Down to three! Carlito Olivero, Alex And Sierra and Jeff Gutt make X Factor finals as Cowell's boy band Restless Road miss out

PUBLISHED: 23:09 EST, 12 December 2013 | UPDATED: 03:21 EST, 13 December 2013

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It was the end of the highway for The X-Factor hopefuls Restless Road on Thursday as they became the latest act to be voted off the talent show.

The loss of the country music trio now left Carlito Olivero, the duo of Alex And Sierra and rocker Jeff Gutt remaining to battle it out in the finale of Simon Cowell's $1m singing competition.

Cowell was clearly frustrated to lose the boy band he put together and had high hopes for success.

Clearly disappointed: Simon Cowell looked glum on Thursday as his country music boy band Restless Road was eliminated from The X Factor

'I am really disappointed guys, but I have said this before with other groups in this situation, it is not the end,' said an unhappy Cowell.

'You have been an absolute pleasure to work with but good luck to the other finalists.'

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All four remaining acts opened the show by performing the Kelly Clarkson hit Stronger together as they awaited the all-important results.

Tough news: The members of Restless Road and Simon were bummed out about the group's exit

Group performance: The last four acts on The X Factor sang Kelly Clarkson's Stronger to start the show

The X Factor judge Kelly Rowland praised the contestants for the 'wonderful job' they had done performing on Wednesday during the semi-finals.

'I am confident but you never know what is going to happen up on the stage,' Rowland said.

Demi Lovato said that she had no clue who to put her money on to make it through to the final, claiming the competition was now a 'toss-up.'

Tough to choose: Demi Lovato said the competition was a 'toss-up' when asked to predict the finalists

Paulina Rubio also praised the remaining acts.

'I feel amazing to see you grow, you are such different artists but I love you all,' Rubio said.

And Cowell was also playing his cards close to his chest.

'I am feeling confident, I am feeling nervous but as I said last night these were the best performances we have seen so far,' said Cowell.

Standing ovation: Kelly Rowland, Demi Lovato, Paulina Rubio and Simon Cowell applauded the remaining acts during the show

Each contestant on Wednesday night performed one track chosen by the public, one from their mentor and also dueled 'head-to-head in a sing-off' with their peers.

Lovebird duo Alex Kinsey, 22, and Sierra Deaton, 22, sang Gravity by Sarah Bareilles and Little Talks by Icelandic band Monsters and Men.

Carlito Olivero, 24, from Chicago, performed Justin Bieber's Boyfriend, and a hybrid Spanish version of Marc Anthony's I Need to Know.

Alex and Sierra then took on Carlito in a 'match-up' version of Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard.

Only three advance: The X Factor host Mario Lopez with the four remaining acts at the beginning of the show

Restless Road members Zach Beeken, Andrew Scholz and Colton Pack performed That's My Kind of Night by Luke Bryan and Wanted by Hunter Hayes.

Father of one rocker Jeff Gutt, 37, gave a stirring rendition of Hallelujah and Demons by Imagine Dragons.

Gutt then took on Restless Road in a version of the Sting classic Every Breath You Take.

Olivero was asked who he thought was his biggest competition.

'I think everybody man, we all proved it last night and everyone left our hearts on the stage. No matter what happens here tonight we all deserve it,' he replied.

He's a finalist: Carlito Olivero overcame a lot to make it to the finals

'Getting to the finals is getting one step closer to my dream, so many people told me that I couldn't and that I would never last this long, but life is about not proving everybody else wrong, it is about proving yourself right,' he added.

Kinsey said could not wait to find out the results for him and his singing partner girlfriend.

'I am excited to be in this situation, someone has to go home and hopefully it won't be us. It is going to be tough,' Kinsey said.

Deaton added: 'We have only got one shot to make it into the finale, we are too close to go home now, this is the best opportunity we have ever been given and I don't want it to stop just yet.'

Dynamic duo: Alex and Sierra found themselves in the finals

Gutt echoed those sentiments.

'I hope it is not me, I am just praying I am one of the three that gets through, I really hope it is me,' the powerful singer said.

'This is not a game to me, I did not come back this year to come in second place. I came back to win. I don't just do this for myself, if someone thinks they are going to take something away from my son they have another thing coming,' he added.

The guys from Restless Road said they were confident but still unsure of securing a coveted place in the finals.

Made their case: The members of Restless Road said they performed on behalf of their hometowns

They told the audience they were doing this for their hometowns and felt they had not even scratched the surface of their talent yet.

All four semi-finalists were then brought out on stage by their mentors to hear who viewers voted through to the final.

The first act through to the final was a thrilled Olivero, who put his hands to his head in amazement.

Dream come true: Carlito was amazed to learn he made it to the finals

'Oh my God I love you all so much, you just made my dream come true. Latinos forever bro,' he said.

Rubio was delighted for her man.

'This has been one of the best experiences of my life. I know Carlito is such a talented guy and I love you guys for all the support, thank you America,' the Mexican-born star said.

Proud judge: Paulina Rubio was truly excited to see Carlito advance

Olivero gave Cowell a high-five upon learning that he had advanced to the finals.

A stony-faced Cowell said he was 'thrilled' to see Olivero in the finals, with Kelly Rowland repeating the exact same phrase.

Latin heartthrob Enrique Iglesias, 38, showed the contestants how it's done with a rendition of his hit Heart Attack.

Latin star: Enrique Iglesias performed his hit song Heart Attack

New song: Enrique performed Heart Attack from his upcoming 10th studio album

The second act to discover they had advanced was Alex and Sierra.

'We want to thank everyone who has voted and bought our songs, this is just incredible,' Kinsey said.

Cowell was also delighted.

'They have been incredible to work with, they have got better every single week and the final would not be the same without them, I am really happy for you guys,' he said.

Celebration song: Alex And Sierra performed Let Her Go by Passenger and showed why they're in the finals

Alex and Sierra then celebrated by performing a version of Let Her Go by Passenger.

The third and final act to get through to compete for The X-Factor crown was Gutt, signalling the end of the road for a stunned Restless Road.

'This is not the end of the road for us guys, you will be seeing us in the future,' vowed Colton.

Gutt was ecstatic to make it through.

'Oh my God, thank you so much for voting, thank you, thank you, thank you,' Gutt told the audience.

'I am ready to get to work.'

Grateful coach: Kelly shouted 'America rocks!' after her rocker singer Jeff made it to the finals

Rowland heaped praise on her singer Gutt, saying: 'America rocks!'

Jeff kicked off his final campaign by performing his version of Journey's classic rock anthem Open Arms.

The three final acts will perform live on Wednesday in a two-hour finale that will be followed on Thursday by a results show in which the winner will be announced.

Limbs apart: Jeff Gutt performed the classic Journey song Open Arms with his in the right position

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Millaydee, Los Angeles, United States, 2 hours ago

Carlito Nothingito has been in the bottom a few times. My cat Wnston is a better singer. Pandering to Latinos is not the honorable way to win votes. Jeff Gutt ALL THE WAY!

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Millaydee, Los Angeles, United States, 2 hours ago

Carlito Idioto has to buying votes. He may be a nice guy, but my cat has a better voice. AND playing to Latinos is not exactly going to win him that many votes...he was in the bottom a couple of times already.... Jeff Gutt for the win!