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After spending two weeks on top in viewer votes, Sonenclar dropped to No. 2 last week. She received harsh criticism Wednesday night from judge Simon Cowell for the first time in the competition.
The 13-year-old sang "Your Song" by Elton John and "Imagine" by John Lennon. Cowell took issue with her confidence level and song arrangements, but the other judges were still impressed.
"It's a little discouraging to get negative comments," Sonenclar said in a pre-show interview. "I want it so badly because I worked so hard to get here."
Fifth Harmony was the first act called to the finals. The girl group previously ranked last in the semifinals. Country singer Tate Stevens, named No. 1 in votes last week, was called next, leaving Sonenclar and Cali boy band Emblem3 up for the last spot.
Although the acts weren't called according to their ranking, Sonenclar was visibly worried that she might not make it to the "X Factor" finals.
“I'm feeling really nervous right now,” she said to host Khloe Kardashian Odom backstage. "This means the world to me, so to even be in this position is really nerve-wracking."
The waiting paid off though, when her name was finally called.
Onstage, Sonenclar thanked her fans and told Emblem3 that she'd be looking forward to buying their album. She then took to her Twitter account to thank her followers, nicknamed "Carly’s angels."
"How do I even begin?! Thank you so much to all my #CarlyAngels for getting me thru to THE FINALS!"
Sonenclar returns to the show next Wednesday night to sing in the finals and make her ultimate bid to take home a $5 million recording contract and become America’s next "X Factor" star.
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