'We could be looking at a winner': X Factor judges left speechless by Carly Rose Sonenclar, 13

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 01:33 EST, 15 November 2012 | UPDATED: 11:08 EST, 15 November 2012

With their designer dresses and feisty critiques, it is normally Britney Spears and Demi Lovato who battle it out for the title of X Factor’s biggest diva.

But on Wednesday night, the show’s contestants gave them a run for their money and channelled their inner prima donnas.

As the top 12 took on huge hits in Divas Week, it was one of the youngest – and smallest – stars who wowed the judges with her huge voice.

Could be a winner: The judges were left speechless at Carly Rae Sonenclar's performance on Wednesday night's X Factor

Britney, Demi, Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid were all rendered speechless as 13-year-old Carly Rose Sonenclar gave a flawless rendition of Celine Dion classic My Heart Will Go On.

Wearing a floor-length dress with a sequinned neckline, the youngster from Westchester County, New York, was pitch perfect during her performance of the Titanic theme song.

And for Carly Rose, who has been performing for her parents since she was a toddler, it seems she could be destined for big things.

Channelling Celine: The teen wannabe performed a powerful rendition of Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On

Delighted: The teenager couldn't stop smiling after the judges showered her with plaudits

'It pains me to say this - I don’t want to say this - but we could be looking at the winner,' L.A said at the end of her performance.

'You’re so good. It doesn’t make sense. I don’t believe that’s your voice. I feel like Celine Dion’s here and she’s hiding,' Demi told the teenager.

'I don’t believe you’re a human because you can’t do that at 13. Your control on that song and that note at the end was incredible,' Simon said.

I've got chills: A delighted Britney Spears was thrilled at her protege's performance

Britney, who mentors Carly Rose in her teen category, added: 'I have chills all over my body. You’re spectacular sweetie.'

Britney, 30, and Demi, 20, both dressed to impress for Divas Week, with Britney sporting a black mini-dress and jewelled hairband and Demi picking out a floral dress with a high ponytail.

Host Khloe Kardashian also dazzled in a metallic dress with a plunging neckline and joked that ‘divas week’ was in her comfort zone.

'I know all about divas because I grew up with a few of them,' she quipped.

Who's the biggest diva? Khloe Kardashian said she knew a lot about divas after 'growing up with them'

Glittering star: Khloe seemed to be easing into her new presenting role, and was determined to make an impression in her plunging dress

While Carly Rose wowed the judges with her Celine Dion rendition, CeCe Frey from Decatur, Illinois, was less successful.

The 21-year-old, who narrowly avoided elimination last week after finishing in the bottom two, received harsh criticism for her version of Eric Carmen song All By Myself which was famously covered by Celine.

'I like you because you’re a trier but the song was called All By Myself and I think you would have been better off singing it on your own with no one else in the room,' Simon said.

Harsh: CeCe Frey received stringent criticism from Simon Cowell for her performance of All By Myself

Causing rifts: CeCe's performance prompted fiery arguments among the judges, with mentor Demi getting defensive

L.A. told CeCe it was an improvement on her last performance, but could not think of anything else positive to say, sparking a war of words with her mentor Demi.

'Hater. Sorry she was better than Vino,' Demi fired back, referring to the record producer’s contestant Vino Alan. 'Sorry I’m not sorry,' she added.

But when Britney told CeCe: 'Sorry I just don’t get it,' the Camp Rock star was not quite so bold.

Egged on by L.A. to give Britney a piece of her mind, she confessed: 'Nobody talks to the queen like that.'

Diva fight: L.A. Reid, Britney, Demi Lovato and Simon Cowell disagreed over CeCe's performance

While the judges engaged in a war of words, things were more harmonious amongst the contestants as romance blossomed backstage between 17-year-old Arin Ray and 16-year-old Normani Hamilton from girl group Fifth Harmony.

Behind-the-scenes footage showed Arin flirting with Normani as they played pool in the contestants’ house and admitted they would miss one another if they left the competition.

Arin, from Cincinnati, Ohio, even hinted that he would be dedicating his rendition of Madonna ballad Crazy For You to Normani, telling the cameras: 'I’ve got a friend that I could be possibly singing that to.'

Not so crazy for you: The judges were unimpressed with Arin Ray's performance of the Madonna song

The white stuff: Girl group Fifth Harmony wowed the judges with their song Hero by Mariah Carey

Chance of a win: The group's mentor Simon Cowell said they would be in with a chance of victory

But while being teased by his brother about the budding relationship, he insisted: 'We’re just friends right now.'

Arin, who looked dapper in a suit and open-necked white shirt, failed to impress the judges with his performance, with Demi telling him she found it boring and Simon declaring: 'You taking on that song is like asking a cat to eat a tiger.'

His love interest Normani, however, received more positive feedback after her group sang Hero by Mariah Carey.

More intense: The tension between the judges is intensifying as the competition progresss

'You struggled in the beginning but somewhere in there it turned into a really great performance,' L.A. told the band, who were put together at the boot camp stage of the contest.

