Rachel Crow was eliminated from The X Factor, determining the new Fox reality competition's Top 4 semifinalist acts during the show's sixth live results show Thursday night.
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Rachel was ousted from the competition after The X Factor host Steve Jones revealed she was one of the bottom two acts based on home viewer votes cast immediately following Wednesday night's Top 5 performance show and judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and L.A. Reid produced a deadlock -- an event in which they vote a 2-2 tie -- when determining whether she or fellow contestant Marcus Canty, the week's other bottom two vote-getter, should be axed from the show. Due to the deadlock, Rachel was then automatically eliminated due to her status as the week's lowest vote-getter.
During a Friday conference call with reporters, Rachel, a 13-year-old from Longmont, CO who currently resides in Burbank, CA, talked to Reality TV World about her The X Factor experience -- including whether she plans to pursue an acting career, especially since L.A. Reid had suggested during the show that Hollywood was showing interest in the young performer.
Reality TV World: The judges seemed to really have faith in you during the competition that you are and will continue to be a star. L.A. Reid had even said during this week's performance show that some people were interested in you for acting roles and such. Have you heard any of that out there and is acting something you'd be interested in?
Rachel Crow: Yes, acting is something that I would be interested in. It's exciting and I don't know! Maybe.
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Reality TV World: There are reports today that Nicole cried for a half hour and was "inconsolable" in her dressing room after you were eliminated. Did you talk to Nicole at all that night or have you since your elimination? If so, what did she have to say?
Rachel Crow: No, Nicole did not cry for 30 minutes. She cried for an hour-and-a-half. She was devastated and I love her and she's got the biggest heart. She's just beautiful on the inside and out, and I will hopefully always have a special place in her heart and she will always have a special place in mine.
Also in the call, Rachel told reporters how she felt about Nicole Scherzinger as a person and the judge's decision to allow the deadlock when it indirectly resulted in her elimination, whether she was surprised to be ousted instead of frequent bottom two-finisher Marcus, and what she will take away from her overall experience on The X Factor.
How do you feel now about the decision judge Nicole had made last night?
Rachel Crow: I feel good with it. I'm fine. I left the competition on top, I felt like, and it's not her fault. Nobody should blame her.
What did Simon, your family and some of the other judges say to you shortly after you were voted off?
Rachel Crow: Paula told me I'm going to be huge and I love her very much, and she definitely has a lot of nice support, and she supports me very much and I'm very happy to have her. And my mom supports me all the way and she said, "It'll be okay," and Simon said he'll definitely keep working with me, which is great and he has my back 100% percent.
How surprised were you that you got voted off the show instead of Marcus last night?
Rachel Crow: I wasn't surprised. I was just having the feeling of scardness, like, "What do I do now?" But now, I'm feeling much better.
Since you had three great performances this week, did that make your elimination easier or harder for you?
Rachel Crow: It makes it a little bit harder. I loved performing every week and that was my highlight of my week every week. Yeah.
Why was it so important to you to serve as an inspiration to other people your age?
Rachel Crow: It's very important because I know how to feel and I want them to feel special like I do.
You did actually end up with the lowest amount of votes this week, so do you feel you could have or should have done anything differently in your performances? Do you regret anything like your song choices for example?
Rachel Crow: I definitely don't regret anything and I'm very blessed that I got to do the experience. If I had done the song he wanted me to do, I would have gone up there and then I would have regretted doing it, but I don't. It was my choice and I am glad.
Could you talk a little bit about your comedy background?
Rachel Crow: Yes, I did have a comedy background. I used to do stand-up comedy when I was like 11 or 12 and I always loved making people laugh and smile. I got to do that up onstage as well.
What was going through your mind during the time of your elimination? You fell down to your knees and cried, so what was that experience like for you?
Rachel Crow: It was heartbreaking. I was very sad, but I'm doing much better now.
What is the one thing you think you'll take away from the competition, the lesson you had learned?
Rachel Crow: I will take away the experience of a lifetime. It was amazing, and for the lessons I've learned, I learned so much at a young age. I learned so much I don't even know how to say it without saying it for hours on end. I've learned to always stay true to who you are and I've learned how to control my vocals even more now and I've learned that friends are made on TV shows. It's really hard to go.
What was your favorite performance that you had delivered on the show?
Rachel Crow: My favorite performance was the last performance I did because I put my all into it and I love being up there just pouring my heart out.
You and Drew Ryniewicz had become best friends on the show. Did you have a chance to speak to her yet, and if so, what did she say to you?
Rachel Crow: Yes, we have spoken and we just talked girl talk, you know? She called me last night and we got on the phone and we talked for awhile and it was nice -- me and her talking. She said, "It's okay." She said, "This is how I felt." We just had a nice heartfelt girl-to-girl talk.
It seemed like you had really grown in the competition and by the end, you were able to hold your own against many older performers. How do you think the show changed how you are as an artist?
Rachel Crow: It changed who I am as an artist because I know finally that I'm not a nobody anymore and I'm very happy to share my light with the world.
Do you feel like L.A. Reid kind of threw you under a bus when he mentioned how Hollywood was calling for you?
Rachel Crow: I don't think so. I think he just wanted to let everybody know that [it's] exciting. I don't know, but he's a very nice man and I don't regret anything he said to me.
Is there any singer in particular you are rooting for to win The X Factor?
Rachel Crow: Honestly, I would be the worst judge ever because I was trying in my head to picture who I wanted to win, but I couldn't because they all have an equal shot.
Would you like to pursue a comedy route or are you more focused on singing at this point?
Rachel Crow: I'm more focused on singing now.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski