Simon Cowell is famous for being outspoken, and he has now named the “X Factor” U.S. contestants of 2013 whom he thinks stand out the most. In an interview with Parade magazine that was published on Oct. 26, 2013, Cowell also named the talent-show judges whom he’s had the most fun working with in his career.
Here is an excerpt from the interview:
Who’s standing out among the finalists?
“Thirteen-year-old Rion Paige, who has a muscular disease, is fantastic. Lillie McCloud is 54 and proves that age is not a barrier. And there’s a group, Restless Road, that I’ve got a really good feeling about.”
You’ve worked alongside many judges over the years. Who’s been the most fun?
“Paula [Abdul] and Randy [Jackson] were hilarious on American Idol. We had such a great time in the early years. I like working with Demi [Lovato, on The X Factor]. We bicker, and it’s like having a bratty younger sister, but she’s got a great heart.”
In the Parade interview, Cowell also talked about becoming a father for the first time at age 54. His girlfriend Lauren Silverman is due to give birth to a son in February 2014. In the Parade interviews, Cowell pretty much said the same things he’s said in other interviews about becoming a father:
What are you most looking forward to about fatherhood?
“I’m not brilliant with babies. I never know what to do. But [once he’s older] I think I’ll be a good dad in terms of advice. And then I’ll get to do all the things I want to do, like go to Disneyland or Universal Studios, teach him how to drive — I love all that.”
What kind of music will you play for him?
“He’ll listen to whatever I listen to and make his own choices. It’s funny — my mom played Frank Sinatra when I was a kid, and because he was her choice, I used to hate it; but I love Sinatra now. He always looked like he was having fun and he didn’t conform. That’s probably why I’ve got pictures of him all over my house!”
As previously reported, the Top 16 “X Factor” U.S. contestant acts of 2013 will perform in a live episode on Oct. 29, 2013. Four of those 16 acts will be eliminated in this episode. Viewers can show early support for their favorite acts through the X Factor U.S.’s official website and app, as well as through Twitter and Instagram with hashtags for each of the contestants. The poll opens at 12 p.m. EDT on Oct. 29, 2013, and continues throughout the live episode, which airs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT.
Here are the hashtags assigned to the Top 16 “X Factor” U.S. contestant acts of 2013:
Girls (female solo singers ages 12 to 24), mentored by Demi Lovato
- Khaya Cohen — #xfKhaya
- Danielle “Danie” Geimer — #xfDanie
- Rion Paige — #xfRion
- Ellona Santiago — #xfEllona
Boys (male solo singers ages 12 to 24), mentored by Paulina Rubio
- Carlos Guevara — #xfCarlos
- Joshua Levi — #xfJosh
- Carlito Olivero — #xfCarlito
- Tim Olstad — #xfTim
Over 25s (solo singers ages 25 and over), mentored by Kelly Rowland
- Jeff Gutt — #xfJeff
- James Kenney — #xfJames
- Lillie McCloud — #xfLillie
- Rachel Potter — #xfRachel
Groups, mentored by Simon Cowell
- Alex & Sierra — #xfAandS
- Restless Road — #xfRestless
- Roxxy Montana — #xfRoXxy
- Sweet Suspense — #xfSweet
