The X Factor

If Rihanna can find time to stop Tweeting photos of herself pantsless, Simon Cowell may have a job for her.

With L.A. Reid announcing his departure from The X Factor, at least one spot on next season's judging table will be vacant - and The Sun says Cowell hopes it can be filled by Rihanna.

"Simon is a huge admirer of Rihanna and knows she’s star quality," a source tells the newspaper. "As well as bringing an aura to the panel thanks to her current standing in music, she is also feisty and will make great TV. Simon loves these sort of characters.”

Rihanna is a Barbados native and Cowell often vacations there around the holidays, the insider adds. Expect a meeting to take place over the next few weeks.

But should it? Do you think Rihanna would make a strong X Factor judge?

And then there were three, each representing a different demographic.

One group remains on The X Factor. Can Fifth Harmony take home the grand prize?

One young lady is still standing. Will Carly Rose Sonenclar be the final one?

And one country artist is hoping to wear the crown. Does Tate Stevens have a strong chance?

Catch up on the entire season via or X Factor videos section and weigh in now: Who will win it all?

Emblem3 is no longer in the running for a $5 million grand prize, following last night's X Factor elimination.

But you wouldn't know it talking to group members Wesley Stromberg, Keaton Stromberg and Drew Chadwick.

"Honestly, I only feel happy right now," Wesley told reporters after the show. "We get to go and make some badass music right now and not be under any restrictions."

Chadwick was equally enthused:

"Bottom line is we had the dopest experience. We got everything we really wanted out of this competition, which was a solid international fan base, we expanded our comfort zone by stepping out of it, we learned how to do interviews. It was like training, like music industry on Miracle-Gro.

"We just learned a lot and now it's over and we're about to go do it for real. We built the foundation we entered the competition to build."

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A couple hours prior to last night's X Factor results show, L.A. Reid made a surprising announcement:

He will not return for Season 3 of the Fox singing competition.

Said the CEO of Epic Records to Access Hollywood: "I have a company to run that I've kind of neglected. It saddens me a little bit, but only a little bit."

Reid has sat alongside good friend Simon Cowell on the judges' table for both seasons of the series.

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The finale stage is set on The X Factor.

With four contestants still alive entering tonight's elimination episodes, viewers and judges selected the three acts that would take the stage next week and compete for a $5 million grand prize.

First, something NOT mentioned during the broadcast: L.A. Reid has announced he will NOT return for Season 3.

But who won't return for next week's finale?

Following astute words from Khloe Kardashian ("These finals really mean everything to these contestants."), we learn that Fifth Harmony is safe.

So is Tate Stevens.

Will Carly Rose Sonenclar or Emblem3 be joining them next Wednesday night?

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Four semifinalists. Eight songs. One magical evening.

The remaining X Factor performers took to the stage last night, attempting to earn your vote via renditions of such classics as "Hey Jude (Emblem3) and "Imagine" (Carly Rose Sonenclar).

Who will move on to next week's finale? One of the two groups? A 13-year old protege? An aspiring country singer?

Watch all eight performances now and then vote for your favorite:

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  Carly Rose Sonenclar - "Your Song
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  Tate Stevens - "Fall"

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After The X Factor top six sang for their lives a night earlier, only four spots remained on Thursday's results show, and at least a few of them were up for grabs.

So who moved on to the semifinals? Let's find out!

1. Emblem3!
2. Carly Rose Sonenclar!
3. Tate Stevens!

CeCe Frey, Diamond White and Fifth Harmony were in jeopardy, with one of the three getting booted right away and the other two going to the Sing Off to move on.

The singer eliminated first was ...

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The X Factor Top 6 performed two songs apiece on last night's episode, one unplugged performance and one track chosen by America. How did they do?

By and large, the unplugged efforts were pretty decent, America's choices left something to be desired, and Khloe Kardashian really needs to be fired.

Let's break down the performers, from top to bottom ...

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  Carly Rose Sonenclar - As Long As You Love Me (The X Factor)
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  Carly Rose Sonenclar - If I Were a Boy (The X Factor)

1. Carly Rose Sonenclar - "As Long as You Love Me" (Unplugged) and "If I Were a Boy" (America's Choice)

Carly Rose was spot-on throughout her unplugged performance, and probably delivered the best version of America's picks as well, paying homage to Beyonce.

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The X Factor results show was not especially kind to Paige Thomas and Vino Alan last night, as the hopeful singers were each sent home.

Did the eliminations take these contestants by surprise?

"I wouldn't say I was expecting it," Thomas told reporters after the show. "But at this point in the competition, because everybody's so good, you can never really expect anything... I'm somewhat relaxed because now I can really just be myself."

Alan was more direct ("I didn't expect to go home," he said), while admitting he changed his Wednesday night song at the last moment from "Too Close" to "You've Lost that Loving Feeling."

But he holds no grade toward mentor L.A. Reid.

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We're down to the special six on The X Factor, as two more contestants were sent home tonight.

Up first, just eight minutes and 12 irritating Khloe Kardashian remarks into the broadcast, PAIGE THOMAS heard her name called as the first singer eliminated.

It then came down to two surprising selections, considering the performance of CeCe Frey on Wednesday: Diamond White and Vino Alan sang for their X Factor lives.

Diamond went with "I Was Here," while Vino hopde to avoid "Trouble." Watch both renditions here:

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  Diamond White - "I Was Here"
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  Vino Alan - "Trouble"

So, what say you, judges?

With only L.A. Reid choosing to give Diamond the boot, VINO ALAN became the second finalist eliminated.

Do you agree with these choices?

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