Here's How Simon Cowell Finding Camila Cabello Crying Led to Her Big Break

Ahead of The Voice Season 22, America's Got Talent Judge Simon Cowell revealed some details behind Camila Cabello's X-Factor Audition in 2012, which ultimately became her big break. Cabello was part of the girl group Fifth Harmony that formed on the show; the group achieved massive success and was followed by Cabello's blockbuster solo career. Cowell, meanwhile, created The X-Factor and was a Judge during Fifth Harmony's year.

Cowell says Cabello—now a Coach on The Voice—almost missed her Audition entirely.

"When I was doing X-Factor here, [Cabello] wasn’t really supposed to audition and, you know, I happened to go backstage and I saw her crying, asked her why she was crying, and she said, you know, it was too late for her to audition because she was a reserve, whatever that meant," Cowell told Extra. 

Fortunately, Cowell took the opportunity to give Cabello an Audition slot: “I said to her, ‘Well, I’m one of the producers, you just got an Audition,’ and you know, when those moments work, and seeing Camilla today or Harry Styles, Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, there’s been so many times luckily where I’ve been there at that moment where their career is going to go in a completely different direction." 

It sounds like Cowell is fully embracing his role as the "fairy godfather" of discovering vocal talent! 

Catch Cabello this fall on The Voice Season 22 alongside Coaches John Legend, Gwen Stefani, and Blake Shelton. It premieres Monday, September 19 at 8/7c on NBC. 

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