Josh Daniel’s unforgettable X Factor audition with Labrinth’s Jealous left audiences stunned and even brought Simon Cowell to tears. However, it turns out Josh nearly sang a different song! Originally, he planned to perform Nathan Sykes’ Kiss Me Quick, but friends Kerrianne Covell (a former X Factor contestant) and Liv Quantrill convinced him to go with Jealous after seeing an emotional rehearsal where Josh sang it on his knees.
In a deeply personal moment, Josh dedicated the song to his late friend Tom Woolley, who passed away in 2013 at just 18. During the broadcast, viewers witnessed Simon’s reaction—raw with emotion after recently losing his mother, Julie Brett. The impact of Josh’s heartfelt performance was palpable, leaving fellow judges Nick Grimshaw and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini unsure of what to say.