'The X Factor' mentors determine their third-season Top 12 finalists

The X Factor mentors eliminated four acts and determined their Top 12 during Tuesday night's Fox broadcast of the reality singing competition's third season.


Tuesday night's broadcast featured the Top 16 acts taking the stage and performing for one of 12 spots in the live shows. Mentors Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, Kelly Rowland, and Paulina Rubio were each required to eliminate one of their four acts.

Danielle "Danie" Geimer, a 15-year-old from Northridge, CA; James Kenney, a 36-year-old from Portland, OR; Josh Levi, a 15-year-old from Houston, TX; and the group RoXy Montana were ultimately eliminated from the competition.

Demi, who mentors the "Girls" category, chose to advance Ellona Santiago, a 17-year-old from San Lorenzo, CA, and Rion Paige, a 13-year-old from Jacksonville, FL, to the live shows. Her decision then came down to either taking Danie or Khaya Cohen, a 16-year-old from New York, NY.

Demi chose to eliminate Danie and advance Khaya.


Kelly, who mentors the "Over 25s," decided to send Jeff Gutt, a 37-year-old from Detroit, MI, and Rachel Potter, a 29-year-old from Nashville, TN, through to the live shows. She then had to pick between James and Lillie McCloud, a 54-year-old from Orlando, FL.

Kelly opted to take Lille with her to the live shows and send James home.

Paulina, who mentors the "Boys" category, immediately advanced Carlito Olivero, a 24-year-old from Chicago, IL, and Carlos Guevara, a 16-year-old from Lexington, SC. Her decision then came down to keeping either Josh or Tim Olstad, a 24-year-old from Winona, MN.

Paulina chose to keep Tim and oust Josh from the competition.

Simon knew he definitely wanted to keep Restless Road and Alex & Sierra -- a boyfriend/girlfriend duo featuring Alex Kinsey, a 22-year-old from New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Sierra Deaton, a 22-year-old from Orlando, FL.


Restless Road is a country trio the judges put together at the conclusion of the season's audition rounds when they selected three male country singers who had failed to make the cut as individuals.  It is comprised of Colton Pack, an 18-year-old from Danese, WV; Zach Beeken, an 18-year-old from Indiana, PA; and Andrew Scholz, a 19-year-old from Summerville, SC.

Simon then was left to determine whether he wanted to continue mentoring Sweet Suspense or RoXxy Montana -- which is comprised of three sisters from Detroit, MI: Temperance Moton, 20, Tiara Moton, 21, and Tenija Moton, 22.

Sweet Suspense is a teenage girl trio the judges also formed with singers who had initially auditioned separately. It is comprised of Millie Thrasher, a 14-year-old from Birmingham, AL, Celine Polenghi, a 16-year-old from Miami, FL, and Summer Reign, a 17-year-old from Apple Valley, CA.

Simon ultimately decided to send Sweet Suspense through to the live shows and eliminate RoXxy Montana.

The X Factor's third-season Top 12 finalists will perform next week for home viewer votes.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski