Politics, pop culture and entertainment news of interest to the LGBTQ community
Father and son Jim and Sasha Allen are gaining fans by the thousands each week on NBC’s The Voice. Whether they win or not, they’ve already made history as Sasha is the first openly transgender singer in 21 seasons to make it into the Top 10. Continue reading “Sasha Allen Makes History On ‘The Voice’”
Some news items you might have missed:
• The Voice: I’m so happy to see Jim and Sasha Allen, father and son, do so well this season. On top of their genuinely satisfying performances, Sasha is the first trans competitor to make the Top 10. Check out their blind audition below. I’ll be writing about them more… Continue reading “News Round-Up: November 24, 2021”
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| OneUp on ‘The Voice’ (screen capture image via NBC) |
Adam Bastien and Jerome Bell, a gay vocal duo with hopes of winning reality talent competition The Voice, delivered a smooth-as-silk rendition of The Spinners’ “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” this week.
The Motown steps, falsetto & full-on tenor vocals, plus obvious chemistry showed these two, who perform under the moniker “OneUp,” have what it takes to go far in the competition.
After three judges (Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Blake Shelton) hit the red button, Hudson asked how the two came together.
The answer was awesome and made Clarkson cry.
“We met, and then we fell in love, actually,” says Adam.
But Clarkson became even more moved when their family came out onstage and it was a veritable rainbow of gorgeous diversity.
“At a time in this country when its so divisive, this is such a beautiful thing,” said a clearly emotional Clarkson. “It is proof that in this country love is limitless. It can happen anywhere, any way…It’s the most beautiful thing that’s happened to me this season.”
Hudson chimed in saying, “I want to be in the family!”
Blake was patient for a while, but finally made a fervent pitch to coach the two pointing to his history of success with duos on The Voice.
“I have had the most success with duos of any coach in the history of The Voice. Why not pick a coach who has a proven track record with duos on The Voice,” said Shelton. “You need a cowboy, come on!”
After what Clarkson describes as a “Survivor tribal council meeting,” the boys decided their coach would be…?
And the video cuts to black before we get to see the pick.
Check out the boys blind audition below and then check in to The Voice on Monday at 8 p.m. on NBC to find out who OneUp chooses as a coach.
Hit play below – you know you want to hear me chat 🙂
In this week’s podcast:
• The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals handed down an important ruling for transgender protections in the workplace
• Should we boycott Bermuda for taking away marriage equality?
• An out high school football star is targeted by the haters of Westboro Baptist Church but his classmates aren’t having it
• A gay couple found their wedding photo used in a political attack ad by the Tennessee state Republican Party #WTF?
• Take two – Starkville, Mississippi, is getting it’s first Pride parade
• The 2018 Paralympics have begun and there’s at least one out and proud Paralympian this year
• Mindy Kaling’s new series Champions on NBC features a 16-year-old out character who’s never seen the inside of a closet
• VICE follows gay married couple Rick & Griff in Atlanta to learn how folks are monetizing their social media following
• NBC’s “The Voice” made history this week with the series’ first transgender contestant
• Randy Rainbow takes on the NRA with his parody of “Kids” from the 1960s Broadway hit Bye Bye Birdie
NBC’s The Voice made history this week by introducing the series’ first transgender contestant, Angel Bonilla.
After wowing the judges with her performance of Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down,” Bonilla explained that she was from the Philippines where she was born as “Carlos.”
“As early as 5 years old, I already knew that I am a girl trapped in a boy’s body,” Bonilla says. “Growing up in a very conservative family, it was very difficult for my father. When my dad saw me as a girl for the first time, he was puzzled. He’s not sure if I am his son, but he embraced me. I promised him that I will do great things. I wanted my father to be proud of me, and I’m doing this to honor him.”
Bonilla was thrilled to accept Adam Levine as her mentor. Looking forward to the next round on The Voice.
Watch Angel’s intro package below.
Well, I know who I’m pulling for on this season of The Voice!
From People Magazine:
Former NFL player Esera Tuaolo amazed The Voice judges and the audience with his rendition of Andra Day’s “Rise Up” on the premiere of the singing TV show.
Tuaolo, 49, kept his sexual orientation a secret from his NFL teammates during the nine years he was a defensive tackle, but the player revealed on Monday night’s show what it was like to finally come out.
“When I finished in the NFL, I came out to my family. When I said those words for the first [time], when I said that I was gay, it was like this huge mountain just crumbled,” the former Minnesota Vikings player said.
“I felt light as a feather, but when I jumped on the scale I was still that 6’4”, 300 pound Samoan that’s gay and played in the NFL.”
Going from NFL star to singer has been part of his journey to living his life to the fullest.
“What The Voice has given me is an opportunity to reach for the stars,” he said before stepping onto the stage.
My hubby, Michael, has known Esera for years and says he’s one of the nicest guys.
He does a great job on “Rise Up,” one of my favorite songs. Watch below.
Sundays just got that much better with my new buddy Esera! And he’s a great singer too? Double whammy! #VoicePremiere— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) September 26, 2017
Last night, The Voice finalist Billy Gilman teamed with Kelly Clarkson on “It’s Quiet Uptown” from Broadway blockbuster Hamilton.
Clarkson recently covered the tune for the The Hamilton Mixtape project, a collection of songs from the show recorded by major recording artists.
Normally an ensemble moment in the show, Clarkson and Gilman delivered the duet to devastating effect, swinging from tender and quiet moments to showcasing both their signature power notes.
Gilman’s Monday night show-stopping performance of the Frank Sinatra classic “My Way” can be viewed here.
The out singer was a front-runner the entire season, but ended up in second place to country artist Sundance Head.
Still a big winner in my book. I’m looking forward to what’s next for the talented Mr. Gilman.
Out singer Billy Gilman performed his last night on THE VOICE exactly as he had the entire season, his way.
Gilman opened the show with a stirring version of the Frank Sinatra classic “My Way,” doing the first verse a capella.
Adam Levine joined him for a duet of The Everly Brothers’ “Bye Bye Love”, and he closed his run on the talent show with an original track – “Because of Me.”
A child star at 11 years old, Gilman scored a huge country hit with “One Voice,” earning him a Grammy nomination. He came out as gay in 2014.
I’ve become a big fan throughout his run on THE VOICE. Fingers crossed he wins.
You can find more of his music on iTunes here.
Out singer Billy Gilman continues his march through this season’s THE VOICE with a stunning cover of Martina McBride’s “Anyway.”
In case you haven’t been watching, I’ve covered his awesome journey on The Randy Report here and here.
Make sure you watch until the end when Gilman pulls out those big, huge notes he’s famous for.
#GoGilman!
Out singer Billy Gilman sang with fellow Team Adam member Andrew DeMuro in a head to head matchup on last night’s The Voice, taking on Michael Jackson’s classic “Man in the Mirror.”
What did the judges think?
Blake Shelton: “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a more evenly matched battle. Billy has this voice that just cuts through everything, just like a laser voice. It’s so good, man. Then Andrew has all these little runs and things that he throws in there that separates from Billy. So, I don’t think you can go wrong here either way.”
Alicia Keys: “Billy your voice started out in this crystal space. And then you think of where we are in the world. It ended up making me feel that maybe things aren’t so bad as they sometimes seem, so thank you for that.”
In the end, Adam Levine moved Billy Gilman on to the next round.
I think they really were evenly matched here. Hottie Andrew is right in there, vocally on point and totally present in the moment.
And yeah, I’m always a sucker for a good “Man in the Mirror” cover.
