The X Factor began its finale week Wednesday with a touching tribute to the 20 children and six adults tragically slain during last week’s Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
After a short introduction by Simon Cowell, the X Factor contestants — Beatrice Miller, Arin Ray, Diamond White, CeCe Frey, Paige Thomas, Jennel Garcia, Vino Alan, Emblem3, Tate Stevens, Fifth Harmony and Carly Rose Sonenclar — each contributed a verse of Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone.”
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The performance — aided by a children’s choir — concluded with the names of the departed students and educators on the screen behind them.
Earlier this week, NBC’s The Voice honored the victims with their own heartfelt offering of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”