noticeably strained to reach those Steve Perry power notes. Gwen was way too enthusiastic when she gushed, “I haven’t heard a voice like that since the ‘80s,” and Camila was downright blasphemous when she said Omar possessed “Freddie Mercury vibes.” Maybe this performance sounded different/better in the room.
Who turned? All four coaches, surprisingly. Everyone seemed especially surprised that John spun first.
Result: Team Legend! I thought for sure Omar would go for ‘80s queen Gwen, but it seems John’s comment, “You’re the kind of artist that can win The Voice,” sealed the deal. I’m not sure John is so right about that, though.
Ian Harrison, 20: “The Night We Met”
This season’s token indie folky, Ian did a lovely rendition of Lord Huron’s song, dedicated to his musician father who died by suicide when Ian was 9 years old. He wasn’t a power-singer – more of a Lewis Capaldi/Damien Rice type, with oddly British-sounding rounded vowels — so the coaches took their time turning around. But Gwen, an artist who often wears her own heart on her designer sleeve, seemed particularly intrigued by Ian’s “character voice” and vulnerability. “You’re a super-interesting artist. You showed your heart, and it was very pure,” she said.
Who turned? Blake, John, and Gwen.
Result: Team Gwen, of course.
Emma Brooke, 19: “California Dreamin’”
Emma’s dramatic, slowed-to-a-crawl rendition of the Mamas & the Papas’ classic kind of reminded me of the Lion from The Masked Singer Season 1 (this was a good thing; the Lion, aka Rumer Willis, was robbed!). Emma is classically trained, and it showed, it both good ways and bad; she would do well to dirty things up herself in the future.
Who turned? John and Gwen.
Result: Team Legend. John is classically trained as well, so this pairing made the most sense.
Orlando Mendez, 26: “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
This one could have gone either way. As a Cuban-American singer born in Miami – Camila’s hometown –Camila seemed like an obvious coach for Orlando. But… Orlando is a country singer, who sings about beer! (Blake’s incentive/congratulatory prize to his team members this season is a customized beer cozy.) Gwen seemed to want this confident performer as well, trying to convince Orlando, “Basically, I’m country now.”
Who turned? All four coaches. Camila actually urged Blake to turn because she wanted to have the satisfaction of luring a country contestant away from Team Blake. Bold!
Result: Team Camila. “Camila, let’s do this thing, girl!” Orlando shouted. This was Camila’s second four-chair contestant of the night — and the episode was far from over.
David Andrew, 25: “Falling”
A pro background singer for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Mickey Guyton, and Kane Brown, David had stage presence and a really cool look. In fact, he kind of looked like John Legend, and had once been John’s stand-in on a TV taping, dueting with Carrie Underwood during rehearsal. But David’s “dream is to be centerstage,” and he deserves that chance. I liked his sophistication, restraint, and pure tone, as did Gwen, who called him “literally mind-blowing” and praised his “style, energy, vibe, and sparkle.”
Who turned? John and Gwen, who both gave him a standing ovation.
Result: Team Legend. Of course, David had to go with his short-haired doppelganger.
Jay Allen, 36: “‘Til You Can’t”
Jay’s mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, and died three years ago at age 54. He wrote a benefit single in her honor, “Blank States,” which eventually raised more than $50 million. Later in Monday’s episode, he performed that song for the coaches, and it was way more powerful than the more conversational Cody Johnson cover he auditioned with; in fact, it almost felt like a winning coronation song moment. But there was no denying Jay’s star quality from the get-go. Blake joked that Jay tattooed heartthrob looked like a UFC fighter, and Jay could put up a good fight on this show.
Who turned? Blake and Gwen.
Result: Team Gwen! Jay did say he has a “rock side,” so apparently that gave the country-music-moonlighting No Doubt frontwoman the edge here. “Blake, I’m a giant fan and I respect you so much, but I have to choose your wife,” Jay explained sheepishly.
Kate Kalvach, 27: “Rainbow”
The daughter of traveling musical pastors, Kate began singing secular music with the encouragement of her Czech-Republic-born husband and mentor. I expected a big churchy gospel voice, but Kate had more of a winsome indie vibe. At first I thought her enunciation was too closed-off and garbled, but when she started opening up, both vocally and emotionally, the magic happened and the coaches finally spun around. She does have a truly unique style. “I don’t think we have had anyone who can go in and out of their head voice and chest voice so flawlessly,” Gwen remarked.
