tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683241849071549832024-03-04T23:30:36.803-08:00Amy Connolly - XFactor 2008First heard on XFactor 20th September 2008Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-24920198938751755982010-11-26T05:29:00.000-08:002010-11-26T05:30:34.236-08:00Do You Remember Amy Connolly From XFactor19 year old Amy Connolly from Watford reduced judge Cheryl Cole to tears at her X-factor audition in London with a heart warming rendition of the Faith Hill song "There you'll be".<br />
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Cheryl comforted Amy with a hug following her successful audition after hearing how Amy had lost her mum at a young age. After hearing that her widowed dad David is now Amy's biggest fan, Cheryl said she loved the song and told Amy that she did her dad proud.<br />
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Amy was only 7 years old when her mother Rosemarie sadly died of breast cancer aged only 45. Amy, a customer services rep, has said she desperately wants to win the 2008 X-factor in memory of her mum and also as a tribute to her 61 year old father David.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-65390319048665866702010-11-26T05:06:00.000-08:002010-11-26T05:06:54.616-08:00A Deserved Surprise - Amy Connolly<b>There You'll Be by Faith Hill</b><br />
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Was originally released in 2001 as part of the Pearl Harbor soundtrack, this was a massive hit for Faith Hill, peaking at three in the charts.<br />
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But after it was chosen by X Factor hopeful <b>Amy Connolly</b> for her audition in 2008, the original recording stormed back into the charts, giving the artist, who had seemingly vanished from the music scene, a deserved surprise hit.<br />
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<object width="500" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zhpFwpu0mGw?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zhpFwpu0mGw?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="400"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-5633735899407232009-10-18T09:54:00.000-07:002010-11-26T05:40:48.797-08:00Amy Connelly - Video<object width="500" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KV2ehybayAQ?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KV2ehybayAQ?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="400"></embed></object><br />
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Amy arrived at the audition with her Dad and tells the judges about her relationship with her Dad. Amy sings quite an emotional Faith Hill song. It brings a tear to Cheryl's and Amy's eyes and she gets a big hug from Cheryl Cole. About the song, Cheryl Cole said, "I loved it". Simon Cowell said, "You surprise me Amy, I didn't think you were going to be as good as that".Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-17984626099771121792008-10-01T08:15:00.000-07:002008-10-01T08:17:33.271-07:00Same Difference Says...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3wpJMahYlKPoViHNo7FnbnRsOinSYArxZPqSuGKRM77wDaBRbM-rWR-abPUSisUVIQwyZxmwX62w9bVWLUS9Lv2cJ76oZ7mbru7MOH3SQfX1CaQH-HkCNj8IKqPCJpY3uf1t-oDxagtB/s1600-h/samedifference.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252204772212805650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3wpJMahYlKPoViHNo7FnbnRsOinSYArxZPqSuGKRM77wDaBRbM-rWR-abPUSisUVIQwyZxmwX62w9bVWLUS9Lv2cJ76oZ7mbru7MOH3SQfX1CaQH-HkCNj8IKqPCJpY3uf1t-oDxagtB/s200/samedifference.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Same Difference say: "Amy Connolly deserves every success and she really nailed her second performance. Hurt is a tough song to sing and she really did it justice!" </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-37825990306076031162008-09-30T04:20:00.000-07:002008-09-30T04:23:27.504-07:00Dermot O'Leary is Shamefaced<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hLRuajKlZpCUYESezrFWywgrxMU1gtkEtDGpZd9T9uiwRTaHp0fd8wt5fKqXoY8RcvnIDE8sFDz8ghl28Qe1aT2YERVE49Nrcut7wQ-Adnj6Rdtxne7DbUY-1n16YEtDcdbUvkXrH4xS/s1600-h/dermot+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251773174831329346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hLRuajKlZpCUYESezrFWywgrxMU1gtkEtDGpZd9T9uiwRTaHp0fd8wt5fKqXoY8RcvnIDE8sFDz8ghl28Qe1aT2YERVE49Nrcut7wQ-Adnj6Rdtxne7DbUY-1n16YEtDcdbUvkXrH4xS/s320/dermot+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>SHAMEFACED Dermot O'Leary yesterday tried to squirm out of his X Factor sob-story scandal, claiming it was a "harmless gag".<br /><br />He also claimed he had the "utmost respect" for Scots hopeful Amy Connolly. </div><div><br />But Amy was having none of it and insisted that unless he said "sorry", it wasn't an apology.