01:03 PM EDT 05/10/2013
Antonio \L.A.\ Reid
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Tate Stevens's X Factor Win Proves Age Doesn't Matter, Says Simon Cowell
Originally posted 12/21/2012 02:00PM
While his girl group didn't win The X Factor, Simon Cowell thinks America got it right when viewers picked the show's oldest contestant, Tate Stevens, 37.
"We set out to do this show and take away as many rules as possible, partly to prove the point that you can sell records and be popular beyond the age of 29," Cowell said after the show's finale Thursday when Stevens, a married father of two, walked away with a $5 million recording deal.
"At my record label we don't have a sign on the door saying, 'If you're over 30 you can't sign here,' " he continued. "We don't run the business that way. This proves that there is a market for older people. I mean, look at Susan Boyle. I sold 30 million albums with Susan. So there's a market out there."
As for Simon's kind words, Stevens told PEOPLE, "[At the wrap party] Simon said some nice things which means a lot; he's the boss – and he seems to have a lot of confidence and in me going forward in my career."
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The X Factor: Tate Stevens Wins the Show
Originally posted 12/20/2012 10:10PM
The X Factor ended on a particularly high note for one of the show's finalists Thursday night.
L.A. Reid's "Over 25" contestant Tate Stevens, 37, is the winner of season 2. He's a dad of two and a road worker from Missouri.
After performing live one last time the night before, Britney Spears's contestant Carly Rose Sonenclar and Simon Cowell's Fifth Harmony vied with Stevens for the $5 million recording contract.
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The X Factor: Finalists Sing for Votes One Last Time
Originally posted 12/19/2012 10:40PM
Who's going to get a $5 million recording contract?
The X Factor's season 2 finale got underway Wednesday night with the finalists performing three songs each – including a duet with a music superstar.
Britney Spears's contestant, Carly Rose Sonenclar, has been a favorite, trading the No. 1 spot with her fellow finalist, L.A. Reid's country singer Tate Stevens, through out the competition.
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Little Big Town, LeAnn Rimes to Duet with X Factor Finalists
Originally posted 12/19/2012 10:40AM
It's down to the wire for this season's The X Factor as teen sensation Carly Rose Sonenclar, country crooner Tate Stevens and girl group Fifth Harmony are set to square off in the finals this week doing duets.
Sonenclar, 13, is partnered with LeAnn Rimes; Stevens, 37, will shared the stage with the group Little Big Town; and Fifth Harmony will pair up with judge Demi Lovato as anticipation builds for a winner.
At a press conference Monday, The X Factor's creator Simon Cowell praised the finalists and predicted that anything can happen as the show prepares to wrap its season Thursday night on Fox.
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The X Factor Reveals Season 2 Finalists
Originally posted 12/13/2012 09:10PM
Sparks will fly at the finale!
On Thursday, The X Factor revealed its top three acts, who will perform next week in the final night of competition – in hopes of taking home the $5 million recording contract.
Simon Cowell said it would take a miracle to get his girl group, Fifth Harmony, to the finale after they performed Shontelle's "Impossible" and Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen" on Wednesday. Keep reading to find out if their dream came true ...
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L.A. Reid: I'm Leaving The X Factor
Originally posted 12/13/2012 07:10PM
The latest season of The X Factor is down to the wire – but L.A. Reid is already looking ahead to next season. And he's not planning to come back.
"I have decided that I will not return to The X Factor next year," Reid, who is chairman and CEO of Epic Records, tells Access Hollywood. "I have a company to run that I've kind of neglected."
Of his decision to leave the singing competition, he says, "It saddens me a little bit, but only a little bit."
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The X Factor: Who Stole the Show at the Semi-Finals?
Originally posted 12/13/2012 03:30PM
There may not be a front-runner following Wednesday's semi-finals on The X Factor, but there does seem to be a weakest link.
Most of the judges seemed down on girl group Fifth Harmony, whose rendition of Shontelle's "Impossible" left them wanting more, following a better performance of Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen."
Britney Spears, Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid were all doubtful of Fifth Harmony's chances to be one of the three acts in the finals, with only Simon Cowell defending them, saying, "You've been one of the strongest acts tonight."
Not that the other performers were slouches.
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The X Factor Reveals Its Four Semi-Finalists
Originally posted 12/06/2012 09:20PM
There were tears on The X Factor Thursday night.
With only four spots in next week's semi-finals, the six acts who performed two songs each Wednesday night were a tense bunch. Especially after last week's shocking elimination that sent home fan favorite Vino Alan.
A majority of PEOPLE.com readers picked Demi Lovato's only remaining contestant, CeCe Frey, as the singer who most deserved elimination. Was she able to make it through one more week? Keep reading for all the results ...
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The X Factor: Who Deserves to Be in the Semi-Finals
Originally posted 12/06/2012 10:25AM
On The X Factor Wednesday, the remaining six contestants fought hard – singing first an acoustic version of a hit song and then a song picked by fans – for one of four spots in next week's semi-finals.
Thursday, the results, based on America's votes, will be revealed. And after last week, when the popular Vino Alan was sent home, anything can happen.
CeCe Frey, who seems to be hanging on by a thread, did well with a stripped down version of Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory," earning praise from the usually critical L.A. Reid: "I'm starting to become a fan," he said. Her colorful version of Katy Perry's "Part of Me" was "very entertaining" to Britney Spears, who appreciated that she's having fun on stage.
Boy banders Emblem3 took on "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars, which Britney called "your best performance in the competition." But Demi Lovato remained hard to please. "I used to really, really love you guys," she said before calling them a "down-graded version of the Jonas Brothers." Even with their second song, "Forever Young," which was almost universally praised, Demi wished they had commanded the stage more.
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The X Factor Announces Top 6
Originally posted 11/29/2012 09:40PM
Mario Lopez called the first elimination on Thursday's The X Factor a "bit of a shocker."
And so was the second.
The top eight contestants sang No. 1 hits Wednesday in an emotional night. Keep reading to find out which two performers were sent packing – and who's in season 2's top six ...
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