Charice
OPRAH WINFREY called her “the most talented girl in the world.” Super producer David Foster (Andre Bocelli, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston) called her his favorite singer. Josh Groban said she possesses one of the most beautiful voices he’s heard in a long time.
“When that girl opens her mouth, angels fly out,” gushed “Glee” executive producer Ryan Murphy.
Bruno Mars wrote a song for her. And Michael Jackson wanted her for his planned last tour.
Her tiny, baby-face appearance belies a high-voltage voice and a fearless spirit that allows her to sing “big songs at a tender age” (New York Post)-indeed, Charice is a certified talent.
Charice’s big break. It happened the 21st Century way: through the Internet. A fan posted her videos on YouTube that soon became viral-15 million hits-and came to the attention of South Korean talent show “Star King,” which invited Charice to perform. She sang “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” and “A Whole New World.”
Actress and comedian Ellen Degeneres saw the “Star King” videos and soon after hosted Charice in her top-rating TV show-her first performance outside the Philippines. She sang “I Will Always Love You” and “And I’m Telling You.”
She was 15, and was on a meteoric track to stardom.
In 2008, Charice guested in “The Paul O’Grady Show” in London, and “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” singing “I Have Nothing”-after which Oprah Winfrey referred her to David Foster. Charice shared the stage with Dion, Bocelli, Michael Buble, Josh Groban and other stars in “Hitman: David Foster and Friends,” a concert that aired several times on PBS. She impressed Bocelli, who invited her to sing “The Prayer” at his birthday concert in his hometown in Tuscany, and Dion, who sang “Because You Loved Me” with her that aired at Oprah’s show.
In 2009, Charice performed at President Obama’s pre-inaugural events, two Oscar after-parties, and sang the U.S. national anthem to 57,000 people at Dodger Stadium. She guested in a second concert by David Foster, who also produced her first international single “Note to God.”
In 2010, she released her first international studio album, Charice, which debuted at No. 8 at Billboard’s Top 200-the first Asian to land in the Top 10. Her single “Pyramid” charted in a number of countries, and Charice performed it live on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (guesting in that episode was another YouTube-discovered young singer-Justin Bieber). Charice then crossed over to acting when she joined the cast of the smash TV series “Glee” (as Sunshine Corazon). With that, Charice becomes possibly the only Asian singer to appear in three top-rated American TV shows (Ellen Degeneres, “Glee,” and Oprah).
In 2011, she released her second international album, Infinity, featuring “Before It Explodes,” written by Grammy winner Bruno Mars, and “One Day,” co-written by Nick Jonas. In 2012, Charice became a judge in the top-rating Philippine version of “The X Factor.” Now she is finishing her album in Los Angeles and preparing for her first ever World Tour.