<br />Dermot made hurtful remarks during filming of new ITV2 quiz show Celebrity Juice last week and shocked fans of The X Factor on which he usually consoles upset contestants.</div><div><br />On Celebrity Juice, he ranted: "I don't care what your dream is. I don't care what you want to sing. And I don't care about your dead relative."</div><div><br />While this was not directed at Amy, he had earlier given her a hug after she had revealed that she was only six when her mum Rosemarie died.<br /><br />The 19-year-old's older half-brother David died in a car crash a few months after her mum died of breast cancer.</div><div><br />Amy, who now lives in Watford, Hertfordshire, branded the host a "two-faced fake" for his comments.</div><div><br />In yesterday's Daily Record, she admitted that she was shocked at Dermot's nasty comments and called the presenter a "heartless b******" and "cruel".<br />Amy and fellow contestant Daniel Evans, whose wife died after giving birth to his daughter, have both spoken of their loss but insist they weren't trying to get the sympathy vote.<br />With X Factor judge Simon Cowell reported to be "fuming" at the remarks, Dermot tried to backtrack yesterday.</div><div><br />He said: "Most of us have suffered from bereavement and it is something I'd never make light of.</div><div><br />"The banter with the panel of Celebrity Juice was about me having a night off and I would be mortified if a harmless gag was taken out of context. I have the upmost respect for Amy and Daniel and anyone that handles personal tragedy with such grace."<br />But Amy said: "I wouldn't accept that as an apology. I would want him to say the word 'sorry'.<br />"Dermot comes across as so, so nice but do not get close to someone, do not care and then say something like that on a television programme.</div><div><br />"How can this man who has supported me from day one say something like that?<br />"If you feel that strongly about it, do not get involved.<br />"What he said is not harmless. I can understand it was a gag, but it's heartless."<br />Amy is in the final 24 of the competition and will be seen this weekend in Cannes fighting for a place in the live shows under Cheryl Cole's mentorship.</div><div><br />With the girls category having some of the best singers on the show, Amy getting chosen as one of Cheryl's final six will be all about her voice rather than the loss of her mum.<br />She added: "What has happened in my past is a part of me and I can't change that." </div><div><br />An ITV spokeswoman said Simon was in Los Angeles and is unlikely to have seen the piece but added: "Celebrity Juice is a late-night adult show that doesn't take itself too seriously and it's in this spirit that Dermot was making fun of himself.<br />"It absolutely wasn't aimed at anyone."</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-19608937005672849992008-09-29T06:34:00.000-07:002008-09-29T06:36:48.518-07:00Amy Connolly Goes To Cannes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WH0SHGLTfclTvIw7dx39BiJCWUmG6YSm1Mt4dlaPJSn_F0i2uPbYQxBxNvP33dJEwLsKQgDNL-Wo9sGpzcD4Gjj3cc6twtZvylQTl3I4xHrmugbYRjjfyYoDONMf3tN5_NYTdPhNnBig/s1600-h/cannes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251436646181124098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WH0SHGLTfclTvIw7dx39BiJCWUmG6YSm1Mt4dlaPJSn_F0i2uPbYQxBxNvP33dJEwLsKQgDNL-Wo9sGpzcD4Gjj3cc6twtZvylQTl3I4xHrmugbYRjjfyYoDONMf3tN5_NYTdPhNnBig/s320/cannes.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole is all that stands between Watford teenager Amy Connolly and a place in The X Factor finals. Millions saw how Amy, 19, survived two legs of Boot Camp, shown on ITV on Saturday and Sunday, and was picked as one of the last six in the category 'Girls 25 and under'. Next Saturday, viewers will see her fly to Cannes, in the south of France, where she must impress her 'mentor' Cole, in the hope of making the final three and winning a place in the live shows. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-4901591731028925962008-09-29T03:11:00.000-07:002008-09-29T03:16:39.657-07:00Amy Connolly last night branded Dermot O'Leary a "two-faced fake"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLJZ0exk9MXqkIDTagPKUqrmu-jBA8WrhVpL3AYxAdHo7d0GWISagy7BUq6twRW9O0HezNUFuZEq87kGYyjlUCybHxTA55WtBwqWrBqsg_07gl3VBghUgWNtg-r_XSHyManus3NiprjhK/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251385161451747458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLJZ0exk9MXqkIDTagPKUqrmu-jBA8WrhVpL3AYxAdHo7d0GWISagy7BUq6twRW9O0HezNUFuZEq87kGYyjlUCybHxTA55WtBwqWrBqsg_07gl3VBghUgWNtg-r_XSHyManus3NiprjhK/s320/4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>X FACTOR hopeful Amy Connolly last night branded show host Dermot O'Leary a "two-faced fake".