Video - Jackie Evancho Takes the Stage During Americas Got Talent Finale for Nessun Dorma

Last night NBC brought to a close season 6 of their hit talent competition show “America’s Got Talent”.

This year’s winner was jazz singer and Frank Sinatra sound-alike Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., who beat out PopLyfe, Team iLuminate, and the Silhouettes to take the season’s crown.

In addition to naming this year’s winner, the finale show also included a compilation of the top four acts and guest appearances from Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle, OneRepublic, and last summer’s “America’s Got Talent” cross-over opera sensation Jackie Evancho.

Ah Jackie…. She’s the real reason so many people tuned in.

We’re sure Landau will do just fine with his career – as will the other three runners up.

But we are biased here at InfoStar (snicker) and all we really cared about Wednesday night was watching our favorite little shining star Jackie Evancho!

Reading through all the reviews and public comments on her performance it is clear that not everyone was happy.

But we’re not here to judge – we are here to enjoy.

So for those of you who missed Jackie’s performance we present to you Jackie Evancho singing “Nessun Dorma”.



What can you say after watching that?

We love watching her giggle and jump up and down as she reacts to the crowds standing ovation.

When asked by Nick Cannon what she had been up to the last year it seemed to take her by surprise and she muttered,

“Um, well, I, um, I made a new CD called Dream With Me … and it’s out now, and I’m really excited about it, and I um …”

“You’ve done a lot,” Cannon exclaimed.

“Yes, I’ve done a lot,” she laughed.

So sweat. Such pure honesty – that’s why we love Jackie!

Here is a backstage interview with Jackie done after the show.



We are still rooting for Jackie for a Grammy nod this year and all reports are indicating album sales are still stable and consistent.

Related: Jackie Evancho already getting Grammy nods

Jackie’s current album “Dream with Me” has already gone gold and as long as sales stay as they are it should reach platinum status soon.

Related: Jackie Evancho “Dream with Me” goes gold

You can also look forward to a new line of Jackie Evancho dolls and various other toys and gadgets to be released later this year.

Related: New Jackie Evancho doll and toy line ready for launch

We’re not sure we like the whole toy and merchandise idea but realize it is a natural part of any new celebrity artist and will be an important revenue stream for Jackie and her family.

We love you Jackie and wish you the best in whatever you decide to do with your talents. Don’t let them change you or try and turn you into somebody you don’t want to be.

Follow @InfoStar on Twitter – We can’t sing a note…

Official: Jackie Evancho’s Album “Dream With Me” Goes GOLD – Sales Top Half Million Records

Good news for Jackie Evancho fans.

On July 18, 2011 the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Jackie’s “Dream With Me” album as GOLD.

Congratulations to our favorite young crossover singer.

Evancho’s “Dream With Me” was released on June 14 and has really created a buzz around the young singer since her second place showing on “America’s Got Talent”.

Jackie’s first album “O Holy Night” which was released in November 10, 2010 not only went Gold, but was certified as Platinum on December 10, 2010 – one month after release.

We suspect that Platinum status for “Dream With Me” is only a month or so away and will be a great boost for her going into Grammy season.

Related: Jackie Evancho already getting Grammy nods

The Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other secondary markets like iTunes and Amazon.

In order to achieve GOLD status an artist must sell 500,000 units, and PLATINUM status is one million units sold. The current category Multi-Platinum requires unit sales of two million or more.

Not bad for an 11-year-old prodigy.

In fact, she appeared last night on the ABC 20/20 special about Super Humans with Super Powers. It was an amazing segment if you didn’t catch it.

Related: Watch Jackie Evancho on 20/20 Super Human Special - Video

Jackie is still tracking well on the Billboard top 200 and is currently in 12th place beating out Lady Gaga, and still tracking in the number ONE position on the Billboard Classical charts.

Related: Meet Jackie Evancho – She’ll melt your heart – Video

Okay, next stop is Platinum and a Grammy Award so let’s throw our support behind her as much as we can. Think of all the people you know who could use a good classical CD for Christmas this year.

Go Jackie!

Follow @InfoStar on Twitter

Crossover Singer Jackie Evancho Already Getting 2012 Grammy Nods?

