Britain’s Got Talent is facing its first fix row – before the launch episode has even hit the airwaves.
The opening episode features one star who rose to fame on the soundtrack for hit movie musical The Greatest Showman, Loren Allred – from one of Simon Cowell’s favourite films.
Loren lent her voice to the ballad Never Enough on the soundtrack alongside the likes of Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Zendaya.
Though she didn’t appear on-screen in the hit flick, she instead lent her voice to Rebecca Ferguson’s character Jenny Lind – a professional opera singer hired by P. T. Barnum to help raise money for his circus.
Her vocals also appeared in the Grammy Award winning musical production Dear Evan Hansen.
In her professional life, Loren has released various singles and an EP, duetting with iconic singers Michael Buble and Andrea Bocelli.
(Image: ITV)
And despite Simon’s love for The Greatest Showman, The Sun reports that he seems “oblivious” when Loren first walks on stage, asking her: “Welcome, what’s your name and where are you from?”
American Loren goes on to explain her part in the hit musical, admitting she provided the voice to Ferguson’s mimed vocals in the film – after which Simon banged on the desk and yelled: “Oh my God!”
He went on: “So you sang one of the biggest songs of all time. You’ve revealed it wasn’t the actress who sang the song in the movie — it was you singing the song.”
Loren went on to perform an incredible rendition of her hit, admitting she was “more comfortable behind the scenes” but is now ready to “put a face” to Never Enough.
However, Loren has been attempting to gain traction in the showbiz world since she was 19, when the New York-based songstress originally began posting music covers on YouTube.
She signed to Island Def Jam Music aged just 19 – and even appeared on the US version of The Voice back in 2012.
Coached by Maroon 5 star Adam Levine, Loren told judges she worked as a “pianist and wedding singer” during her audition, appearing in four episodes of the series before being knocked out in the live playoffs.
Loren has also appeared in the 2018 Oscars, performing The Greatest Showman track This Is Me from within a choir.
A BGT spokesperson told Daily Star: “We are thrilled to back this year and look forward to viewers watching our BGT bumper special on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
“Whilst most people will have heard the infamous Greatest Showman track, Loren is not a household name, and she deserves her spot on the BGT stage.
(Image: 20TH CENTURY FOX)
“We hope that such articles will not count against somebody who is well deserving of this opportunity. It’s fantastic that Loren is now able to step out and stand in her own right to be the face, and not just the voice, of one of the most well-known tracks of all time.”
While Loren added: “Even though I have spent a lot of years in the music industry, people don’t know who I am. Over all these years I’ve been fighting for my chance to be known and to make it.
“The opportunity to sing Never Enough evolved from being a session singer in the choir, and even though the song was a big success, people still think that the actress sang it. I have never gotten the opportunity to tell my story. That’s never happened for me.
“I am an unsigned, independent artist still trying to make a name for myself.”
Fans have already reacted to the news on social media, with one fuming: “I don’t know why acts like this are allowed to audition, it’s unfair on those who genuinely audition and aren’t already kind of famous!”
(Image: Getty Images)
Another added: “Oh wow. I’m surprised she was allowed [to be honest] considering she’s basically already a star.”
“So basically Simon wants to sign her and is using BGT as the platform to kick her career off. No way she has auditioned like everyone else… so pretty much a guaranteed finalist or golden buzzer,” a third tweeted.
Others, meanwhile, were chuffed to see such an iconic songstress take to the stage, as one fan posted: “OMG. This is gonna be so good!”
“She probably just wants the platform. I wouldn’t be surprised if more people who’ve had careers audition this year as covid has probably limited opportunities,” someone else suggested.
Another social media user penned: “She’s had literally nothing other than that song, and she came from The Voice US where she finished 13th (!) so it’s not unusual to try another show (especially one where you know the head judge loves you).”
However, it is reported that Loren chose herself to audition – and finished 13th in The Voice – so there’s no reason for her not to go far in the competition.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