<br /><br />The teenager was furious he mocked "sob stories" - after consoling her when the memory of her late Scots mum reduced her to tears during the auditions.<br /><br />O'Leary, who presented The X Factor for the first time last year, made his attack on ITV2 quiz show Celebrity Juice.<br /><br />He declared: "It's past 9 o'clock, I can say what I f***ing want. So, I don't care what your dream is. I don't care what you want to sing. And I don't care about your dead relative."<br />Now 18-year-old Amy, whose Fife-born mum Rosemarie died of cancer when she was just seven, has hit back.<br /><br />Another of this year's contestants, Danny Evans, has also suffered a bereavement, losing his wife after the birth of his daughter.<br /><br />Amy, who is among the six girls in the 14-24 age group being mentored by judge Cheryl Cole in the "judges' houses" section of the TV talent show, said: "My blood was boiling."<br /><br />She said O'Leary, 35, who made his name on Big Brother's Little Brother, comforted her throughout the week-long bootcamp stage, talking to her every day and being supportive of her.<br />She added: "He came across as so down to earth and nice.<br /><br />"My blood was boiling when I heard his comments and I thought, 'If I see him again I'll have to have a word with him.' Dermot, it's fair enough if you do not like sob stories but don't come across like you cared.<br /><br />"He said what he really thought on a programme that was going to be broadcast past 9pm but it is so so cruel and so horrible to say it. I couldn't believe it and thought, 'You heartless b******.'<br />"The whole way through he was so supportive, even through that bootcamp week, by talking to me every day. I just thought, 'You are a fake, so fake.'"<br /><br />Amy, whose half-brother David was also killed in a car crash just months after she lost her mum, insisted it had never been her intention to gain sympathy votes by telling her family's tragic story.<br /><br />During the auditions, Amy reduced Girls Aloud star Cheryl to tears with her story and emotional performance of Faith Hill's There You'll Be.<br /><br />Amy, who now lives in Watford, Hertfordshire, says she is thrilled to be one of the final 24 contestants on this year's show.<br /><br />And she was delighted when she found out Cheryl was mentoring her group for the next stage.<br />Cheryl and her Girls Aloud bandmate Kimberley Walsh, who is assisting her with the girls, are staying in a villa in Cannes, while the contestants are in a nearby hotel.<br /><br />She said: "It's so great that I've got her, as I was hoping I'd get her. Obviously, from the first audition, she was my sort of person and she started crying when she heard about my mum.<br />"It was incredible, the places we went to in Cannes, absolutely amazing.<br /><br />"We got taken to the strip with all its designer shops before we knew Cheryl was our judge.<br />"We all thought then it was definitely Cheryl because she is the most glamorous one who does all the shopping."<br /><br />Amy added said: "Cheryl came out on the balcony of the villa and we all started screaming.<br />"It was such an overwhelming experience and I will treasure it for the rest of my life.<br />"It was incredible to be sitting with Cheryl and Kimberley over a cup of tea outside the villa."<br />Amy said some of the contestants were less than happy to be put up in a hotel while Cheryl stayed in the villa.<br /><br />She admitted: "I was disappointed we weren't staying in the villa but they've got privacy and we've got to respect that.<br /><br />"It's not the end of the world but it would have been nice. "<br /><br />Amy will be doing everything she can to try to make it two in a row for Scotland after the win for Leon Jackson, from Whitburn, West Lothian, last year.<br /><br />She said: "I've got Scottish blood flowing through my veins and the only thing not Scottish aboutme is my accent.<br /><br />"It's such a dream come true to be through to this stage and if I can do it again, like Leon did last year, it would be amazing.<br /><br />"All the other Scots contestants were so nice and have said they'll support me."