‘X Factor’s’ Melanie Amaro pledges album ‘with or without’ label

Contrary to popular belief, “The X Factor� winner Melanie Amaro hasn’t been dropped by her label Epic Records.

Rumors that the Season 1 champion had seemingly been released by the label ahead of her debut album were sparked when her image (and that of fellow Season 1 alum Astro) disappeared from the label’s artist roster page.

But a rep for the label confirmed to Pop & Hiss that Amaro and Astro are indeed still signed to the label and that the landing page is “not a reflection of our entire roster.�

Its understandable that Amaro’s status with the label would be called into question. It’s been more than a year since the powerhouse singer from the Virgin Islands scored a $5-million recording contract (the largest guaranteed prize in television history) as the show’s inaugural winner.

The hit competition is prepping for third season auditions and the singer remains album-less.

Amaro took to Ustream on Thursday and got emotional when discussing her post-“X Factor� career.

“There’s been a lot of stuff going on … it kinda brought me down. I keep believing that everything will happen in time. I’ve been really sad, I know everybody has been reading things. I won’t even go into that,� she said before later tearing up and stopping to compose herself.

“But I do know that God has a plan for me regardless of what happens to me in the music industry.�

“Truly,� Amaro’s debut, was originally due within months of her 2011 win before being pushed back a number of times; at one point, it was set for release this month. The album currently has “no release date scheduled as of yet,� the label told The Hollywood Reporter.

Amaro got off to a rocky start after “The X-Factor� as three singles failed to catch any steam. Her debut single, “Don’t Fail Me Now,� which came eight months after she took the title, was a generic dance number that was a complete misfire.

In my review of the single, I wrote the direction was puzzling, especially given the disaster that was the Super Bowl ad -- another part of her prize -- that featured Amaro singing a club house mix of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.�

Adding to the frustration of Amaro’s lack of offerings is the amount of music coming out of the show’s other contestants. Season 1’s Chris Rene, Rachel Crow and Marcus Canty have all issued projects, and runner-up Josh Krajcik will issue an EP in April. Season 2 victor Tate Stevens recently announced his debut album will also arrive in April.

“If you’re wondering, there will be an album,� Amaro said during the chat. “I guarantee you I will be putting out an album, with or without the help of anyone – or label, for that matter.�

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