We Have a Winner! Tate Stevens wins season 2 of X Factor USA

It was a night of glitter and glamour, confetti and streamers, rising talents and superstars as THE X FACTOR Season 2 Grand Finale went down with, as Jason Brock would say, a glitter explosion.

After a night of 10 amazing performances from our Top 3, the questions on everyone’s mind were: Would it be the underdogs who believe “anything can happen” Fifth Harmony? Or the frontrunner and everyone’s favorite little “alien,” Carly Rose Sonenclar? Or the man often found at No. 1, Tate Stevens?

Let’s take a look at how the exciting Season 2 Grand Finale went down…

The excitement started with the judges, One Direction, and Pitbull rolling up in their black SUVs right onto the red carpet, which was lined with Christmas trees and bleachers full of screaming fans, outside the main doors of THE X FACTOR studio. L-o-v-e-d Khloe Kardashian Odom’s festive green lace dress!

The show kicked off with the Top 3 performing the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” outside on the carpet with fans going cray cray and photogs snapping away. The finalists sung and danced their way onto the stage as members of the Top 13 cheered them on and red confetti fell upon their heads. Great opening to a great Grand Finale!

Favorite part of the finale? All of the comedic bits with the judges sprinkled in, starting with the L.A. Reid montage where he’s playing air conductor with the music and feeling the passion with that L.A. swag we’ll miss so much come next year! Simon’s Mr. Grinch montage of his meanest comments is a must-see as well! Britney’s facial expressions were hi-lar-i-ous, as was the recap of Demi vs. Simon! Good stuff!

Up next, Carly, Tate, and Fifth Harmony got us in the holiday spirit by performing a Song for the Holidays. Tate provided the first festive ditty of the night with his rendition of the Eagles’ version of “Please Come Home for Christmas” with sexy dancers wrapped in pretty pink bows.

Fifth Harmony kept the yuletide feelings flowing with Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” backed by white carousel horses and faux snow falling from the sky while twirling oversized red and white candy canes. Carly Rose Sonenclar’s Christmas present to the fans was her rendition of Mariah Carey’s holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” with adorable little toy soldiers dancing around her.

The holiday cheer came to a brief pause when it was time to get to the reason we’re all hear: the results! The first piece of news was the reveal of the third place finisher, which was Fifth Harmony. “God bless you all, thanks,” said Lauren in thanking the fans and voters. “Girls, I love you so much. You’re my sisters and I love you so much,” said Ally to her group mates. “We gained more than $5 million because we gained friends for life,” said Camila.

That left Carly and Tate vying for big win. While the two anxiously awaited their fate, Pitbull took the stage to perform his new hit, “Don’t Stop the Party,” shortly to be followed by One Direction with a swoon-worthy performance of “Kiss You” complete with giant red lips as part of their staging! Hot! Hot! Hot!

Before Carly and Tate would get their big news, they would be put to work one last time on a duet of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.”

Fun aside, time to get down to business. Without further adieu, the Season 2 winner is…TATE STEVENS! Along with the coveted title, the country star also earned a $5 million recording contract and his own Pepsi music video, which will debut during the 2013 Grammy Awards. Congrats!

“First and foremost I gotta thank the man upstairs for taking care of me, my family, all the country music fans, God bless you…This is the best day of my life,” said Tate upon winning.

And with that Tate sung his coronation song, Chris Young’s “Tomorrow” with tears in his eyes.

Congrats Tate!

Well, that’s it for Season 2! You can watch the X Factor USA finale again on M-Net Saturday 7pm WAT and Sunday 6pm WAT.