“The X Factor USA” Season 1 winner Melanie Amaro has released the official music video of her new single “Don’t Fail Me Now.” The champion of the popular talent singing show disappeared after she won in December 2011. She was only featured in a Super Bowl ad for Pepsi alongside Elton John and Flavor Flav.

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Melanie Amaro has released her debut single ‘Don’t Fail Me Now‘ online after winning X Factor USA in December 2011. The song was produced by Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins, who has previously worked with Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and Justin Bieber.

According to EW.com, “Don’t Fail Me Now, is a bit of a mishmash, featuring a thumping club beat, soaring diva notes (some of which sound seemingly and unnecessarily Auto-Tuned), techno flourishes, and a bevvy of inspirational-slash-romantic lyrics.”

Listen below.

And the first winner of X Factor USA 2011 is Melanie Amaro! The 19-year-old British Virgin Islands native won over Chris Rene and Josh Krajcik. She won a $5 million recording contract with Sony Music plus a chance to appear in one of Pepsi’s tv commercials.

Amaro, who was sent home and then brought back to the competition was speechless when her name was announced.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!” was all she could get out through tears before falling to her knees to pray.

“America, thank you for giving this girl an opportunity,” Simon said on her behalf. “She is a star.”

“Thank you so much!” she said. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you. God is good.”

America voted Josh Krajcik in second while Chris Rene on third place.

Latest Update: Simon Cowell was right! Melanie Amaro wins X Factor! Congratulations! Josh Krajcik got the second spot while Chris Rene was voted off and landed on third place. Check out the videos of the live results here.

X Factor USA Grand Winner should be Melanie Amaro. Her mentor and head judge Simon Cowell thinks and hopes so. Agree or disagree? Join us for the X FACTOR LIVE RESULTS HERE.

“To be honest with you, anything could happen tomorrow and I’m kind of preparing myself for any decision,” judge Cowell told reporters after the Top 3 performance last night.

“But you know, my gut, my heart tells me that Melanie should win after tonight,” Cowell added.

The 19-year-old singer from Sunrise, Florida wowed the judges as well as the home viewers nationwide with her amazing performance of Beyonce’s hit song “Listen” in Wednesday’s final performance. She also performed a duet with R.Kelly singing “I Believe I Can Fly.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind this girl is on her way to the moon,” R. Kelly said after the performance.

Cowell said after Amaro’s performance, “You, to me, should be the winner of X Factor.”

“That wasn’t a $5 million performance,” judge L.A. Reid continued. “That was a $50 million performance.”

Meanwhile, the two other finalists, 30-year-old Josh Krajcik from Wooster, Ohio and 28-year-old singer-rapper Chris Rene of Santa Cruz, California, also received high scores from the viewers, but many are hoping Melanie Amaro will be the first winner of the show.

The X Factor USA Grand Winner will be announced tonight, Thursday. The winner will receive a grand prize of a $5 million recording contract and a starring role in a Pepsi commercial.

X Factor finalist Melanie Amaro performed her solo performance “Listen” during the X Factor USA Final Performance Night on Wednesday. Goosebumps!

Judges comments:

LA: That is the Melanie that I loved. That was a 50M dollar performance.

Nicole: I told myself that I wouldn’t do it. You brought tears to my eyes. You empowered me. That’s what music is all about.

Paula: Take it all in. You delivered a stellar performance.

Simon: I am so proud of what you just did there. I brought this show to America. Some of the greatest performers in the world are from America. You should be the winner of the X Factor.

Watch: Melanie Amaro solo performance “Listen”