Who turned? Blake, Gwen, and Camila — all at the last minute.
Result: It’s a cliffhanger! We’ll find out when the second Season 22 Blind Auditions episode airs Tuesday. Blake did his best to mute Camila as she made her big sales pitch, of course, but she just hopped up out of her chair and yelled her words of praise to Kate. Meanwhile, Kate grumbled, “Blake was my first choice, and he even fight for me,” so I don’t expect Blake’s luck to turn around in the opening minutes of Tuesday’s episode. See you then.
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The Las Vegas Raiders come into this Sunday’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive with a third straight win. Currently sitting with just a 19 percent chance to make the postseason, the Raiders would officially eliminate themselves from contention with a Week 17 loss.
The Colts, on the other hand, are on fire. They haven’t lost in over a month and currently have back-to-back wins over the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals. The Colts are led by superstar running back Jonathan Taylor, who is now up to 1,962 total yards and 19 total touchdowns. That will need to be the main focus of the Raiders: Stopping the run.
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Raiders Week 17 X-Factor
One player who will need to step up and stop Taylor is our X-factor for this game: Edge-rusher Maxx Crosby. It may seem odd at first to have a pass-rusher as the X-factor when you need to stop the run, but that is how this Raiders defense has gone. When Crosby is staying in his run-lanes and chasing guys down from behind, he has one of the highest run-defense grades on the team. His run-defense was the reason he is a Pro Bowler this year.
To go along with the six sacks, Crosby also has 38 total tackles, four passes defended, eight tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles. He is also coming off perhaps his best game of the season last week against the Denver Broncos.
With the season on the line and the Raiders offense struggling to move the ball against a tough Broncos defense, it was up to Crosby and the defense to lead the team to victory. They did their part, and some more, holding the Broncos to just 14 points. Crosby was the star of the show with two sacks.
This week, it will be yet another game where the Raiders will need him to have a dominant performance. When a player is going to be crucial for a game, you would like him to be able to appreciate the moment instead of letting it swallow him up.
Crosby has a perspective that not many NFL players have because his past issues with alcohol had him in rehab in early 2020. He knows how bad it can be if you lose it all and he has shown this season that he is no longer taking any snap for granted. Perhaps no one can sum up Crosby’s journey from rehab to Pro Bowl X-factor for the Raiders better than himself:
“I was in rehab two years ago. And now I’m in the Pro Bowl.”@CrosbyMaxx got emotional reflecting on his unbelievable journey after tonight’s win. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/oNvl7PG22n
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 21, 2021
His newfound sobriety has shown in his play, but it surely has not rubbed off on his teammates. While Crosby is graded as the second-best edge rusher in the NFL, every other starter along the Raiders’ front-seven is not even in the top 90 of their position, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF.)
That is about as big of a discrepancy between a team’s first and second-best front-seven player as you will find in the entire NFL. All the more reason for Crosby to be this week’s X-factor for the Raiders.
Singer Thomas Wells — known for competing talent shows including “X-Factor,” “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice” — died in a gruesome accident at a tire factory earlier this month, a report said Friday.
The 46-year-old was working at the manufacturing plant in Oklahoma when he got caught in an automatic conveyor belt, which did not stop, his wife Jessica Wells told TMZ. He died on Nov. 13 at a Texas hospital, according to his obituary.
The father of three showcased his pipes on a series of reality TV shows after teaching himself how to play instruments by ear as a child, the obit said.
“Thomas had an amazing voice and loved singing hymns as well as contemporary music,” the obituary reads. “He always had a smile and loved to joke and give people a hard time. He was a great entertainer and always became the center of attention.”
Wells’ wife, Jessica, revealed Thomas was caught in a conveyor belt and later died at a hospital on Nov. 13. FacebookWells also appeared on NBC’s “The Winner Is” in 2013. He was 46 years old.Facebook
On Thanksgiving, Jessica, his wife of 17 years, recorded an emotional video from his gravesite about his rapid deterioration.
“It was the worst day of my life because I lost my husband, but the best day of my life because God told me he was home,” Jessica said in the video, posted to Facebook on Friday.
