The childhood snaps of X Factor USA's recovering drug addict Chris Rene that show he was born to be a star
Chris Rene has already fast become a fan favourite on the premiere season of The X Factor USA.
The former drug addict has bared his soul and spoken of his life in and out of trouble.
But never-before-seen pictures of Chris shows the singer as a fresh faced schoolboy in Santa Cruz, California before his life unravelled.
I want to be a star: X Factor USA contestant Chris Rene is pictured performing in never before seen images while growing up in Santa Cruz, California
Always interested in music, Rene performed in school groups and is pictured performing with a group of dancers in junior school aged eight.
According to sources close to the singer, Rene first began playing music in punk bands at age 12 and went on to become a local star in the hip-hop scene.
Chris is one of the final 17 contestants in the running for a $5 million recording contract on the show.
He impressed judge L.A. Reid and pop superstar Rihanna enough that they agreed to allow him to go forward in the competition.
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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.
When Chris first performed on the reality competition, he told the judges he had been clean and sober for 70 days after leaving rehab.
The rising star had made it through the first 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'.
Thankful: Chris Rene had his life change virtually overnight after appearing on the singing competition
We've reached a decision: All four judges give Chris yes votes, allowing him to move on to the next round
Yes: An excited Chris raises his hands into the air to celebrate his success
He also announced on Facebook that he has reunited with his six-year-old son.
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.
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.
The singer currently makes a living by hauling rubbish, but after becoming an overnight celebrity, probably not for much longer.
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