Stevens has something 'X'-tra: A debut album

Stevens has something 'X'-tra: A debut album

“X Factor” champ Tate Stevens is already on his way to Nashville to record his first country album, he said Friday.

The soon-to-be country/western star wouldn’t reveal much about how the CD will sound, but noted it will feature his $ 5-million-winning solo voice “all the way.”

His big win showed age had no impact on viewer-voters’ ultimate decision â€" but it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the middle-aged highway worker from Missouri.

At the start of the singing competition, Stevens’ mentor, L.A. Reid, expressed doubt about coaching a group of over-25s. He even stormed off the set when assigned the older group.

In the end, Tate proved him wrong.

“I think he realized that us over-25s have a lot of talent,” said Tate.

Despite the rocky start, Tate, 37, learned a lot from his mentor.

“L.A. told me the first week or two, he said stars don’t have confidence issues,” said the father of two, a former road worker. “He told me, ‘You have to get rid of the confidence issues.’ ”

Did he ever. Throughout the season, Stevens aced multiple country hits, even stepping outside his comfort zone with a rendition of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.”

So, in Tate’s opinion, what gave him the edge on “X Factor?”

“Well, it’s because I’m so handsome,” he joked. “Nah, just go out there and be yourself. You can’t be anyone else.”

â€" Joanna Fantozzi