At just 16, Ella Henderson touched hearts during her memorable X Factor audition with “Missed,” a heartfelt tribute to her beloved late grandpa. Ella, who started crafting songs at 13, has swiftly honed her songwriting skills, blending soulful R&B vocals with deep emotional resonance.
This talented teenager from the quaint Lincolnshire village of Tetley has always found inspiration in her grandfather Bill, who was her earliest fan. “I used to sing for him all the time. I used to put on little shows for him in the living room. It really put a smile on his face. This song is a way of me saying goodbye to my grandad,” she shared.
Her audition video has since become one of the X Factor’s most viewed performances online, amassing over 46 million views as of now.
Ella’s vocal prowess and songwriting ability evoke comparisons to Adele, showcasing a remarkable capacity to convey personal experiences through her music. It’s not often that someone so young possesses such an incredible talent for both singing and songwriting, a combination that did not go unnoticed by the judges.
Mel B, one of the show’s judges, was particularly moved by Ella’s performance, lauding it as “absolutely incredible.” “Those words I’m sure hit a chord with everyone. Your songwriting is so clever. It made me go into my own little world and go like ‘oh my God, I felt like that at one point’, and that’s hard to do as a songwriter. And when you sang it, you made me believe every single word. I was right there with you,” said the acclaimed musician. Ella later performed Cher’s “Believe,” a rendition you can also explore below.
Other judges. such as Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger, also couldn’t hide their admiration for Ella, marveling at her talent at such a young age. While Louis deemed the 16-year-old performance as “absolutely brilliant”, Scherzinger expressed her desire to coach Ella on her own. Their high praise was echoed with four enthusiastic yeses from the judges, delighting the roaring audience.
However, Ella’s journey on the series only lasted until the quarter-finals, due to an extremely slim audience vote margin. Initially pegged as a top contender for the win, her exit sent ripples of shock through the show, with Dermot O’Leary calling it “one of the biggest shocks we’ve ever had on the show.” However, the young star’s talent didn’t go unnoticed, as celebrities such as Adele, Cher, Lily Allen, and Simon Cowell all voiced their support and admiration for her.
However, this setback paved the way for greater achievements. Two years after her X Factor’s entrance, Ella released her debut album, Chapter One, clinching the top spot in the UK. She didn’t stop there, as her second album, Everything I Didn’t Say, also made its mark on the UK top 10. To dive deeper into Ella Henderson’s promising musical journey, you can subscribe to her YouTube channel or follow her on Instagram.