On today’s episode of, what are your favourite X Factor stars doing now? We bring you a fan favourite whose elimination shocked the nation back in 2008.
Finally, 16 years after appearing on Simon Cowell’s ITV talent show, she’s releasing her debut album.
Laura White became a well-known name when she competed alongside the likes of Alexandra Burke and JLS during her series.
Her year also featured Ruth Lorenzo, Diana Vickers, and Eoghan Quigg, with Simon, Cheryl, Louis Walsh, and Dannii Minogue on the panel.
At one point, Laura, now 36, was the favourite to win making it all the more shocking in week 5 when she was in the bottom two and sent packing.
Onwards and upwards, however, she’s built a stellar music career for herself in the years since and is finally ready to drop her first record after penning award-winning tracks behind the scenes for other artists.
In fact, Laura already has a Grammy nod to her name, having written tunes for Beverley Knight and Rita Ora, and earning a Grammy nomination for her song, New York Raining.
Announcing her own album, Laura took to social media to share its title – Woman To Woman – and release date for November 2024.
She wrote on Instagram this week: ‘My Debut Album is finally here to PREORDER!!!! 15+ years in the making.’
The singer continued: ‘Made with some of the worlds greatest songwriters. My story… pls support its independence. We have had 3 top 5 eps I know my fans are the best!!!!
‘This album is for you, I wanted it to be a body of work for you to hear my voice sing, songs that could have been written for Frank Sinatra & Amy & Ella, all the songs that move you and for the musicianship to be only the very best. Woman to Woman pre order now [sic]’.
During her X Factor stint, Laura impressed viewers with her powerful performances of Alicia Keys’ Fallin’, Michael Jackson’s You Are Not Alone, and Diana Ross’ Endless Love, showcasing her strong vocals.
Sadly, her reality TV experience came to a bitter end when the judges chose not to save her from the sing-off.
It wasn’t until 2016 that she signed her first record deal, penning on social media at the time: ‘Today I signed my first deal. Wow !! I am truly so happy, 14 years of independent work took me to the place I am today.’
Laura, who was in Cheryl’s mentor group alongside eventual winner Alexandra and Diana, continued: ‘My team is truly incredible and so support my artistry and writing.
‘I thank God daily that my little diary carried me to such a deal and that people simply loved my old school music heart.’
Following her signing, Laura released an extended play, No. 95, in February 2016.
She also composed and performed as a singer on the Galantis track, Love on Me. In 2017, she wrote and performed on tracks with Example, Bugzy Malone, and confirmed that her album was being written with production from Naughty Boy.
Recently, Laura put out her own song Lemons.
After the show, Laura achieved other successes, including performing as an opening act for Peter Andre in 2009 and on several morning TV shows.
Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk in 2018, Laura admitted that, despite feeling typecast as a ‘pop star’, she didn’t regret her time on The X Factor.
‘When I left the show, so many of them were immediately signed and I was the opposite so I wasn’t signed for 10 years,’ she told us.
‘I was independent and working in underground places in London and Manchester working with rappers. I didn’t have the backing or the push.
‘A lot of artists from the show they go their own way but they’re happy just picking songs or not writing their own songs, but it was really important for me to release music I felt passionate about. I wouldn’t have been happy signing a pop deal or a record deal that didn’t suit me.’
‘From day one I was a real soul artist and wanted to write my own songs, so I wasn’t fitting into the mould on the pop show thing.
‘They got my name out to the next level so I’m thankful! I never thought I’d be a part of the Simon Cowell deal, it wouldn’t have been right for me as an artist.’
