LOS ANGELES (LALATE EXCLUSIVE) – Stacy Francis is not just a single 42 year old mother trying to be discovered by Simon Cowell and FOX producers on The X Factor USA. Rather, Francis was part of the 1998 Original Broadway Cast of the musical Footloose. Francis in Footloose performed the smash song “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”. Viewers have been left believing that that Simon Cowell has discovered Francis this season on his reality show. But Francis has already made it big as a singer, far before Simon Cowell ever met her.

The perceived concept of The X Factor rests on judges trying to find a performer who has a hidden star quality, or factor, that needs to be discovered. When Stacy Francis first appeared before Simon Cowell, his remarks included the following “It is always my favorite feeling in the world is when I sit in a chair and I meet a star for the first time.”

While Simon Cowell might have “met a star for the first time” in Francis now, if Cowell had gone to Broadway years earlier, Cowell allegedly could have seen her star then.

Francis is an exceptionally talented singer who deserves to win this season of The X Factor. Her singing is unmatched, her voice is exceptional, and her delivery is unmatched.

While Cowell makes one thing appear to telecast viewers, New York theatre fans have seen Francis on stage for years, from Born to Sing!, Smokey Joe’s Café and Street Corner Symphony. During her original appearance, X Factor producers aired the following statement by Francis “In my late 20s into early 30s, I met someone. Things just when really wrong … He kept on telling me I’m too old or not talented enough, I started believing him.”

During her initial audition, Francis told viewers that “I’m Stacy, I’m 42 years old, I’m a single mother with two kids”. She later added “I don’t want to die with this music in me Simon!” Francis’ music, however, is alive and well; the 1998 Original Broadway Cast recording from Footloose staring Stacy Francis is still available for purchase on Amazon.com.

Francis deserves to win this season of The X Factor. But will she?

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – The X Factor USA Top 16 spoilers online this week for the 2011 season predict Stacy Francis and Dexter Haygood (of Xavion) among those advancing. The X Factor USA Top 16 spoilers follow recent predictions leaked online for the Top 32 contestants that were relatively accurate. Unlike tv shows like Bachelor Pad and The Bachelor where spoiler RealitySteve has had a track record of perfectly predicting entire seasons, X Factor USA hasn’t yet spawn a go-to source for weekly spoilers of the reality show.

But if online spoilers for the Top 16 Contestants are accurate, than fans will be happy to know that Stacy Francis and Dexter Haywood apparently reach the Top 16. Francis and Haywood have been the two singers who initially helped FOX find its focus with X Factor. After being accused of being a stylized copy of American Idol, X Factor with two starkly different competitors found its focus with Haywood and Francis.

Stacy Francis was part of the initial media blast by X Factor. She was debuted in the 8 minute preview clip for the series, covered previously on LALATE.

LA Reid told Stacy “Everything that I do musically is about having my spirit stirred and the hair on my arm raised. And you did both for me today. You are so gifted. You got what it takes.”

Dexter Haygood / Xavion Pictures cerca 1984 (Set 1)
Dexter Haygood / Xavion Photo 1
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Simon told her “Let me tell you Stacy, I have done this a long long time. That was one of the best auditions I have seen in my entire life. You didn’t just sing. You believed in it. Loved it, loved you.”

Dexter Haygood gave us something different than Idol – a fallen rocker who is trying to get back up and prove himself again. “I am a rock and roll soul man…. I use to be in a rock and roll group Savion back in 1984, we went on tour with Hall and Oats” he told viewers last month.

Dexter Haygood / Xavion Pictures cerca 1984 (Set 2)
Dexter Haygood / Xavion Photo 5
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Haygood added “It’s not easy being a musician. It’s up and down hills and valleys.” While Idol is about first chances, X Factor for Haygood has been about second chances. “This is a definitely a second chance for me. Coming back.”

Dexter Haygood / Xavior Pictures cerca 1984 (Set 3)
Dexter Haygood / Xavion Photo 9
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“I hope that, and pray that, all that I have done, this is my payoff. My passion for what I do kept me alive and keeps me alive to this day.” Click HERE for the alleged Top 16  spoilers.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Stacy Francis and Chris Rene (“Young Homie”) helped The X Factor USA debut last night become an amazing mix of talent and heart wrenching moments. Stacy Francis and Chris Rene (videos below) have enormous gifts. And despite whatever happens to them in this season, viewers last night saw these two singers’ lives changes.

