After its lowest rated season to date, FOX’s “The X Factor” has officially crowned its third winner.
And for the first time in those three seasons, the winner is one of the group acts.
In the closing moments of Thursday’s two hour finale, the FOX reality show announced that Alex & Sierra, who represented Simon Cowell’s “Groups” category, had the “X Factor” and inked a $1 million recording contract with Sony.
Jeff Gutt, the last man standing from Kelly Rowland’s Over 25s category, claimed second. Earlier in the night, “The X Factor” revealed that Carlito Olivero placed third in the annual competition.
Considered the favorites to win, Alex & Sierra had emerged as a dominant force on iTunes in recent weeks. Their covers of “Say Something” and “Gravity” both ascended to number one on the overall single sales chart. A rare feat for any music competition contestants, the accomplishment was particularly impressive given the fact that “Factor” attracts a very small viewership and does not include iTunes sales in its voting process.
Following the victory announcement, the duo, overcome with emotion, attempted a reprise of “Say Something.”