By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Thankful: X Factor USA contestant Chris Rene had his life change virtually overnight after appearing on the singing competition

X Factor USA has only been on the air for one week and it's already had a life changing effect on up-and-coming singer Chris Rene.

The former drug addict has spent much of his life in and out of trouble, but now things are looking up.

Since taking stage on the talent competition, Chris has become a YouTube sensation and his long-lost son has learned that the X Factor talent is his biological father.


We've reached a decision: All four judges give Chris yes votes, allowing him to move on to the next round

When Chris performed the reality competition, he told the judges he had been clean and sober for 70 days after leaving rehab.

The rising star made it to the next round after receiving four yes votes from judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, LA Reid and Nicole Scherzinger.

But both Reid and Cowell told Chris he needed to remain on the 'right track'.
Adding to Chris's whirlwind week, he announced this weekend on Facebook that his six-year-old son now knows Chris is his father.


Yes: An excited Chris raises his hands into the air to celebrate his success

Chris wrote: 'I am so happy i can't express my joy with words!!! I feel a new song coming though. So Blessed.'

Chris's son, who lives in foster care is named Elijah.
But for the first two years of Elijah's life, Chris didn't know he had fathered the child.


Overwhelmed: Chris is overtaken with emotion after getting a stamp of approval from the judges

Elijah's foster parents have since allowed Chris to spend time with him, but they have always told the child that Chris is a close family friend, until recently.

Chris has another son who is three-years-old, who is likely savouring in his father's success after the singer shot to stardom on YouTube with his X Factor audition racked up 1.7 million hits on the website in just three days.


Chris Rene - Audition 1 - THE X FACTOR 2011



source: dailymail