Las Vegas Weekly

February 9, 2010 · 12:44 PM

Teen star Charice takes Italy by storm — and meets her match

By Robin Leach

David Foster and Charice Pempengco.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Every time teen singing sensation Charice has performed in Las Vegas, the reaction has been sensational. Record producer David Foster, who has led entertainment for Andre Agassi’s foundation fundraisers and his own concert charity here, has always included Charice in the events and predicted that she’ll achieve stardom.

Talk show hosts Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres have featured Charice on their programs, but as of yet, she has no major breakout hit or record release, although she has been recording tracks for her debut. The songs include “I Will Always Love You” and her first international single “Note to God.”

Photo: TVT

Charice Pempengco.

Charice recently was invited to perform in a singing-only version of an America’s Got Talent-type contest and took Italy by storm! She was promptly hailed as an international superstar and was even invited to sing a duet of “The Prayer” with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.

But the real excitement came when she was teamed up with another teen sensation, 13-year-old Cristian Imparato. Now I’m too old in the tooth to really understand all of this, but I was moved, so much so that you have to watch these two remarkable and extraordinary kids appearing on Io Canto (I Sing). The program was broadcast on Italy’s national RAI TV network.

At their young ages, they both showed that they’ve got what it takes for stardom and that their names will become recognized worldwide in the years to come. A friend of mine from Tuscany who knew that I’d met Charice many times here in Las Vegas emailed me, “She simply took Italy by storm. The audiences were chanting for her, and she’s captured the hearts of the entire nation.”

Vegas DeLuxe will keep you posted on Charice’s next visit with David to Las Vegas and the release of her debut CD this year.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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