It may be too early to know for sure, but young classical crossover phenom Jackie Evancho’s name is already being bandied about for a 2012 Grammy Award nomination.

But is that possible?

Jackie’s first album “Dream With Me” has indeed topped the Billboard 200 and Amazon sales charts lists since its release, and she has certainly made an impression on fans and professionals alike.

Insiders say there is a very good possibility Evancho could snag an award – or a nomination at the least.

Related: Meet Jackie Evancho – She’ll Melt Your Heart - Video

The eligibility requirements for the 2012 54th Annual Grammy Awards say an album must be released between Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011, and must be in general distribution in the United States.

After her appearance on Britain’s Got Talent, Susan Boyle’s debut album sold over 750,000 units in the U.S. during the first three weeks but was not eligible for a Grammy that year because the timing fell outside the current year’s eligibility requirements.

However, there is some fine print that says that if an individual track “first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Period,” then it can be nominated for categories like Song of the Year and Record of the Year, even if the associated album or CD was released outside the necessary time period.

Related: Jackie Evancho tops sales charts – talks about the future - Video

It kind of sounds like if the judges and staff really want you in their award show there is always a way to sneak something in to make it legal. Just release a quick single during the period even if the album is not ready to go yet.

The other issue for Jackie is what category should she be nominated in?

In 2011, major changes were made to the rules for 2012 that included nominations for collaborations and duo’s mainly in the pop, rock and rap genre. The classical categories were also compressed.

Also, the Best Classical Album and Best Crossover category has been eliminated and now these artists are able to win under best album, record, or song of the year, etc.

Just to illustrate the ambiguity of the system you have to wonder what the difference between best record of the year and best album of the year is.

My point?

If the nominating committee want’s a particular artist in the running – they will find a way. Remember, a lot of this is about ratings for their televised award show and they would not leave a white hot artist out in the cold over a small technicality.

Watch Jackie Evancho and David Foster Interview


It also depends whether Jackie would be nominated for an individual song or the entire album - an opera song or a classical song. With more than one genre on her album it could go several ways.

And even though the number of categories has been reduced for 2012 she could still be slotted in Best Opera Recording, Best Classical Vocal Solo, Best Contemporary Classical Composition, or Best New Artist.

You can see the complete list of the revamped and eliminated 2012 categories at the Grammy site here.

Bottom line:

The timing is right. The quality is right. The material is right. The sales figures are right. The collaborations were right. The buzz is right.

Besides, Evancho’s producer on her album, David Foster, is a 17 time Grammy winner himself. If Foster doesn’t know how to wade through the nomination rules than nobody does.

Jackie Evancho will be nominated for something at the 2012 Grammy’s show, and will most likely perform as well. Heck, she may even be a presenter.

We can’t wait, and wish her the best!

Follow InfoStar on Twitter – no nominations necessary

Jackie Evancho’s Album Sales Top Charts – Singer Talks Next Steps - Video

Young Jackie Evancho is only 11-years old, but she has the top selling Album on Amazon.

This week, her “Dream with Me” album outsold every artist except Adele, selling more albums then Bon Iver, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Selena Gomez and Lady Gaga.

To be fair, Jackie’s album was just released June 14th and she has had tons of air time on the June PBS fund drive, so time will tell if her staying power is real.

We think it is.

Related: Video - Meet Jackie Evancho, She’ll Melt Your Heart and Make You Cry

All you have to do is hear her sing and you can see she has what it takes to be a strong contender on today’s music scene.

She considers herself a crossover opera singer, and knows she will not get by on just singing opera.

But boy can see sing opera.



Just over a year ago, Evancho was taking second place on America’s Got Talent and today she’s singing duets with Susan Boyle and Barbara Streisand.

One of our favorites is her version of Sarah McLachlan’s hit “Angel” that was released as a single, and as a track on “Dream With Me.”

Related: Watch Jackie Evancho Sing “Angel”

After meeting 17-time Grammy Award winner David Foster, the two worked on creating and producing her current album - and the results have been better than both of them expected.

When asked about the title for her new album Jackie says,

“Well, the last CD that I had done was called 'Prelude to a Dream' and that's the beginning of a dream. Prelude is usually the beginning of a song or beginning of something. With 'Dream With Me,' I've kind of already made it. So, that dream has become real life, so now it's the real thing.”

