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FIFTH HARMONY, CARLY ROSE SONENCLAR AND TATE STEVENS COMPETE IN THE FINALS FOR "THE X FACTOR" CROWN ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 ON FOX

EMBLEM3 IS ELIMINATED FROM THE COMPETITION

Winner Announced on Two-Hour Grand Finale on Thursday, December 20 Featuring Special Performances by One Direction and Pitbull

Online Auditions for Season Three of THE X FACTOR Now Open at www.thexfactor.com

Fifth Harmony (mentored by Simon Cowell), Carly Rose Sonenclar (mentored by Britney Spears) and Tate Stevens (mentored by L.A. Reid) are THE X FACTOR's Top Three finalists moving on to next week's grand finale. After receiving the lowest votes following last night's performance show, Emblem3 was eliminated from the competition.

In a special two-night grand finale event, the Top Three finalists take the stage for their final performance LIVE Wednesday, Dec. 19 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed).

Then, tune in to the special two-hour LIVE results show the following night, Thursday, Dec. 20 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), as hosts Khloé Kardashian Odom and Mario Lopez announce which act will be crowned the winner of THE X FACTOR and receive a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music. The star-studded two-night event will feature special performances from One Direction - the global sensation that rose to fame on the U.K. version of "The X Factor" - and world-renowned rapper Pitbull.

Online auditions for the third season of THE X FACTOR are now open through June 15, 2013 at 11:59 PM PT. Solo artists and vocal groups 12 years old and over may submit their two-minute a cappella audition videos at www.TheXFactorUSA.com. In addition to online auditions, aspiring performers will soon be able to participate in open call auditions held in Los Angeles, CA (3/6/13); Charleston, SC (3/19/13); New Orleans, LA (4/14/13); Long Island, NY (4/25/13); and Denver, CO (5/14/13). Please continue to check www.TheXFactorUSA.com for more information and full terms, conditions and eligibility.

The Top Three Finalists Are:

Tate Stevens Age: 37 Hometown: Raymore, MO Mentor: L.A. Reid Keep up with Tate at: Twitter: @tatestevensctry Facebook: www.facebook.com/TateStevensofficialfanpage

Carly Rose Sonenclar Age: 13 Hometown: Westchester, NY Mentor: Britney Spears Keep up with Carly at: Twitter: @CarlyRoseMusic Facebook: www.facebook.com/carlyrosesonenclar

Fifth Harmony Ally Brooke Age: 19 Hometown: San Antonio, TX Camila Cabello Age: 15 Hometown: Miami, FL Normani Hamilton Age: 16 Hometown: Houston, TX Dinah Jane Hansen Age: 15 Hometown: Santa Ana, CA Lauren Jauregui Age: 16 Hometown: Miami, FL Mentor: Simon Cowell Keep up with Fifth Harmony at: Twitter: @FifthHarmony Facebook: www.facebook.com/fifthharmony

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

One Direction - Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson - were discovered on the U.K.'s "The X Factor" in 2010. The band quickly gained a following to become one of the competition's all-time most popular acts, finishing in the final three and garnering a gigantic and loyal fanbase along the way. In March 2012, One Direction's debut album, "Up All Night," made U.S. history, as it was the first time a U.K. group's debut album entered the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at No. 1. The band has sold over 12 million records worldwide. In November, One Direction released its sophomore album, "Take Me Home," which includes the No. 1 single, "Live While We're Young."

Pitbull has risen to become a global superstar as both a recording and performing artist. The Miami native recently added to a long and growing list of hits with his first No. 1, "Give Me Everything." At the same time, his world tour sold out concerts in Latin America, Canada and Europe, before bringing the party to the United States, Japan and Australia. Pitbull's new single, "Don't Stop The Party," is gaining heavy momentum on the radio and video charts and is featured on his new album, "Global Warming." It's the highly anticipated follow-up to "Planet Pit," which earned critical acclaim and enjoyed massive commercial success with sales of more than 1.4 million albums and 18 million singles. "Don't Stop The Party" comes on the heels of Pitbull's two million-selling single, "Back In Time," the chart-topping anthem from the action-adventure-comedy "Men In Black 3."

THE X FACTOR was created by Syco Television and is produced by Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America. Rob Wade and Nigel Hall are executive producers for Syco Television. Trish Kinane, Richard Holloway and Andrew Llinares serve as executive producers for FremantleMedia North America. "Like" THE X FACTOR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheXFactorUSA. Follow the series on Twitter @TheXFactorUSA and join the discussion at #xfactor.