Next stop Ellen DeGeneres for Hong Kong singer Celine Tam after America’s Got Talent fame
Pint-sized songstress performs How Far I’ll Go from Disney movie Moana on US talk show, following elimination from talent competition
Celine Tam Tsz-kwan may have been kicked out of America’s Got Talent, but it seems US television viewers haven’t seen the last of her yet.
The nine-year-old Hong Kong singer took to the stage on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday, performing How Far I’ll Go from hit Disney movie Moana – the same song she sang in the semi-finals of the talent competition on Tuesday before she was sent home.
“I was very excited to meet you,” Celine told host Ellen DeGeneres, as the pair hugged after her performance.
“Well, I’m excited to meet you,” DeGeneres replied. “You’re amazing.”
DeGeneres said many people had been shocked when Celine didn’t make it through to the finals, adding: “You should still be there.”
Celine replied diplomatically, saying: “I just feel amazed by America giving me so much love and support. Thanks to them for voting for me, it’s very hard coming this far, and I just really want to thank you, America.”
Ellen viewers tended to concur with the bubbly host, with many online describing Celine’s performance as “amazing” and agreeing she should have stayed in the competition.
“Ellen knows real talent and future superstars, so she had you on her show,” wrote one Twitter user. “Can’t wait to see you on US TV again!”
“She needs a recording contract,” another wrote.
One user said: “Celine Tam was my favourite act on America’s Got Talent and I was sad to see her go.”
Fans outraged as Hong Kong child star Celine Tam fails to reach finals of America’s Got Talent
The long-running daytime talk show often features musical performances and interviews with stars, including Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus.
Celine’s dream run in the talent competition kicked off in June, when a clip of her audition performance of Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On went viral.
She performed four times in total and made it to the semi-finals, but her time on America’s Got Talent came to an end on Wednesday night, US time, when she found she hadn’t scored enough votes from the US public to sing in next week’s final.
In a video published online after the elimination, Celine thanked her fans for their support.
“America’s Got Talent has changed my life a lot because my friends and all my fans have been very crazy, and they’re like, ‘Can I take a picture with you?’,” she said. “I just feel amazing.”
Is this the end of nine-year-old Hong Kong singer Celine Tam’s meteoric rise?
Celine began singing at the age of three, and was coached by her father, singing teacher Steve Tam Shun-sang, who calls himself “Dr Steve”.
In 2015, Celine also sang on the British version of the talent show, and at Hong Kong’s National Day reception in front of guests including then chief executive Leung Chun-ying.
