The biggest prize in TV history to be awarded

Justin Bieber, Leona Lewis, Pitbull, Ne-Yo to perform on two-hour grand finale

Melanie Amaro, Josh Krajcik or Chris Rene will walk away with "The X Factor" title, a $5 million recording contract with Sony Music and an iconic Pepsi commercial. The two-night finale ends Thursday, Dec. 22 (8 to 10 p.m.), when America's choice is revealed.

After beating out more than 100,000 hopefuls who auditioned for "The X Factor," the final three took the stage Wednesday - one last time - in the ultimate showdown. Aside from singing solo, each performed with a special guest partner. Krajcik was paired with Alanis Morissette, Rene with Avril Lavigne and Amaro with R. Kelly.

The first U.S. winner of "The X Factor" will be announced during the star-studded finale featuring special performances by Justin Bieber, Leona Lewis, Pitbull and Ne-Yo, among other special surprise guest artists on FOX.

About the Final Three

Melanie Amaro, the 19-year-old ballad singer from Coral Springs, Fla., has wowed audiences with her vocal ability. Her talent has invited comparisons to such singing greats as Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Simon Cowell, mentor and judge, said "Melanie is the real deal and finding great talent is the reason I brought this show to the U.S. She is phenomenal, she deserves to be in the finals and I absolutely believe she deserves to win." Additional information on Amaro can be found at http://www.thexfactorusa.com/contestants/melanie-amaro.

Josh Krajcik, the 30-year-old burrito maker from Columbus, Ohio, represents the last remaining contestant from the "Over 30s" group. Josh's unique voice and rocker attitude have snared America's attention. Krajcik's mentor and judge Nicole Scherzinger said, "I have been a Josh fan from the beginning and he is a rock star who slays it every week and makes the songs his own. I am thrilled he is in the finals." Additional information on Krajcik can be found at http://www.thexfactorusa.com/contestants/josh-krajcik.

Chris Rene, the 28-year-old Santa Cruz, Calif., rapper captivated fans with his audition performance of his original song "Young Homie." His determination to overcome his drug and alcohol addiction led him to audition for the show only 80 days into his sobriety. In addition to his endless positive energy, fans have fallen in love with his musical talents. Mentor and judge L.A. Reid said of Rene, "I could not be more proud of how well Chris has handled himself throughout our show. He is, by far, one of the most original and inspiring artists ever to appear on a talent competition and in my eyes he is 'The X Factor.' " Additional information on Rene can be found at http://www.thexfactorusa.com/contestants/chris-rene.

Visit www.TheXFactorUSA.com for up-to-the-minute news, videos and information. Become a fan of "The X Factor" on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheXFactorUSA. Follow the series on Twitter @TheXFactorUSA and join the discussion at #XFactor.