NEWLY BAPTIZED CATHOLIC AND INTERNATIONAL SINGING SENSATION CHARICE SHALL BE PART OF POPULAR US TV SHOW 'GLEE'

Charice to star on US TV show ‘Glee’

Agence France-Presse

First Posted 16:27:00 06/22/2010

Close this MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Teenage Philippine singing sensation Charice Pempengco said she had landed a role in the popular US television show "Glee."

The diminutive Filipina, who first gained global renown via video-sharing website YouTube and has since become a favorite of US TV talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, announced her next career move on her Twitter microblogging site.

"It's official. I'm on Glee (next season) but (there is a) story behind it," Pempengco, 18, tweeted.

The local show-business community has been awash with rumors in recent months that Pempengco, whose singing has impressed Winfrey, among others, had landed a role in "Glee", aired by Fox Television.

"When (the) rumor came out, it wasn't true. But then after that, I tried to audition. And I made it!!" Pempengco said.

FilipinOnline, the blog of Southern California-based freelance writer Yong Chavez, quoted Charice’s US press agent Karen Moss as saying: “Charice will have a recurring role. Multiple episodes.”

Chavez said “the star’s mother, Raquel Pempengco, also confirmed the good news via text.”

US magazine Entertainment Weekly’s website, Ew.com, said that Charice “signed, sealed, and delivered to recur next season as a foreign exchange student whose killer vocals get Rachel (Lea Michele) contemplating murder.”

"Glee" is an hour-long comedy series that follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to reignite his passion while working with a group of outcasts to revive the fortunes of the school's glee club.

Pempengco first made her name on local TV talent show "Little Big Star", where her performances became an Internet sensation and caught the interest of the US TV shows.

Pempengco has since appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and several times on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

"You are a force to be reckoned with. That voice comes from something bigger than yourself," Winfrey raved after one performance.

Pempengco's debut, self-titled album was released five weeks ago and has peaked at number eight on the US Billboard charts.

She has been traveling to Europe — she was recently in France, and is currently in England — to promote her album.

She is scheduled to sing the national anthem at the inauguration of President-elect Benigno Aquino III on June 30. With Pocholo Concepcion, Inquirer Entertainment