Jeff Gutt on Reaching the X Factor Finale: "If I Didn't Feel I Had the X Factor, I Would've Been Gone a Long Time Ago"

Jeff Gutt said it plainly: "If I didn't feel I had the X Factor I would've been gone a long time ago. The first thing you have to do is believe in y…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

On December 17, 2013, Fox Broadcasting hosted a press conference call with The X Factor Season 3 finalist Jeff Gutt ahead of the show's two-night grand finale — December 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. on Fox. Gutt, competing in the Over-25 category under the mentorship of Kelly Rowland, was one of three finalists alongside Alex & Sierra and Carlito Olivero. Premier Guide Miami's Daedrian McNaughton was on the call.

You've made it to the finals — in your gut, do you feel that you are the X Factor? And do you think you were given the proper guidance from Kelly throughout the season?

Absolutely. I feel like I lucked out completely and got the perfect judge for me, the perfect mentor. She has helped me not only with performing and things like that but just personally. All the things I was carrying with me, she helped me leave those all behind and look towards the future instead of looking back towards the past. And yes — if I didn't feel I had the X Factor I would've been gone a long time ago. The first thing you have to do is believe in yourself, and Kelly's really helped with a lot of that. — Jeff Gutt

On what he learned from Kelly Rowland:

For me, everything Kelly has said to me has always been spot on. I've learned how to trust her, and I've also learned how to leave all of the negative baggage I've had and been carrying with me for years, and she's helped me let go of all of that, which is amazing. — Jeff Gutt

On the competition and Alex & Sierra's buzz:

It doesn't really affect me at all just because I can only control the things I can control. All I'm trying to do is go up there and be the best version of me that I can, because at the end of the day they're going to do what they're going to do, and I'm going to do what I'm going to do, and we'll let people decide. — Jeff Gutt

On his song choices and the finale:

I wouldn't change anything. I think everything happens for a reason, and I think all the song selections have been spot on. Kelly has been doing most of those, so I just have to trust what she thinks and what her vision is for me, and I put in my two cents and we go from there. It's just all been working out. One of the songs I'm doing for the finale is a song that I've been wanting to do since the beginning — it's definitely going to be a moment. — Jeff Gutt

On his journey to the finale:

It's a lot of work; it's really long days. But it's an amazing feeling just to know that I set a goal; I wanted to make it to this point and I wanted to win; and now I'm here. Just having that opportunity, it just means everything to me because I've struggled for a really long time, and all the lessons I've learned along the way have prepared me for this moment. — Jeff Gutt

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