An 'X Factor' Contestant's Devastating Breakdown

Five acts competed for the four semi-final slots on The X Factor Thursday, leaving one of the contestants inconsolable after being cut. If you don't want to find out who went home tonight, read no further!

MORE: Contestants Jump Unexpected Hurdles on The X Factor

Despite holding the perception of a fan favorite, Simon Cowell's promising teen protege Rachel Crow was eliminated from the singing competition.

Rachel was placed in the bottom two against L.A. Reid's apprentice Marcus Canty, who found himself in familiar, albeit loathsome, territory as he's been placed on the block before. This was Rachel's first time having to sing for her survival.

Rachel chose I'd Rather Go Blind, a blues tune first recorded by Etta James, as what became her last song as an X Factor contestant. Marcus poured out his soul in the Rose Royce classic I'm Going Down.

When it came time for the judges to vote, they wound up in a deadlock as a clearly shaken Nicole Scherzinger couldn't bring herself to make a decision.

"Please don't cry," Rachel said, consoling Nicole. "It's okay. I'm good with anything."

In the event of a deadlock, the show's rules state that the elimination will be determined by who received the lowest viewer votes from the previous night.

Rachel collapsed on the stage in convulsive sobs when she heard she would not be progressing to the semi-finals. Rachel's mother, along with the show's judges, immediately huddled around her to assuage her disappointment.

Watch an all-new episode of The X Factor on Wednesday as the drama continues only on FOX.