Country singer Tate Stevens wins Fox’s ‘X Factor’

Tate Stevens attends the “The X Factor” season finale at CBS Television City on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

NEW YORK — Tate Stevens, who was mentored by music exec L.A. Reid on the second season of “The X Factor,” has won the Fox singing competition.

The 37-year-old country singer from Missouri beat runner-up Carly Rose Sonenclar, a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Westchester, New York, and teenage girl group Fifth Harmony on the finale that aired live Thursday night.

Stevens wins a $5 million recording contract.

More than 35 million votes were cast by viewers after Wednesday’s performance show.

Besides Reid, judges this season included Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and British series creator Simon Cowell.

Thursday’s show was also the grand finale for Reid. Earlier this month, he said he wouldn’t be returning to “The X Factor” next year. No replacement has been announced.