“I know one hundred and million percent that Thomas is up there waiting for me.”
X Factor USA and America’s Got Talent singer Thomas Wells dies at 46 after an accident while working at a tire manufacturing plant in Oklahoma
The reality star has died at the age of 46
His wife Jessica Wells revealed he’d been involved in an accident at work
The singer is said to have been trapped in machinery at a tire plant
After being airlifted to a hospital in Tyler, Texas, he died on Nov. 13
By George Stark For Dailymail.com
Published: | Updated:
Former X Factor and America’s Got Talent reality star Thomas Wells has died at the age of 46, it has be confirmed.
His wife Jessica Wells informed TMZ the amateur singer had been involved in an accident while working on a job at a tire manufacturing plant in Oklahoma.
He passed away on Nov. 13.
Jessica told the outlet that parts of her husband’s body had been trapped in machinery following the accident, involving a ‘conveyor belt’ type of equipment that did not stop.
RIP: X Factor USA and America’s Got Talent singer Thomas Wells dies at 46 after an accident while working at a tire manufacturing plant in Oklahoma (Pictured with his wife Jessica)
Thomas was reportedly rushed to a hospital nearby in Idabel, Oklahoma, then was later airlifted to a larger hospital in Tyler, Texas.
Specialists attempted to help save his life, but the television star later died.
Per the report, his wife of 17 years Jessica is ‘remembering him as a unique person who always had a smile on his face and tried to make people laugh.’
Adding: ‘He would sometimes bust out singing and didn’t mind the spotlight.’
Gone but not forgotten: Thomas was reportedly rushed to a hospital nearby in Idabel, Oklahoma, then was later airlifted to a larger hospital in Tyler, Texas
The talented musician made his debut on X Factor in 2011 and went on to appear on similar music competition shows The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and The Winner Is.
Although the self-taught multi-instrumentalist and former choir member had a knack for music and loved to sing, he never struck it big.
At the time of his X Factor filming he was employed at a food manufacturer in Oklahoma.
Tragic: Specialists attempted to help save his life, but the television star later died
Widow: His wife of 17 years, Jessica, is ‘remembering him as a unique person who always had a smile on his face and tried to make people laugh’
Wells was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas and marked his 46th birthday on September 2.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Justin Todd Wells.
In addition to his wife, Wells is survived by his parents, Ricky and Rosemary Dean, and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Brandi and Robert Williams.
A funeral was held for him on November 20, following a wake on November 19.
Rest in peace: Wells was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas and marked his 46th birthday on September 2
Time to stop the music. Simon Cowell’s singing competition series “The X-Factor” has been canceled after 17 years on the air.
The U.K. channel, ITV, confirmed the news and said “there are no current plans for the next series of ‘The X Factor’ at this stage.”
The show was created by Cowell, 61, and first aired in 2004. Through the years, 445 episodes have aired. The last season hit the airwaves in 2018.
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The series has launched the careers of several successful British musicians and boybands that you’ve heard of such as One Direction, Leona Lewis and Little Mix.
During each episode, singers perform their musical acts on stage as a panel of judges critiques their abilities. Cowell is at the helm of the judges’ table alongside Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger.
In February 2020, the network announced that “The X-Factor” would be going on hiatus, but would return in 2021. Several months later, Kevin Lygo, Director of Television at ITV, revealed at the virtual Edinburgh TV Festival that there was no guarantee that the show would ever return. “It’s not definitely returning, it might return, and if it does the format will tweak,” he said. “Simon controls it more than we do. When does he want it to come back, how does he want to come back? Hopefully, we can be part of it.”
The former “American Idol” judge came up with the idea for “The X-Factor” as a replacement for “Pop Idol,” the British parent show of the FOX musical competition series. “Pop Idol” originally ran from 2001 to 2003 and spawned several international versions.
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Cowell’s next TV show will be “Walk the Line,” a musical quiz show for ITV. While the series has yet to set a premiere date, the six-part show will debut before the end of 2021. Each episode will feature several musical acts that will be competing for a cash prize.
The two acts left standing will need to decide to cash out of the game or move to the next step of the competition. The prize will get bigger and bigger the longer a contestant stays.
