Episode 27 - Susan Boyle, Jackie Evancho, Debby Boone - The Next Big Thing

Today is about three big stars with beautiful lady voices, though one of them is only ten years old!

Susan Boyle
Literally an overnight sensation, Susan Boyle shot to meteoric fame after being discovered on Britain's Got Talent. Seriously, who hasn't seen this YouTube video? Her first album was the best selling album on earth last year, something Oprah likes to repeat. Oprah's voice over tells us that  Susan is a devout Catholic and her dream came true recently when she sang for the pope. She recently released a book called, The Woman I Was Born To Be: My Autobiography and has a Christmas album coming out called The Gift. Oprah says it's one of the biggest performances she's ever had, and introduces Boyle to sing a cover of Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over. 

After a break, Oprah sits down with Susan. They begin by talking about how Susan wasn't just bullied--she was taunted severely. She describes having bullies put out cigarettes in her clothing and constant horrible name calling. Susan says she was able to quiet them up a bit with her incredible singing talent; she says that the way to try and gain someone's respect is to be really good at something. They joke about having Susan send them an autographed CD that says, "How you like me now?" They wrap up talking about how Susan she feels like a princess now, and she feels loved which is something she never felt when she was younger.

Jackie Evancho
Oprah introduces 10-year-old Jackie Evancho as the young girl who may become the next big thing. She's a classically trained singer with the voice of a fully mature woman, and, as Oprah says, "the face of an angel". She was discovered this summer on America's Got Talent, on which she took second place and holds the world record for the youngest opera singer. She performs a classical opera song that isn't named (and that's not my forte so I can't tell you what it was, either!) and wows the audience.

When we return from a break, Oprah and Jackie sit down to chat. Jackie says she's always known her voice is a gift from God, and every night she says three prayers to make sure God knows that she's very grateful. The audience applauds and Oprah tells her to keep it up because God loves appreciation. We get to see a clip of Jackie hanging out with her family. Her dad says that off stage she's a normal little girl, simply one of four children who isn't treated any differently from her siblings. At school, her teacher and friends say that she's a sweet, normal little girl who is very nice to every one.

Oprah asks Jackie if she was nervous to go back to school, entering fifth grade after becoming so famous over the summer. Jackie says she tells herself all the time that she's just a normal kid, that the comments are normal and she needs to get used to it. Oprah asks her if there is anyone she'd love to do a duet with, and she has many! Josh Groban, Charlotte Church, Andrea Bocelli, and, though she's not really her type of singing, Lady Gaga. Oprah announces that Jackie Evancho is releasing an EP called O Holy Night, and says she is going to go pre-order it because Jackie's is the voice she wants filling up her house this Christmas.

Debby Boone
In 1977, Debby Boone was 21 and the next big thing thanks to her record shattering single, You Light Up My Life. Debby, who grew up singing with her sisters and father, Pat Boone, went on to sing on Broadway and focus on her favorite genre, Christian music. Oprah sits down with Debby and they talk about the perception of Debby as so squeaky clean that she wasn't able to actually connect with people. The perception wasn't one she put out there, but people thought she was conceited and found herself to be better than everyone else. They also talk about how good a great mother is, and Debby says a loving mother is the antidote to bullying.

After a break, Debby performs You Light Up My Life and receives a huge hug at the end.

Jon Stewart Show Update
If you remember, episode 7 featured Jon Stewart and he and Oprah bantered about her appearing on his show. Oprah promotes Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and shows us a clip of her recently showing up on The Daily Show via satellite. She says she supports his rally because we need a bit more sanity in the world. Oprah surprises his audience by having her staff sneak into Stewart's studio with a little gift. The gift? Everyone in the studio audience has free airfare and two nights at a hotel so they can attend the rally, and they all go nuts. Ah, lovely giving Oprah.

Back in her own studio, Oprah says Xbox (who is conveniently promoing their new Kinect technology, and I must say, it's awesome and I want one!) helped her pull off the surprise. Furthermore, they're giving everyone in her audience an Xbox 360. Celebration ensues and we're out!

Gospel Filter Review
Today will be pretty simple. We love talent and seeing people be great at things. God loves giving good gifts and seeing His children excel where He has gifted them. I've written about greatness before, so you can refer to those posts. He does want us to rejoice in how He has gifted us and use those gifts for His glory, to serve others, and bring us joy. It blesses me when an incredibly talented person sings, and I get to marvel at the wonderful ways God has granted talent to His children. Even better is when I know that person delights in using her gift to see God get the glory!

The only other note is that what Susan Boyle said was a twist on this truth. Being talented won't make people respect you; it often even breeds jealousy, envy, and conceit. Our only hope is finding our identity in Christ, rejoicing that no matter what anyone says, not even what we believe about ourselves, holds any weight compared to the truth that God loves us, sent His only Son to die for us, chooses us, saves us, and redeems us. What a great God He is and how freeing it is that we can't earn it nor do we have to try and impress anyone! Then, when we do have talents and gifts we get to use them to see our great and good God get more glory. That is where true hope, joy, and peace are found!

It may not seem totally relevant, but the verse from Philippians 4:4 that keeps rolling around in my head is this one:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.


God loves it when we delight in Him, and Oprah was even correct when she said that God loves it when we are grateful. God loves it when our gratitude flows from a heart that seeks Him, gazes at Him, and loves Him. My prayer is that everyone on today's show who isn't doing that would and that anyone who is will continue to!

Up Tomorrow
First TV Interview: Tyler Perry Speaks Out About Being Molested