Therein rested the difference of The X Factor. Unlike The Voice or American Idol, viewers didn’t learn that these people’s lives might soon change. They changed last night. In a national broadcast, America learned that two enormous future stars are among them. These aren’t just people who can sing. They are persons, who in the words of LA Reid, make the hairs on your arms stand up.

Fox certainly did embellish the mood-music a bit too much. When they wanted you to get emotional, they cued the sad music. When they wanted you to celebrate, they played the celebration beats. But despite the hideously over-the-top editing and orchestration that Fox used to embellish every scene like it’s a scene out of Steel Magnolias meets Rocky, there was no mistaking that this was a great show.

Stacy Francis had been known by TV viewers in recent weeks. She was debuted in the 8 minute preview clip for the series, covered previously on LALATE. And yet, Fox understood that there was something so entertaining, and unique, in her performance that it didn’t matter if she had been watched before last night’s premiere. You just can’t stop watching her!

Chris Rene, however, proved that a talent show works with different genres. His sound and his story was so different that Stacy’s. “I’m 28 years old. And my job is to haul trash. I am who I am but this is what I am chasing. I want to be on stages, make money. I’m done with hauling trash.”

The Santa Cruz, California native wrote his own song. He didn’t need orchestration or flashing presentations. He used raw lyrics and talent to win the audience. “I just got out of rehab actually. Growing up my life was really good. I couldn’t ask for better parents or sisters. … I had a disease called addiction. The shame and guilt got to me.” He added “I want my son to see me singing on stages.”

In the end, the judges told him “honey, I’m tripping on you. I’m serious. I can’t describe your talent. It’s indescribable.” Paula Abdul added “You are a bright line. You are so talented words cant articulate.”

LA Reid remarked “I have worked with some of the greatest hip-hop artists. They would all be proud of you for me to tell you today that you are the truth.”

Simon Cowell in the end said “it is always my favorite feeling in the world is when I sit in a chair and I meet a star for the first time. Maybe you need to show us that we need you. “

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Stacy Francis tonight on The X Factor delivered a performance of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin (video below). Francis’ performance by tomorrow morning will make news as the biggest performance of the biggest new FOX series this year. Stacy was revealed to news several weeks ago during The X Factor 8 minute preview clip. At the time, LALATE reported that it “had watched Stacy four times [that day and] can’t stop watching.” Tonight, more of her amazing performance was shown in the debut of Fox’s new The X Factor. Whatever happens from the series remains to be seen. But tonight, Stacy became a star.

LA Reid told Stacy “Everything that I do musically is about having my spirit stirred and the hair on my arm raised. And you did both for me today. You are so gifted. You got what it takes.”

After finishing her performance, Stacy couldn’t stop crying. With her mascara running down her face, Stacy got a standing applause from the judges and the entire audiences.

She also prompted tears from Paula Abdul. Paula told her “Opportunities like this come around one in a lifetime for someone as angelic as you. This is your time. This is your time baby. God bless you.”

Cheryl Cole told her “I am completely and utterly blown away with ever single word you sang. I could feel the whole room wanted you to win. And you just won.”

With tears still falling down her face, Stacy stood as the FOX orchestration grew and Simon rendered his remarks. “Let me tell you Stacy, I have done this a long long time. That was one of the best auditions I have seen in my entire life. You didn’t just sing. You believed in it. Loved it, loved you.”

In the end, she won not only the hearts of the judges and support of 4304 attendees, but validation that you should never get up hope.

“I’m Stacy, I’m 42 years old, I’m a single mother with two kids” she told viewers earlier. “In my late 20s into early 30s, I met someone. Things just when really wrong.” She proceeded to break down and cry. “He kept on telling me I’m too old or not talented enough, I started believing him.” Stacy paused and said “I started believing him, and he started to push me around and I started to lose faith in myself.”

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