When 18-year-old Caitlyn Vanbeck from Scotland walked into the brutal Six Chair Challenge on The X Factor UK, the pressure was already sky-high. She wasn’t just singing for a seat — she chose “Rise Up” by Andra Day, a song Simon Cowell admitted was one of his absolute favourites. “No pressure,” he joked, as thousands watched and the other girls guarded their precious chairs.
From the first line, you could feel why she picked it. Caitlyn’s voice was rich and powerful but still full of vulnerability, building slowly before exploding into a soaring chorus that had the arena completely locked in. This wasn’t a copy of the original — it felt like a personal anthem from a girl who’d been knocked down and was finally standing tall in front of the world.
The judges’ reactions said it all. Louis Walsh called her his favourite singer so far, Nicole Scherzinger insisted she had to get a chair, and Simon went even further, saying he didn’t want to give her a chair — he wanted to give her a sofa. The crowd roared as she claimed her seat, earning one of the biggest reactions of the night and proving exactly why you should never doubt yourself, no matter what anyone has said before.
For a girl who once faced cruel comments about her singing, this performance was more than just a TV moment — it was a full-circle victory. One song, one favourite of Simon’s, and a reminder that the right voice with the right message really can rise up above everything.