</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-16506240067080534802008-09-28T12:13:00.000-07:002008-09-28T12:41:33.064-07:00Through Tonight - Category ListsHere's the full list of those that got through tonight (28th Sept) :<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">In the 14 – 24 Girls category</span></strong><br /><br />Annastacia Baker<br />Hannah Bradbeer<br />Alexandra Burke<br />Amy Connolly<br />Diana Vickers<br />Laura White<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">In the 14 – 24 Boys category</span></strong><br /><br />Scott Bruton<br />Austin Drage<br />Mali-Michael McCalla<br />Liam Payne<br />Eoghan Quigg<br />Alan Turner<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">In the 25 and Overs category</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Daniel Evans<br />Suzie Furlonger<br />Louise Heatly<br />Rachel Hylton<br />Ruth Lorenzo<br />James Williams<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">In the Groups category</span></strong><br /><br />4 Instinct<br />Bad Lashes<br />Desire<br />Girlband<br />JLS<br />PriorityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-59320151760805499702008-09-24T07:10:00.000-07:002008-09-24T07:13:09.116-07:00Amy Connolly - Faith Hill Now Entering Charts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVIw77Fqu55od2K9xqULGWuiGCSuC48nXjsTD225_ZEEaIZdpBgH7tr_DoBv0OKJNcJ8fTSgUZnIJin22EDbIN2-Sja3i6Hk04L0J37rdBe43H81IpKTbRa0hyphenhyphens3Dnk-vi3zbilJVmFlh/s1600-h/faith+hill.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249590485734046418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVIw77Fqu55od2K9xqULGWuiGCSuC48nXjsTD225_ZEEaIZdpBgH7tr_DoBv0OKJNcJ8fTSgUZnIJin22EDbIN2-Sja3i6Hk04L0J37rdBe43H81IpKTbRa0hyphenhyphens3Dnk-vi3zbilJVmFlh/s320/faith+hill.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>FAITH HILL's track 'There You'll Be' is set to enter the UK Chart on Sunday after Amy Connolly sang the track as an audition for THE X FACTOR (UK) last Saturday (September 20th). The track that was originally release on June 2001 looks set to hit the number 5 position after being downloaded from various websites over 100,000 times. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-40114668864693767392008-09-23T05:48:00.000-07:002008-09-23T05:52:26.730-07:00Amy's Betting Odds<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuz8nliGzqDKSWkm95ajrBoswadEe_kKtR5xrBeYS8Nl5GWFPdrejArbstquEaMu-IdxMIanC9e8R_qXBZR_6QzfZURFTy7OxBU-YHjsy2jQBRGjhJr3PL8vmRrCVXyQRV-O7WVsyJurj/s1600-h/olbgnews.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249198567298386258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuz8nliGzqDKSWkm95ajrBoswadEe_kKtR5xrBeYS8Nl5GWFPdrejArbstquEaMu-IdxMIanC9e8R_qXBZR_6QzfZURFTy7OxBU-YHjsy2jQBRGjhJr3PL8vmRrCVXyQRV-O7WVsyJurj/s320/olbgnews.gif" border="0" /></a> Amy Connolly is now 8/1 with Boylesports but only 5/1 with Paddy Power. Boylesports obviously regretted their decision to offer 33/1 yesterday as that was quickly snapped up and the X Factor odds on Amy Connolly were cut several times throughout the day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-25389992133731377852008-09-22T01:10:00.000-07:002008-09-22T01:13:19.388-07:00Amy's Double Heartache Story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAc3bf8VTZaF8Ho2Xf0ZgKeU0VuT5mWwUkrVs4KEvwjd0y6KEQTXF3HjWtdqmxxR1b5wcJfFSJEAi4V49oT58t_kg223aSVQ2gjCi4uAqEruxq1DTQe5guGqZARCXYZA3LPUFiFcE1CyS/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248755384954728546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAc3bf8VTZaF8Ho2Xf0ZgKeU0VuT5mWwUkrVs4KEvwjd0y6KEQTXF3HjWtdqmxxR1b5wcJfFSJEAi4V49oT58t_kg223aSVQ2gjCi4uAqEruxq1DTQe5guGqZARCXYZA3LPUFiFcE1CyS/s320/4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>X Factor hopeful Amy Connelly is nursing a secret double heartache.<br /><br />The pretty blonde 19-year-old reduced TV judge Cheryl Cole to tears when she revealed her mum Rosemarie died when she was just seven years old.<br /><br />Rosemarie had been diagnosed with breast cancer when Amy was three months old and died at the age of 45, in April 1997.<br /><br />Now Amy has revealed her half-brother David was killed in a car crash just months after she lost her mum.<br /><br />Amy was unanimously put through to the boot camp stage of the contest after a rendition of Faith Hill's There You'll Be and last night she said watching it again on TV had been emotional.<br /><br />She said: "I know my mum's up there and she's smiling and that brings a tear to my heart."<br /><br />And last night, Amy spoke for the first time about her half-brother, who died in a horrific car crash just months after her mum's death.<br /><br />David, who was her dad's son from his first marriage, died aged 29, in January 1998.<br /><br />Amy, who lives in Watford with her Scots dad David, auditioned for the ITV1 talent show because she wanted to make her dad "so, so proud".<br /><br />She added: "I didn't want to make it all about my mum but it came up and I wanted to give a piece of me so they knew the person I was and why I was there and doing it.<br /><br />"I think I've made her and my dad proud."<br /><br />And yesterday Amy's half-sister Diane, 38, of Holytown, Lanarkshire, said their removal man dad had been through so much - losing his wife and son within eight months.<br /><br />She said: "My dad went through a horrible time.