It's official!
Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and Antonio "L.A." Reid have chosen the singers they'd like to bring to The X Factor's live shows next week.
On Wednesday's show, the previously announced top 32 traveled to various parts of the world to the judges' homes to learn whether they'd progress in the competition.
For Cowell, who mentored the girls in France, the decision to keep just four singers out of his original eight was especially taxing.
"I've made a massive mistake," he admitted after saying goodbye to to 19-year-old Sunrise, Fla. singer Melanie Amaro. Shortly after, Cowell knew he had to rectify his choice — and hopped a plane to Florida to surprise Amaro and her family, revealing that she'd be performing on the live shows. "I never would have forgiven myself if I hadn't done that," Cowell confirmed.
Also making this season's Top 17? Recovering addict Chis Rene, single mom Stacy Francis and 60-year-old LeRoy Bell. Groups assembled from rejected solo singers — InTENsity and Lakoda Rayne — earned the show's final two performance spots.
Read on for the singers who will compete for viewer votes starting Tuesday at 8 p.m. (EST) on FOX.
THE GIRLS (MENTORED BY SIMON COWELL)
Simone Battle
Drew Ryniewicz
Rachel Crow
Tiah Tolliver
Melanie Amaro
THE BOYS (MENTORED BY ANTONIO "L.A." REID)
Brian Bradley (aka "Astro")
Phillip Lomax
Marcus Canty
Chris Rene
GROUPS (MENTORED BY PAULA ABDUL)
InTENsity
Lakoda Rayne
The Stereo Hogzz
The Brewer Boys
OVER 30s (MENTORED BY NICOLE SCHERZINGER)
Leroy Bell
Josh Krajcik
Dexter Haygood
Stacy Francis
