‘Curly Sue’ Star Makes Christina Aguilera Cry on ‘The Voice’
Each new season of The Voice yields a contestant or two with a backstory so fascinating that the show's producers deem it deserving of its own spotlight, despite the fact that it occasionally eclipses the hopeful’s vocal talents.
Not so with Season 10’s Alisan Porter -- a former child actress who starred in the 1991 John Belushi comedy Curly Sue. Despite her storied history with the entertainment industry (she also appeared on the talent competition show Star Search, just like The Voice judge Christina Aguilera, and later went on to get bit parts on various TV shows), she has a big enough voice to not be overshadowed by her past.
Porter took the stage during last night’s (February 29) season premiere, where she performed a heartfelt rendition of “Blue Bayou,” a track made famous by Linda Ronstadt, that was impressive enough to earn a chair spin from all four judges.
In detailing her own personal history to the four celebrity coaches, Porter revealed she’d play the titular role in Curly Sue, which elicited soft surprise from Adam Levine. ("Shut up. No Way," he said.) Porter also noted she got sober nearly eight years ago, married her husband and had children — a backstory that had a deep effect on Aguilera.
“I really am moved by your story. Nobody works harder than a mom," a visibly emotional Aguilera said. "And inside of you there's so much to say, and people need to hear that hope. Between your story and those pipes of yours, I wanna be a part of your history.”
Find out which judge Alisan chose after her performance in the video above.
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