<br /><br />"My brother David left a daughter, Clare, who was seven, the same age as Amy when she lost her mum.<br /><br />"But we always had contact with my dad and with Amy."<br /><br />David, 61, who moved to Watford after his first marriage ended in divorce, admitted watching Saturday night's show left him in floods of tears.<br /><br />He said: "When Amy was between five-and-a-half and six-and-a-half, we were in and out of hospital.<br /><br />"Rosemarie died in the April and Amy's seventh birthday was in June.<br /><br />"But Rosemarie was a fighter although the cancer took over her.<br /><br />"She said to me about Amy: 'This is my present, my gift.'<br /><br />"She knew what was in for her and she still wanted a baby. Amy is a walking miracle."<br /><br />David met Rosemarie - who was born in Kirkcaldy and raised in Glenrothes - after she moved from Scotland to England at 18 years old.<br /><br />She worked in a bar near where David and Amy now live.<br /><br />Amy and her dad - who used to play in Glasgow bands in the 1960s and even supported The Kinks - bonded over their love of music.<br /><br />And David hopes his daughter can succeed in the business. He added: "Bringing up Amy on my own has been a struggle and we've had our ups and downs but I know she's going to go far.<br /><br />"She went to boot camp a little girl and came back a woman.<br /><br />"If it wasn't for Amy, I wouldn't be here. She brought me through the hardest part of my life. She's a gift from God for me."<br /><br />And Amy's half-sister admitted she was also bursting with pride when she saw her on screen.<br /><br />The mum-of-three, who has a 17-year-old son and twins who will be two next week, said: "I watched The X Factor and it broke my heart. Rosemarie had such a long illness. It was terrible.<br /><br />"There would be hope, then a setback.<br /><br />"And they prayed for such a long time for a child."<br /><br />While Amy won't reveal if she makes it through boot camp, she said she would ideally pick Cheryl - who gave a hug after her performance - as her mentor.<br /><br />She said to Amy: "It sounds like you have been through a lot but I totally believed your performance. I thought you were amazing. I believed every word and I loved it."<br /><br />Amy said: "Cheryl is real. It was really nice that she hugged me. I didn't want to make her cry but it shows she's not afraid to show her emotions.<br /><br />"I'd love to get her as a mentor. If not her, Simon, as he will tell you the truth whether you like it or not."<br /><br />And even the notoriously hard-to-please Simon was impressed, saying: "You surprised me.<br /><br />"I didn't think you'd be as good as that."<br /><br />It's a good omen for the youngster before she does battle next weekend on ITV1 with the other boot camp wannabes at London's O2 Arena, to try to make the final 24 and the judges' houses stage.<br /><br />If she does get through, Amy, who has a boyfriend, Matt Irons, 21, hopes Scotland will support her.<br /><br />She said: "I am Scottish. I've just got an English accent.<br /><br />"Both my parents are Scottish and I'm the only person in my family to speak with an English accent.<br /><br />"I will give it my all and hopefully Scotland will be behind me." </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/">http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-72893208386097021452008-09-21T13:49:00.000-07:002008-09-21T13:52:25.703-07:00Same Difference Have Their say<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4aOf8ZAvT4WbeH3LSJZL96YUvT1BQ74yh5t3AxuwaSnHD-BKBQkpPuzmKJB7G4PhT6_Gu_KASAb4ZbTDp8TVbY9wIglKYpwx5uTF2jTjiPBRe7Yv-yVHbWJEBjQN9Y5JZ8UdOZpttGrW/s1600-h/samedifference.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248580298582105602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4aOf8ZAvT4WbeH3LSJZL96YUvT1BQ74yh5t3AxuwaSnHD-BKBQkpPuzmKJB7G4PhT6_Gu_KASAb4ZbTDp8TVbY9wIglKYpwx5uTF2jTjiPBRe7Yv-yVHbWJEBjQN9Y5JZ8UdOZpttGrW/s320/samedifference.jpg" border="0" /></a>"When 18 year old Amy Connolly was auditioning you could see that Cheryl was really in the moment and her motherly instinct came into play! We loved that Amy was so innocent and was desperate to make her dad proud. Family is so important and to see such a special bond was incredible. Amy's version of There You'll be was so touching and her voice was really strong, we are looking forward to seeing her at bootcamp!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-40316320695458030732008-09-21T01:06:00.000-07:002008-09-21T01:09:18.068-07:00Amy Speaks About Family TragedyBy Alice Walker <a href="mailto:Alice.Walker@People.Co.Uk">Alice.Walker@People.Co.Uk</a><br /><br />Brave X Factor star Amy Connolly opened her heart to The People about the family tragedy that left judge Cheryl Cole in tears on last night's show.