This season’s The X Factor contestants, including Jennel Garcia and the members of Fifth Harmony, have performed a touching tribute to the victims of the Newtown shooting…
During Wednesday night’s performance show on the Fox singing competition, the 18-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer, sent home in a shocking exit last month, joined fellow Latina singers Camila Cabello, Ally Brooke Hernandez and Lauren Jauregui – members of the all-girl group Fifth Harmony – and the rest of the show’s contestants this season to perform Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone.”
After a short introduction by Simon Cowell, the X Factor contestants — Beatrice Miller, Arin Ray, Diamond White, CeCe Frey, Paige Thomas, Garcia, Vino Alan, Emblem3, Tate Stevens, Fifth Harmony and Carly Rose Sonenclar — each contributed a verse of the song.
The performance — aided by a children’s choir — concluded with the names of the departed students and educators on the screen behind them.
During Thursday night’s episode, where one contestant from each of the judges’ teams would be sent packing, Garcia was the first person declared safe by her Young Adults mentor Demi Lovato.
“I’m so happy for myself, but my two best friends are out there still,” said an in-tears Garcia backstage after the announcement that CeCe Frey and Willie Jones would be the two who’d have to perform for the last remaining spot in their category. “But I’m super happy.”
But the night wasn’t as stress-free for the show’s other Latino contestants…
Ally Brooke Hernandez and Camila Cabello, members of the all-girl group 1432 (formerly the LYLA) had to face-off against country group Sister C after finding themselves in the bottom two in Simon Cowell’s Groups category.
Sister C performed Miley Cyrus’ ballad “When I Look at You,” while 1432 opted the perform Lovato’s “Skyscraper.”
“You know what they say, ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going.’ And you know what, you did it,” decreed judge L.A. Reid. “And, I’m proud.”
Britney Spears said the ladies’ performance made her “a believer,” while Lovato heaped on the praise.
“I don’t know who that song is by,” joked Lovato. “But regardless, you did better than the original singer.”
Cowell – who admitted the group had a “wobble” on Wednesday night, but was “much, much, much better” this time around – ultimately picked 1432 to advance to the Top 12.
But David Correy didn’t have the same luck.
The the 26-year-old Brazilian-born singer ended up in the bottom two in Reid’s Over 25s category with Jason Brock.
Despite a soulful, slowed-down rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone,” Correy couldn’t catch a break from any of the judges, except Spears.
“I really didn’t like the rendition of that song,” declared Lovato. “I felt It was way too forced. It just felt like you were screaming the whole time.”
In the end, Reid elected to advance Brock to the Top 12 and send Correy packing.
“I’ve been through a lot in my life, like we all have. But it’s never stopped,” said Correy after the announcement. “And I promise you this is not gonna be the last time you see my face.”