And her dream has come true, and the first stop was the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota Florida where she filmed her PBS special.



And we have to say, her PBS special was amazing.

But what's in store for the new super star now that her album has been released and the World has discovered her?

Evancho says with all that has happened, she has to attend school on-line and misses her friends she used to see every day,

“Cyber School is really, really hard. And it’s boring, you know? I’d rather do normal school than go to online school.”

When asked if she is able to understand the deep emotion in some of her songs she says,

“All of the songs are emotional to me. 'Angel' is really sad because it’s about suicide. It’s really emotional. It’s really easy for me to show my emotions but it’s hard to listen to because it’s so sad.”

Watch Jackie Evancho Sing “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan


She sure does know how to make your heart melt.

When asked where she wants to go from here, and what her next steps are she says,

“I want to continue with my music but I also want to be a normal kid. This whole thing has happened so fast my parents and I are still just trying to sort it all out. For now, I’m just going to keep singing and see what happens next.”

Jackie says opera is her first love but she also likes the music of Josh Groban and Lady Gaga. She has also started writing and would like to start creating her own songs from start to finish.

Evancho also likes to play with her many pets. In fact, she calls her pet collection her “pet menagerie” and it includes nine hermit crabs, two guinea pigs, three dogs, two cats, a lizard, three frogs and four ducks.

The young opera crossover singer is currently on a mini tour with upcoming shows in Sun Valley Idaho, Atlanta Georgia, Highland Park Illinois, Omaha Nebraska, and Dallas Texas.

Jackie has already appeared on the Jay Leno Show and can be seen on CNN’s Piers Morgan show June 30th.

Go get ‘em kiddo.

Follow InfoStar on Twitter

Video – Meet Jackie Evancho – She Will Melt Your Heart and Make you Cry!

Move over Lady Gaga – there’s a new kid in town.

And we mean move over, as in get out of the way.

If you haven’t heard of Jackie Evancho you will soon.

Why?

Because Jackie just released her first feature length CD, “Dream With Me”, and it’s outselling every major artist on the pop music scene today.

Young Ms. Evancho is only 11-years-old and was born is Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She has several brothers and sisters and says she fell in love with music after seeing “The Phantom of the Opera” on television.

After hearing her sing, her mother, Lisa, entered her into a local talent contest where she came in second place – Jackie was only eight years old.

After narrowly missing out on winning several more talent contests, her parents allowed the ten-year-old prodigy to audition for the television show “America’s Got Talent.”

Jackie seemed to blow away the competition and seemed to be on track to win, but unfortunately came in second place.

Her performances were so flawless that there were accusations that she had lip synced her songs and it was all a scam by producers.

But the cat was out of the bag and America had heard, and seen, what was to become one of the youngest artists to skyrocket to Platinum sales status in over thirty years.

After “America’s Got Talent”, Jackie immediately released her first single “O Holy Night.” This was her first national exposure and won her a spot singing for President Barak Obama in Washington D.C. during the annual Christmas tree lighting.

Watch Jackie Evancho sing O Holy Night in Washington D.C.


The reaction to her “O Holy Night” single was amazing, and immediately shot to the top of the Billboard music charts and became a best seller on Amazon. It was certified as Platinum in 2010.

She also setup her own web site at JackieEvancho.com, and created her own YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

Jackie had hit it big and people wanted more.

After doing the rounds on the daytime and late night talk shows, she was approached by producer David Foster who worked with Jackie in the development of her first full length album “Dream With Me”.

Together, the two fashioned a collection of tracks, one which Jackie wrote herself, that combined both opera and crossover songs like “The Lord’s Prayer”, “When you Wish Upon a Star”, and “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan.

Watch Jackie Evancho and David Foster Interview


Jackie says,

“The title of my new album is ‘Dream With Me’ because it means I’m basically living the dream and there’s more to come.”

Jackie also plays violin and piano and has said she would like to collaborate with Josh Groban, Charlotte Church, and Andrea Bocelli.

Evancho's Sarasota Florida concert is currently being featured on most national PBS stations and showcases some of her best music and features several songs off her new album.

Theses PBS shows are the first time many viewers have seen Jackie and have caused quite an interest in the young singer.