<br /><br />Amy, 19, was devastated by the death of her mother when she was just seven and was brought up by her devoted dad David.<br /><br />She dreamed of a singing career since childhood. And after she took the first step by getting on X Factor, delighted David told her: "Your mum would be so proud of you."<br /><br />Amy - who wowed the judges last night - said: "I had a tough time when Mum died but Dad has always been there for me.<br />"He's been like my mum and dad in one, we've got a really close relationship. I really want to make him proud of me.<br /><br />"I couldn't believe I made Cheryl cry. I think she was trying hard not to but she just couldn't help herself. I told them about my mum and my dad and everything and she was really emotional."<br /><br />After Amy's tearful rendition of Faith Hill's There You'll Be, deeply-moved Cheryl hugged her and said: "It sounds like you've been through a lot. I thought you were amazing. I believed every word and I loved it."<br />Even hard-to-please Simon Cowell said: "You surprised me. I didn't think you'd be as good as that."<br /><br />The ITV1 talent show judges had no hesitation in sending Amy to the bootcamp stage of the competition. But getting this far has been a long road for the girl from Watford, Herts. Her mum Rosemarie's death from cancer was a savage blow for her and dad David.<br /><br />She said: "My mum had breast cancer before I was born and was told she probably wouldn't be able to have children. She and Dad had to have IVF to have me.<br /><br />"Unfortunately, the cancer returned to the other breast. Then they found a brain tumour that had gone undetected for years. They removed it but it was too late - the cancer took over her body. I know it was a really awful time for my Dad because it was such a long illness.<br /><br />"He talks abut her all the time and we often laugh at the funny memories. We visit her grave often. He says I remind him a lot of my mum - especially the way I tell him off!"<br /><br />David once had dreams of making it in the music industry himself and used to play in a band around pubs and clubs. But he had to give all that up to look after Amy.<br />After finishing her GSCEs at 16, she went to college to study singing.<br /><br />And when she completed the course last year she knew she wanted to make a career of it.<br />She is working as a receptionist but hopes X Factor will be the break she needs - as much to fulfil her dad's dreams as her own.<br /><br />Amy said "It means so much. Dad loves music too and loved being in a band. I would love to live out the dream for both of us.<br /><br />"Dad tells me I get my musical side from him and Mum. She had a good voice as well."<br />Retired David said: "When she sings it brings a tear to my eye. She has such a beautiful voice."<br />He was so excited about seeing his daughter's TV debut he told everyone he knew that it was on.<br />Amy said: "He went round everyone - all his friends. Making him proud of me makes all the hard work worthwhile."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-1350593521874208372008-09-21T01:02:00.000-07:002008-09-21T01:05:35.238-07:00Recovering From the Tragic Early Death of Mum<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqYZBjegZRy3IzSdRitheDZ5L9TqkW0M9rp4GTe-CXAZrobiAU5twVXaZfYoXzyWJaPiY22PUvseMbobSfwPdsKMWpJhEuGFDMZwX3NyjeLRusqi1rowybNLIuT4PVwvhxInS81Mt9CSA/s1600-h/cheryl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248382694795675986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqYZBjegZRy3IzSdRitheDZ5L9TqkW0M9rp4GTe-CXAZrobiAU5twVXaZfYoXzyWJaPiY22PUvseMbobSfwPdsKMWpJhEuGFDMZwX3NyjeLRusqi1rowybNLIuT4PVwvhxInS81Mt9CSA/s400/cheryl.jpg" border="0" /></a>X Factor star Amy Connolly has told how recovering from the tragic early death of her mum gave her the strength to enter the show.<br /><br />Millions watched last night as Amy reduced judge Cheryl Cole to tears after revealing her family sadness - and then broke down herself.<br /><br />Now Amy says she is desperate to win X Factor in memory of mum Rosemarie, who died of breast cancer aged 45 when she was just seven. She would also dedicate victory to her dad David, 61, a retired musician.<br /><br />She said: "I think I'm a strong person to have gone through that so young. But the experience of losing her has given me the oomph to go out and do it. I want to win it for my mum. And I want to make my dad proud after bringing me up on his own. He encouraged me to sing and told me my mum had a good voice. So maybe I get that from her."<br /><br />Talking of the emotional scenes at her audition as she sang the Faith Hill song There You'll Be, Amy said: "Cheryl started crying which set me off. So by the end of the song we were both in tears. Then she held out her hand and I went over and she gave me a hug."