'You can’t judge that you just have to be honoured' : Nicole Scherzinger breaks down in tears as 16-year-old Ella Henderson performs

PUBLISHED: 15:34 EST, 23 September 2012 | UPDATED: 01:47 EST, 24 September 2012

There were plenty of tears from the contestants on tonight's episode of the X Factor but one young star left Nicole Scherzinger weeping.

Ella Henderson wowed the judges and the crowd with her performance of Cher's track Believe but the former Pussycat Doll singer couldn't hold back her tears.

The 16-year-old contestant showed off her impressive vocals as she performed her own unique take on the track as she finished the song to a standing ovation.

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Impressive: Ella Henderson left Nicole Scherzinger in floods of tears with her performance of Cher's track Believe

And after she had left the stage Nicole gushed about the teenager to the other judges as she tried to stop crying.

Nicole said: 'You can’t judge that you just have to be honoured.'

She added: 'We can’t touch her, we just have to be in awe of her. I’m done.'

She's through: Ella's talent has earned her a place at the judges' houses stages of the competition

Welling up

Ahead of her stellar performance Ella explained her unusual song choice: 'Instead of just doing a song that I’d normally just go for and be like ‘yeh I can do that’ I wanted to challenge myself a bit more and pick a song that was completely out of the box and out of my comfort zone. I keep going through it in my head and trying to put my twist on it because it so different from what I’d normally do. I really hope they like it.'

The judges didn't just like it, they loved it and Gary said: 'I’ve got to say, when I read you were going to sing that song, if I was going to have a top five of the most annoying songs of all time, that would come fairly close to the top for me, but today I would pay lots of money to hear that version of the song again. That was amazing, well done.'

Emotional: Nicole couldn't fight back the tears and broke down

She's a strong contender! Ella bagged one of the coveted spots at the judges' houses stage of the competition

He added: 'All of a sudden those lyrics meant something completely different.'

When the judges told Ella she had made it through to the judges' houses stages of the competition the teenager seemed delighted.

Speaking to Dermot after learning the news she said: 'My heart was pounding.'

'I'm so so so so happy.'

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To greatbritain1989 - guess 1989 was the year of your birth, and you still have a fair bit of growing up to do. Never mind, hopefully one day you will get there. With that attitude, no wonder you have a vacancy for a receptionist - best of luck with that!

- Londoncat , London, United Kingdom, 24/9/2012 10:10

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I just hope Tulisa puts her through, I fear she won't fit into what Tulisa usually likes.

- Studio54 , Manchester, 24/9/2012 10:10

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I'm with Gary on this one. I usually hate this song (and most others by Cher) but her version of it is better than the original. Cher please stop singing it now.

- Super Slim Steve , Oban, United Kingdom, 24/9/2012 10:06

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Ella was fantastic. naturally beautiful and slightly unusual voice. She's my favourite so far

- Gem , UK, 24/9/2012 10:01

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WoW!! I am gub smacked!...

- Jimbo , West Midlands, United Kingdom, 24/9/2012 09:49

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Thankfully I don't watch this rubbish, like most I have realised that it's a joke and in 2 years max, it'll probably be axed. As for that Nicole crying, that was as fake as the rest of this pantomime!!! Wake up people and stop giving that creep Simon Cowell your money for this contrived, done to death nonsense!! - MsKaz, Inverness, United Kingdom, All that may well be true but quite regardless this girl's performance was astonishing. Half wish she wasn't on X Factor as they will probably ruin her raw talent and forget her tender age.

- Christine , Co. Antrim, 24/9/2012 09:47

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Ella was fantastic. Even had the others been great (which they weren't) Ella shone as someone with not just a good or great voice but amazing stage presence. At the age of 16 she took an old song and made it sound totally new and poignant. Please can the X Factor not ruin her by making her sing and dressing her in a way that doesn't suit. She is already a real 'find' so don't ruin it like I've seen them do with other vulnerable teenagers.

- Christine , Co. Antrim, 24/9/2012 09:42

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"Nicole was right, how can you judge her when she sings better than most of the judges! Amazing young artist and a winner already!" - BeccieBoo, Uk --- I'd say she can sing better than ALL the judges.

- Alex Balakrishnan , New Delhi, 24/9/2012 09:39

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I loved her first audition song "goodbye" I cried and cried. I don't know what it is about her voice but lyrics sound so different and you really listen. Another brilliant song last night too. I want her to release an album! Ps James Arthur another brilliant voice

- tracy , Berks, 24/9/2012 09:38

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Who watches this trash? The unemployed and brain shy I'd imagine. ITV is the channel that people watch who eat frozen food and haven't picked up a book since Spot the dog. In regards the article, two talentless bimbettes rocking up to bimbette city. I'll offer the girl a job as receptionist when her career nosedives. So I'll hear from her in a week - greatbritain1989, Croydon, United Kingdom, 24/9/2012 2:40 <<<<<<---------------------Geeze - what a VERY bitter individual! I wonder what life and love done to you to have felt and said those.

- Girly , The Philippines, 24/9/2012 09:12

Click to rate Rating 44

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