She says she understands that in order to remain popular she has to do more than just sing opera songs, and realizes she will have to be a crossover singer in order to stay relevant.

On “Dream With Me” you will find her favorite opera pieces like “Nella Fantasia”, “Nessun Dorma”, “O Mio Babbino Caro”, and “Ombra Mai Fu”, along with incredible duets like “A Mother’s Prayer” with Susan Boyle and “Somewhere” featuring Barbra Streisand.

Watch Jackie Evancho sing Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” on PBS


Now you see why Jackie is going to be a star.

In fact, InfoStar has not really been able to find a bad review or other critical comment about her anywhere – and that says a lot in the world of the internet.

Composer Tim Janis says,

"Jackie's voice is so pure and natural, there's no flaw in it. People say 'I can hear her potential coming,' but no, it's here, it's now. She is truly an Angel and I can’t wait for the World to hear it and see it."

We agree.

And Jackie says the only thing she does to prepare for a big show is to “Say a prayer that God will be there on the stage with her and that He will sing along with her.”

Wow. Sniffle sniffle. Goose bumps…

So we set out to find the one performance piece that often separates the good from the bad in critical operatic singing – “Ave Marie”.

We figured if Evancho can pull off that tune with its massive complexity, then she really must be a true angel sent from Heaven.

Well - we found it. And it will make you cry.

So ladies and gentlemen, here is Jackie’s version of “Ave Maria” by Schubert accompanied by The Houston Chamber Choir and The Treble Choir of Houston.

Watch Jackie Evancho Sing Schubert’s “Ave Maria”


See. I told you.

I’ll say it again. Move over Lady Gaga - because I would love for my kids to learn, respect and look up to an artist like Jackie.

I know it won’t happen but I can dream can’t I?

If you only buy one CD this year... buy "Dream With Me."

You can sample each song and purchase Jackie’s new CD here at Amazon.

Follow InfoStar on Twitter – no crying allowed...

Video - 11-Year-Old Jackie Evancho Takes the World by Storm with “Dream With Me”

If you you’ve never heard of Jackie Evancho don’t worry – you will.

This 11-year-old soprano prodigy has taken the word by storm with her first full length album “Dream With Me” and is outselling Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and Katy Perry combined.

Jacqueline Marie "Jackie" Evancho was first seen during season five of “America’s Got Talent” when she was just ten years old, and blew away viewers who couldn’t get enough of her exquisite singing.

In addition to singing, Jackie also plays the piano and violin and even co-wrote the title track on "Dream With Me" with producer David Foster.

Watch Jackie Evancho Interview with David Foster


Jackie was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to Michael and Lisa Evancho and says she became interested in singing after seeing “The Phantom of the Opera”. She has two brothers, one older and one younger, and a younger sister.

Jackie says she was amazed that her debut single “Oh Holy Night” was so well received, and couldn’t believe that it sold over a million copies and has since gone platinum.

Evancho has teamed with the famous David “Hit Maker” Foster to produce her first full length CD titled “Dream With Me”.

On the album, she features the duets “A Mother’s Prayer” with Susan Boyle and “Somewhere” with Barbara Streisand along with her favorites “O Mio Babbino Caro”, "Ombra Mai Fu", "The Lord’s Prayer" and “Dream with Me”.

But the song everybody seems to want to hear is Jackie’s version of Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel”.

Watch Jackie Evancho Sing Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel”


One reviewer says,

“It may well become her signature song – the one everybody wants to hear. She is able to put so much emotion into it and you can tell by watching her perform she absolutely gets lost in the moment. I have rarely seen adults who can perform with such maturity. It made me cry.”

Indeed.

In fact, PBS has been running segments of Jackie’s performance of “Angel” from her show in Sarasota Florida - and PBS only brings out the big guns during their fundraising season.

That should tell you something about this incredible young singer.

Jackie even has her own website at Jackieevancho.com and YouTube channel.

It’s true – we have not been able to find one review that had anything negative to say. This young lady is destined to become one of the greatest talents we have ever seen.

You can purchase her new album on Amazon here.

Forget Lady Gaga, this is the type of music and personality I want my kids to learn to appreciate – but I’m not holding my breath.

Follow InfoStar on Twitter – no crying allowed
_