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-36260100599900023142008-09-20T15:29:00.000-07:002008-09-20T15:50:37.460-07:00XFactor Video Audition 20th Sept 2008<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WbwA4idBaZ4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WbwA4idBaZ4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-16967259493939860942008-09-20T15:23:00.000-07:002008-09-20T15:27:12.034-07:00Watford Observer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2u3deilcPT57Irz5_0RWkbEQXqmKo0FsUeO9sEm8IACmHUzcVnuRytnVF45s6nmcUBVRqzQ8RT1PLcnhCvvSt2rxqllejZDt4FRxQGVM-AeOmOoTYNAXew8gM5GboLUbOqMXOXiGL16W/s1600-h/watford+observer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248233454355547906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2u3deilcPT57Irz5_0RWkbEQXqmKo0FsUeO9sEm8IACmHUzcVnuRytnVF45s6nmcUBVRqzQ8RT1PLcnhCvvSt2rxqllejZDt4FRxQGVM-AeOmOoTYNAXew8gM5GboLUbOqMXOXiGL16W/s400/watford+observer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Teenager Amy Connolly is through to the next round of The X Factor after wowing judges on the ITV singing show.<br /><br />Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole, one of the four judges alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue, was reduced to tears as 18-year-old Amy, a customer services rep from Watford, sang Faith Hill's There You'll Be.<br /><br />With her father waiting outside the audition room with The X Factor host Dermot O'Leary, she revealed she was just seven when her mother died and wanted to win the competition for him - her biggest fan.<br /><br />And following her emotionally charged audition, Amy received four Yes votes and will now take part in bootcamp.<br /><br />Cheryl, who herself won fame on Pop Idol: The Rivals in 2002, said: "I loved it."<br />Simon added: "You surprised me. I didn't think you would be as good as that."<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/">http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-42005628498885478582008-09-20T14:48:00.000-07:002008-09-20T15:03:46.090-07:00Cheryl Keeps Bursting Into TearsSoft-hearted Cheryl Cole is making a habit of bursting into tears on X Factor.<br />She cried at the story of tonight's contestant Amy Connolly, 18, who was brought up by her dad after her mum died when she was seven.<br /><br />Amy dedicated her performance of There You'll Be to him. And an emotional Cheryl said: "It sounds like you have been through a lot. I totally believed your performance."<br />Earlier in the series Cheryl wept because she was too upset to judge Nikk Mager.<br /><br />Is this genuine, or do The producers want Cheryl to cry every week by allowing these sob stories?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-78224442725708424142008-09-20T14:42:00.000-07:002008-09-20T14:47:53.610-07:00Cheryl Cole Brought To Tears<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNyRH7_mw9Lnkz75B1Pzm9kctgu-kd2D_HgbI-sq8BVQOOItFlE_3RakiMrF8yX9nH5VG7u9JyCaC-H14lmZf8HigqrCTk4ZlerQihDPe55_h13eJlR0Ii4v0FOWT9mxOiA2m9zZEVfZU/s1600-h/cry.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248222886219110850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNyRH7_mw9Lnkz75B1Pzm9kctgu-kd2D_HgbI-sq8BVQOOItFlE_3RakiMrF8yX9nH5VG7u9JyCaC-H14lmZf8HigqrCTk4ZlerQihDPe55_h13eJlR0Ii4v0FOWT9mxOiA2m9zZEVfZU/s400/cry.jpg" border="0" /></a>Cheryl Cole is brought to tears by a teenage hopeful's performance on tonight's episode of X Factor.<br /><br />Amy Connolly, 18, vows to make her father proud before stepping into the audition room and facing the judging panel."For my dad I think it would be his dream to see me do well in my singing because he thinks I have the X Factor," she explains.<br /><br />Speaking to the judges later, Amy adds: "I had a tough time through the years, my mum died when I was seven, so he's always been there for me and he's been like my mum and my dad, we have bought each other up and we've got a really close relationship."Connelly then performs a rendition of Faith Hill's 'There You'll Be', provoking an emotional response from Girls Aloud star Cheryl.<br /><br />After inviting Amy over to the desk for a hug, Cole says: "It sounds like you have been through a lot but I totally believed your performance. I thought you were amazing, I believed every word and I loved it."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-20816215231142100472008-09-20T12:39:00.001-07:002008-09-20T12:41:05.472-07:00Amy and her dad<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqEk9P7FGCo3NYlLgSbk7MhoB3aV98kefSi_Fq9p3tGcBBTEATjFRcW97HuyaXmuzlAFmzrm4F4lGZrrun7eHQ14-A37iBLEAbicX3o8MxezmWsnfvDgkgUPl7VlBwnPtrGluNT3cyKgl/s1600-h/logo.