The group’s mentor Simon added: 'Maybe this isn’t a one horse race. Maybe there’s a chance that five girls with brilliant voices could win this show.'

The X Factor ‘Divas Week’ was kicked off by Jennel Garcia, who gave an energetic rendition of John Fogerty song Proud Mary, which was famously covered by Tina Turner.

Just like Tina: Jennel's song Proud Mary by TinaTurner went down well with the judges

Dressed for success: Jennel kicked off Diva's Week with a performance that 'smoked', according to the judges

Wearing a white tasselled top and skintight trousers, the 18-year-old, from Rochester, Massachusetts, appeared confident as she strutted across the stage in front of backing dancers.

Simon told her 'You are back in the game', while Britney claimed 'Tina would be proud.'

L.A. told Jennel she had 'started this thing out with a bang, adding: 'You just returned to the competition. That smoked.'

Proud mentor Demi added: 'Together we really nailed it.'

The pressure was on for country crooner Tate Stevens, from Belton, Missouri, who received the most votes from the American public last week.

Fan favourite: Country crooner Tate Stevens continued to put the pressure on the other contestants with his rendition of Shania Twain's From This Moment

Smoke and mirrors: Tate confessed he had sung his song for his wife to bring emotion into his performance

Top of the charts: Tate was revealed as being the fans' number one favourite on last week's show

But the 37-year-old did not disappoint as he belted out Shania Twain ballad From This Moment.

Tate, who was wearing his trademark cowboy hat, had tears in his eyes as he confessed he had sung the song to his wife Ashlie to help him bring emotion to his performance.

Demi told him he was 'very good' while Britney said: 'Your performance was so heartfelt. I loved it.'

Simon admitted he was reluctant to praise Tate because fellow judge L.A was already 'smug' but eventually confessed: 'The winner of this show’s going to get $5 million. I would be happy to write you that cheque.'

A true gem: Diamond White was described as a proper 'diva in a good way' by judge Demi

Golden shine: The teenager put in an energetic performance of Beyonce song Halo

Diamond White, 13, truly got into the spirit of the diva theme and revealed she has an on-stage alter ego after performing Beyonce hit Halo.

Simon branded her a 'future star', while L.A. told the teenager: 'Those are really big shoes to fill and you killed it.'

Demi added: 'You are a total diva in the best way possible. You really give the rest of the competition a run for their money.'

Boy band Emblem3 and 22-year-old Paige Thomas also impressed with their performances as they made a bid to get closer to the competition’s $5 million prize.

Fan favourites: Emblem 3 were determined to put in a great performance after learning they had only came sixth in the viewer's vote last week

Heart-throbs: Emblem3 were described as 'superstars' after singing Alicia Keys song No One

Taking centre stage: All the judges were agreed on Emblem3's mass appeal

Emblem3, who sang Alicia Keys song No One, were called 'superstars' by L.A. and seemed to get Britney hot under the collar.

'I totally get why the girls are swooned by you. You’re complete heartthrobs,' she said.

Paige, who wore a sparkly ruby dress with oversized shoulder pads, dedicated her rendition of Donna Summer’s Last Dance to her late mother, who died in a car crash when she was just six-years-old.

Simon told her it was her best performance so far, while mentor Demi said she had 'nailed it.'

Britney added: 'It was like a disco ball exploded on stage. It was like the best disco throwback ever.'

All that glitters: Demi said Paige Thomas 'nailed' her performance of Donna Summer's Last Dance

Youngster Beatrice Miller, soul singer Vino Alan and hip hop act Lyric145, however, received mixed reactions from the judges.

While Demi praised 13-year-old Beatrice’s performance of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time, Simon claimed it was the wrong song for her.

'She has more talent in her pinky than you and all of your contestants together,' Britney, who is mentoring the teenager, quickly fired back at Simon.

Teenage dreams: Beatrice Miller garnered mixed reviews with her version of Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time

More exciting songs needed: Demi told Beatrice she was 'a little bored' with her performance

Vino, 40, from St. Louis, Missouri, also split the panel with his rendition of Al Green classic Let’s Stay Together – a song that was covered by Tina Turner.

'I liked this performance better than last week’s, but at the same time I have to admit I was a little bored,' Demi said.

Hitting back at his rival judge, mentor L.A told Vino: 'Despite what the diva said, you put your soul into that, you sang it so strong.'

He's got soul: Vino Alan divided the judges after singing Al Green song Let's Stay Together

Mash up: Lyric 145 performed a rendition of Katy Perry hit E.T and Queen Hit We Will Rock You

Lost their way: The band didn't impress L.A. Reid or Demi, who said they should be performing more hip hop songs

Simon admitted that his group Lyric145 had changed their song at midnight and opted for a mash-up of Katy Perry hit E.T. and Queen tune We Will Rock You.

Britney told the band she thought they should be doing hip hop songs, while L.A. told them they had lost their way.

Defending his act, Simon told them: 'You had literally hours to put that together and you never complain, you just get on with it.'

The outcome of the public vote to decide which act will be kicked out of the competition, will be announced in Thursday's results show.

The tension mounts: The contestants will have to wait until Thursday night to learn their fate

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