Tonight is the night! On Tuesday (October 25), the Top 17 (not 16) contestants/acts of the first season of the US version of “The X-Factor” will perform live for the first time, but only 12 will make it to the next week of the competition. Check out the contestants/acts official bios and pictures below.

The X Factor Top 12: Boys, Groups, Over 30′s & Girls (Bios, PHOTOS)

At the end of the night (a 2h and 30min show), the four judges/mentors – L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell – will have to make a very tough decision, and send five of the contestants/acts home in order to introduce the Top 12.

The Top 12 contestants/acts will face the public vote next week after they perform live on “The x-Factor” on Wednesday (November 2).

How did the Top 16 become Top 17? Each of the judges/mentors was given their team. Paula Abdul is stuck with the groups, Nicole Scherzinger was lucky enough to get the over 30’s, and L.A. Reid will make sure his boys will defeat Simon Cowell’s girls.

When the judges had to pick their teams, Simon feared he might have made a mistake if he had eliminated Melanie Amaro, who enchanted all the judges singing “Listen” in her first audition (watch video here), so he bend the rules for her. Simon flew all the way to Melanie’s hometown to bring her back to the competition.

And here are your Top 17 contestants/acts and their teams:

The Girls – Team Simon Cowell:

• Simone Battle
• Drew Ryniewicz
• Rachel Crow
• Tiah Tolliver
• Melanie Amaro (extra – Top 17)

The Boys – Team Antonio “L.A.” Reid:

• Brian Bradley (aka “Astro”)
• Phillip Lomax
• Marcus Canty
• Chris Rene

Groups – Team Paula Abdul:

• InTENsity
• Lakoda Rayne
• The Stereo Hogzz
• The Brewer Boys

Over 30′s – Team Nicole Scherzinger:

• Leroy Bell
• Josh Krajcik
• Dexter Haygood
• Stacy Francis

Who’s your favorite contestant?

The X-Factor Top 17 Contestants Bios, Pictures + Videos

Chris Rene

Drew Ryniewicz

Josh Krajcik

Age: 30
Hometown: Wooster, OH
Currently Resides: Columbus, OH
Team: Nicole

Josh Krajcik Sings “At Last” On X Factor (VIDEO)

“The X Factor experience has been really great. It has been a serious challenge and any time you challenge yourself it is a good thing. The experience on “The X Factor has given me a lot of insight into who I am and a lot of things that I didn’t know.” – Josh Krajcik

LeRoy Bell

Age: 60
Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Currently Resides: Edmonds, WA/Seattle, WA
Team: Nicole

Leroy Bell Sings “Lean On Me” On X Factor (VIDEO)

“The experience has been wild and exciting, at the same time a little bit scary…One of the things I’ve learned is you can teach an old dog new tricks. I can still learn something. The show has taught me that I am more flexible than I thought I was.” – LeRoy Bell

Marcus Canty

Age: 20
Hometown: Bowie, MD
Currently Resides: Bowie, MD
Team: L.A.

Marcus Canty, New Bobby Brown Sings “I Wish” On X Factor (VIDEO)

“I think this experience has nurtured me and made me realize that life is too short and to live through the moment. These are once-in-a-lifetime experiences you can’t get back. I am going to keep having fun and bringing who I am.” – Marcus Canty

Phillip Lomax

Age: 22
Hometown: Seattle, WA

Currently Resides: Seattle, WA

Team: L.A.

Phillip Lomaz “Fly Me To The Moon” On X Factor (VIDEO)

“The X Factor experience has been incredible. The thing that has resonated the most with me is that it is important to find my own voice and to be true within my music. I don’t want to be anyone but me.” – Phillip Lomax

Stacy Francis

Age: 42
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Team: Nicole

Stacy Francis Performs “Natural Woman” On X Factor (VIDEO)

“Being a part of the show so far has been an emotional rollercoaster.  Every feeling I could feel, I have felt during this journey…I am happy and so excited. The momentum is just incredible.  It’s like I’m a 10-year-old and it’s Christmas and I’m so excited.” – Stacy Francis