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248190664334573890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqEk9P7FGCo3NYlLgSbk7MhoB3aV98kefSi_Fq9p3tGcBBTEATjFRcW97HuyaXmuzlAFmzrm4F4lGZrrun7eHQ14-A37iBLEAbicX3o8MxezmWsnfvDgkgUPl7VlBwnPtrGluNT3cyKgl/s400/logo.png" border="0" /></a>Music has always been in Amy’s life as her Dad used to be in a band, but retired from the music now and working as a removals man and Amy would love to live out his dream for the both of them, “For my Dad I think it would be his dream to see me do well in my singing because he thinks I have the X Factor”. And Dad says, “when she sings she brings a tear to my eye, she has such a beautiful voice”<br /><div><br />In the room she goes on to explain to the Judges that she’s doing this to make her Dad, “so so proud of me”, as she goes on to explain why giving back to her Dad means so much, “I had a tough time through the years, my mum died when I was seven, so he’s always been there for me and he’s been like my Mum and my Dad, we have bought each other up and we’ve got a really close relationship.”<br /><br />Singing There You’ll Be by Faith Hill, it’s not long before Amy’s emotive performance brings Cheryl to tears. After Amy’s emotional performance Cheryl brings her over to the desk for a hug and to tell her that “It sounds like you have been through a lot but I totally believed your performance, I thought you were amazing I believed every word and I loved it.” And even the hard to please Simon is impressed, “you surprised me I didn’t think you’d be as good as that”. With an emotional judging panel, has Amy done enough to make her Dad proud?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-57181342524088839702008-09-20T12:35:00.000-07:002008-09-20T12:36:33.096-07:00Amy Facebook Group<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3NsDE9PmNrUFu_hWabXuzNsuUmUBKhp-xFa55tu_oE9uwDPDb4ikCojIVKnKZTQ-Q8MiJfCGxAbtWQ8JBZMjk2Z_mW_KnfR0nct-6L7S7i6i-ORaiIztrS-L7UM6jKLlSc_uVCmjBavL/s1600-h/facebook_logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248189462936114914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3NsDE9PmNrUFu_hWabXuzNsuUmUBKhp-xFa55tu_oE9uwDPDb4ikCojIVKnKZTQ-Q8MiJfCGxAbtWQ8JBZMjk2Z_mW_KnfR0nct-6L7S7i6i-ORaiIztrS-L7UM6jKLlSc_uVCmjBavL/s400/facebook_logo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>Visit the Amy Connolly group on Facebook:</p><p><a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31496211986">http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31496211986</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468324184907154983.post-81662602080003798172008-09-20T12:04:00.000-07:002008-09-20T12:07:06.455-07:00Doing it for her dad<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9nlVB47YS1oOXCIMGBs0kiEF-UxEhQkiNurNkTIsEhSr7CfzTqfQbg6MtPAlao9zGqE790e5Vgsnr3STlucYxFiaDyMTU0gYf8HWDEwtdzzWYoMLmMwHreYUMTAMDhfyB3pSxPyR-QR6/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248181912885347970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9nlVB47YS1oOXCIMGBs0kiEF-UxEhQkiNurNkTIsEhSr7CfzTqfQbg6MtPAlao9zGqE790e5Vgsnr3STlucYxFiaDyMTU0gYf8HWDEwtdzzWYoMLmMwHreYUMTAMDhfyB3pSxPyR-QR6/s400/1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Over the last six weeks we’ve seen plenty to laugh at, loads to cringe at, and a fair few that have had us reaching for the tissues in floods of tears.<br /><div><br />Tonight we saw Amy Connolly perform in one of the most emotionally charged auditions of the series. Amy was just 7-years old when her mother died, leaving her father to play the role of mum and dad. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>“We’ve got a really strong relationship,” she admits: “We’ve basically brought each other up.”<br />Her dad who used to be in a band admits he is his daughter’s biggest fan: “The way she sings brings a tear to my eye, she has got a beautiful, beautiful voice.”<br />Nothing would give Amy greater satisfaction than to win the competition, and live out her and her dad’s dreams for the both of them.</div><div><br />After some brief introductions with the judges Amy’s audition begins, and less than a minute into her rendition of Faith Hill’s There You’ll Be, Cheryl eyes begin to stream with tears.<br />When she has finished singing, Cheryl beckons her toward the desk and the two of them share a teary embrace.</div><div><br />“I loved it,” Cheryl said: “you did your dad proud.”</div><div><br />Louis wholeheartedly agreed, as did Dannii who admitted she loved Amy’s vulnerability.<br />Simon too liked the audition, stating: “I didn’t think you’d be as good as that.”<br />Four straight yeses later and Amy was through to bootcamp, where she’ll be hoping to do just as well, for herself and for her number one fan.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com