HOT FROM FOX...

ONLY FIVE FINALISTS REMAIN ON "THE X FACTOR"

DOUBLE ELIMINATION SENDS HOME ASTRO AND DREW

TOP FIVE SING TWO SONGS EACH NEXT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

MARY J. BLIGE AND LENNY KRAVITZ PERFORM ON LIVE RESULTS SHOW, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8

After tonight's double elimination, only five finalists remain in the competition: Melanie Amaro, Marcus Canty, Rachel Crow, Josh Krajcik and Chris Rene. Tune in Wednesday, Dec. 7 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT), when the Top Five must sing two songs each in their quest to reach THE X FACTOR grand finale.

On tonight's results show, Astro, one of L.A. Reid's finalists from the Boys category, and Drew, one of Simon Cowell's finalists from the Girls category, were eliminated from THE X FACTOR. Host Steve Jones announced that Astro received the fewest votes following last night's Michael Jackson-themed performance show, and he was immediately sent home. Then Jones revealed that Marcus Canty and Drew both received the next fewest votes. Judges Cowell, Paula Abdul, Reid and Nicole Scherzinger listened to the two finalists perform their "song for survival," and then eliminated Drew of Chino Valley, AZ. In addition, British rap star Tinie Tempah performed his latest hit, "Pass Out."

Next week, the countdown to the season finale begins as the Top Five Finalists - Melanie Amaro, Marcus Canty, Rachel Crow, Josh Krajcik and Chris Rene - will continue to battle it out for America's votes, THE X FACTOR title, a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music and an iconic Pepsi commercial. Don't miss the Top Five Finalists perform LIVE on Wednesday, Dec. 7 (8:00-9:30 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Immediately after next week's performance show, fans will be able to vote via 1) Twitter at twitter.thexfactorusa.com; 2) Verizon Touch Voting on The Xtra Factor App on Verizon Android devices; 3) toll-free calling; 4) text messaging for Verizon Wireless customers; and 5) online at TheXFactorUSA.com. Fans with valid Facebook accounts can also vote at Facebook.com/TheXFactorUSA.

Tune in the following night, Thursday, Dec. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), to the LIVE results show as one more finalist is eliminated from the competition. Be sure to watch this can't-miss night on THE X FACTOR, when international superstars Mary J. Blige and Lenny Kravitz take to THE X FACTOR stage to perform.

The Top Five Finalists Are:

Melanie Amaro Age: 19 Hometown: Tortola, British Virgin Islands Currently Resides: Coral Springs, FL/Sunrise, FL Mentor: Simon Cowell www.twitter.com/itsmelanieamaro (@ItsMelanieAmaro) www.facebook.com/pages/Melanie-Amaro/117865004985741

Marcus Canty Age: 20 Hometown: Bowie, MD Currently Resides: Bowie, MD Mentor: L.A. Reid www.twitter.com/IamMarcusCanty (@iammarcuscanty) www.facebook.com/officialmarcuscanty

Rachel Crow Age: 13 Hometown: Longmont, CO/Mead, CO Currently Resides: Burbank, CA Mentor: Simon Cowell www.twitter.com/IamRachelCrow (@IamRachelCrow) www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Crow/233766853338529

Josh Krajcik Age: 30 Hometown: Wooster, OH Currently Resides: Columbus, OH Mentor: Nicole Scherzinger www.twitter.com/JoshKrajcik (@JoshKrajcik) www.facebook.com/joshkrajcikmusic

Chris Rene Age: 28 Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA Currently Resides: Santa Cruz, CA Mentor: L.A. Reid www.twitter.com/MrChrisRene (@mrchrisrene) www.facebook.com/ChrisReneMusic831

Visit www.TheXFactorUSA.com for up-to-the-minute news, videos and information. Become a fan of THE X FACTOR on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheXFactorUSA. Follow the series on Twitter @TheXFactorUSA and join the discussion at #XFactor. Also, follow the judges: @SimonCowell; @PaulaAbdul; @LA_Reid; and @NicoleScherzy.

THE X FACTOR was created by Syco Television and is produced by Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America. Rob Wade and Siobhan Greene are executive producers for Syco Television. Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Richard Holloway and Andrew Llinares serve as executive producers for FremantleMedia North America.

ABOUT MARY J. BLIGE:

Multi-Grammy-winning artist, singer/songwriter, producer and actress Mary J. Blige recently released her highly anticipated 10th studio album, "My Life II...The Journey Continues (Act 1)." Recorded in Los Angeles and New York with producers including Danja, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate and The Underdogs, this album continues to display Blige's distinct and undeniably remarkable voice as well as her proven ability to deliver timeless hits. Since her 1992 debut, "What's The 411?," Blige has sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Among her many accolades, Blige can claim eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (she has been nominated for a staggering 29) and four American Music Awards. Blige is the co-founder of the Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN), whose mission is to empower women from all walks of life to reach their full individual potential. On July 31, 2010, Blige sold over 60 thousand bottles of her "My Life" perfume on the Home Shopping Network. Her perfume was the first to sell over 60,000 bottles in one day on HSN and $1 from each purchase was donated to FFAWN.

ABOUT LENNY KRAVITZ:

Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre, style, race and class into a 20-year musical career, one which revels in the rich influences of '60s and '70s soul, rock and funk. Kravitz's talents as a writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist have resonated through nine studio albums into a timeless catalog. For his latest album, "Black And White America,"Kravitz found much of his inspiration close to home. In fact, the very spirit of "Black And White America" came from the locations in which the music was made�from a tiny, 400-person community in the Bahamas to the streets of Paris. And out of his experiences as a true citizen of the planet, his first new songs in three years became the most personal and diverse collection of his career. He has won four consecutive GRAMMY Awards, setting a record for the most wins in the "Best Male Rock Vocal Performance" category for his single "Dig In" (previously winning for "Again," "American Woman" and "Fly Away"). Additionally, Kravitz has also been nominated for six other GRAMMY awards. Kravitz's appeal has also been recognized by his peers; his collaborative efforts are as varied as his own influences, having worked with Madonna, Slash, Aerosmith, Jay-Z, N.E.R.D., Mick Jagger, P. Diddy and Alicia Keys.