LOS ANGELES — Charice Pempengco, the 15-year-old singing sensation who recently wowed audiences at the Ellen DeGeneres’ TV show, is reportedly in talks with no less than the legendary music producer Clive Davis. Philippine News learned that Pempengco arrived in New York recently and is waxing a recording deal with Davis, the record producer who is behind the careers of Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake just to name a few.
“I am so proud to be behind the launching of the musical career of Charice,” TV host Ellen DeGeneres told us after we bumped into her during a Golden Globes screening of “Juno” and afterparty with Fox co-chair Tom Rothman and his wife, Jessica.
DeGeneres also told us that she is planning to invite Pempengco again on the show. “I definitely want to see her again perform on the show,” she said. In last month’s show, Pempengco garnered two standing ovations from the Ellen DeGeneres TV audiences after she performed “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from the Broadway musical sensation “Dreamgirls” and Whitney Houston’s hit, “I Will Always Love You.” DeGeneres, who discovered Pempengco after watching a video clip of her in YouTube after FalseVoice channel posted Pempengco’s Little Big Star performance of Whitney Houston’s hit, “I Will Always Love You.”
The petite teenager’s unbelievable booming vocals and very professional showmanship impressed the TV host so much that after showing it on her show, she publicly invited Pempengco to come to the U.S. and guest on her show.
Pempengco controlled the stage like a pro, even throwing the mike in mid air like professional juggler, and singing her lungs out just like her favorite singers Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Beyonce and Mariah Carey. Dressed in a black long-sleeved top, black mini skirt with black tights and a G clef silver necklace, Pempengco was a sight to behold. The charming YouTube sensation from Cabuyao, Laguna, who has been joining singing contests since she was 7, arrived in the U.S. for the first time to appear on DeGeneres’ show. During the show, Pempengco admitted that she was both nervous and excited to be in the U.S. for the first time and to meet Ellen DeGeneres. When the two met, DeGeneres could not contain her excitement as well to have the singing sensation from the Philippines in her show that she reportedly did not stay in her dressing room during rehearsals that she usually does but watched Pempengco practice.
When DeGeneres learned that Pempengco lost her Ipod during her 13-hour trip to Los Angeles from the Philippines, DeGeneres immediately gifted her with a new one to which a surprised, teary-eyed but very grateful Pempengco accepted the gift graciously as she covered her face in disbelief, jumped up and down, became speechless and finally repeatedly hugged and kissed DeGeneres.