The Stereo Hogzz

Jonathan Glenn (aka Jon Glenn) | Age: 25 | Hometown: Houston, TX

George Jenkins III (aka Trae Badd) | Age: 25 | Hometown: Houston, TX

Leeland Stephenson (aka Trace Kennedy) | Age:24 | Hometown: Houston, TX

Justin Williams (aka Just’n) | Age: 25 | Hometown: Houston, TX

Team: Paula

The Stereo Hogzz Sing Original “Running” On X Factor (VIDEO)

“This X Factor experience has been something that we have been dreaming of for a long time. You can’t ask for more, and they provided this platform for us and we are running with it, taking it all the way.” – Trace Kennedy

InTENsity

Nick Dean | Age: 15 | Hometown: Rochester, NY
Francesca Duncan | Age: 17 | Resides: Brockport, NY
John Lindahl | Age: 15 | Hometown: Travuco Canyon, CA
Emily Michalak | Age: 13 | Hometown: Pine Brook, NJ
Austin Percario | Age: 15 | Hometown: Warren, NJ
Arin Ray | Age: 16 | Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Lauren Ashley Redmond | Age: 17 | Resides:DeSoto, TX
Ellona Santiago | Age: 15 | Hometown: San Lorenzo, CA
Ma’at Bingham Shango | Age: 12 | Hometown:Houston, TX
Emily Wilson | Age: 15 | Hometown: Warren, NJ

Team: Paula

“Being in a group is amazing. When you are a solo artist, you only have yourself to rely on. But when you are in a group you have however many other people who have your back. So it is better to be in a group of ten, plus it is more fun and we have more people to hang out with and it’s just not as stressful.” – John Lindahl

Dexter Haygood

Age: 49
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Currently Resides: Chicago, IL
Team: Nicole

Drew Ryniewicz & Dexter Haygood “Creep” On X Factor Boot Camp (VIDEO)

“It is going to be exciting; I’m gonna set the place on fire, but not literally. There is nothing like The X Factor. I have never experienced anything like this.” – Dexter Haygood

The Brewer Boys

Justin Brewer
Age: 17
Hometown: Temecula, CA

Nathan Brewer
Age: 14
Hometown: Temecula, CA

Team: Paula

“We never really thought about going this far. It has been pretty shocking. This has been an incredible experience. I’ve learned a lot about the industry. I love it.” – Nathan Brewer

Simone Battle

Age: 22
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Team: Simon

Simone Battle “When I Grow Up/Bulletproof” On X Factor (VIDEO)

“I am blown away by how much talent there is in the girls’ category. At this point, it’s not about impressing the judges, it’s about impressing the world and everyone who is watching.” – Simone Battle

Melanie Amaro

Age: 19
Hometown: Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Currently Resides: Coral Springs, FL/Sunrise, FL
Team: Simon

Melanie Amaro “Listen” X Factor Audition (VIDEO)

“It was really big, as well as shocking, because the many years I’ve watched Simon, he has never done something like that. I feel very honored that he came to my home to ask me to come back on the show. The whole process is just mind boggling. It’s so amazing.” – Melanie Amaro

Rachel Crow

Age: 13
Hometown: Longmont, CO/Mead, CO
Currently Resides: Burbank, CA
Team: Simon

Rachel Crow’s Sassy “Mercy” X Factor Audition (VIDEO)

“This whole experience has been a dream come true and I can’t believe I made it this far because I went into the competition with no expectations. I can’t believe this is happening to me. I think what I’m really trying to work on is finding out who I am as a singer. I’m trying to find my style and edge.” – Rachel Crow

Lakoda Rayne

Cari Fletcher | Age: 17 | Hometown: Wall Township, NJ
Dani Knights | Age: 22 | Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA
Paige Ogle | Age: 18 | Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Hayley Orrantia | Age: 17 | Hometown:Highland Village, TX
Team: Paula

“Starting out as four solo artists, it was a shocker that we were going to be in the group category together but it has been an incredible experience. They’ve taken four strong solo artists and made this super group.” – Hayley Orrantia