Lists

What happened to Nada in “My Big Fat Fabulous Life”?

Published

19 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Martha Clifford

Table of Contents

What is “My Big Fat Fabulous Life”?

The Pilgrim Studios production premiered on TLC in January 2015, and is a reality series following the life of Whitney Way Thore, who weighed almost 400 pounds at the beginning of the show. Whitney shot to fame when “Jared and Katie in the Morning”, a North Carolina morning show on her former radio station, began posting “107.5 KZL’s Fat Girl Dancing” videos on YouTube which were subsequently viewed millions of times.

Despite suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome and gaining over 230 pounds from a health disorder, Whitney sees the silver lining in every cloud. Navigating on- and off-line bullying and life’s ups and downs while repairing her negative body image, the reality star handles every negative situation with the grace and aplomb that has enamored millions of viewers.

Meet The Cast

The main cast members on “Fabulous Life” are the Thore family – Whitney, her parents Barbara and Glenn, and her brother Hunter – and their close friends Buddy Bell, Ashley Baynes, Todd Beasley, Tal Fish and Heather Sykes.

Whitney was born in April 1984 in Greensboro, North Carolina, and studied at Walter Hines Page Senior High School and Appalachian State University. After a long string of failed relationships, some online sources claim that the bubbly brunette found love with her husband Jason Rose, with whom she shares children Bobbie and Brooks. Sadly, this is untrue: Whitney has been dating a mysterious Frenchman since 2021, who she prefers to keep out of the limelight; the pair are currently long-distance. Neither does she have any children.

A huge advocate for body positivity, Whitney’s best-selling book – “I Do It with the Lights On: And 10 More Discoveries on the Road to a Blissfully Shame-Free Life” – received rave reviews upon its release in 2016. Even so, fans were eager to see if Whitney could lose weight, and what would happen to the show if she did. Since 2019, Whitney has lost 70 pounds – and kept them off – thanks to numerous lifestyle changes, and is reported to now weigh around 310 pounds, although exact figures are unknown.

Barbara, the Thore family matriarch, is Whitney’s greatest support and a pillar of strength for her nearest and dearest. At a young age, she walked down the aisle with her first husband – who was five years older – in an intimate wedding ceremony. Things didn’t work out, but she soon met Glenn, and they formed a tight-knit family.

In December 2021, fans feared for Barbara’s health when the septuagenarian suffered a stroke that left her bedridden. Since then, it’s been a long and steady road to recovery, as the family have rallied around Barbara and take turns watching over her. In October 2022, Whitney and her mother had a great time at a fall festival held in Irving Park, a senior living community where Barbara is currently staying.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj8FuHyO79m/

Next up is Barbara’s faithful husband Glenn, who has been a calming, steady presence on the show since its inception. In 2022, he and Barbara celebrated their 45^th wedding anniversary in a low-key manner, after a rough year full of health problems, including COVID-19.

Glenn is something of a bookworm who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History & Political Science at North Carolina’s prestigious Guilford College. In 2003, he began working in the graphics industry, eventually taking on the role as Account Manager at Graphic Visual Solutions in 2012. Two years later, he became VP General Manager at Millennium Print Group, and seems to have no intention of retiring anytime soon, despite being in his mid-to-late 70s.

Whitney’s younger brother Hunter is a guitarist and aspiring actor, with dreams of making it big in the entertainment industry. Hunter is in his mid to late 30s and shares a close relationship with Whitney, given the small age gap between them, and often posts his famous sibling on Instagram and other social media platforms. The blue-eyed reality star’s band, Plague of Jackals, specializes in the metal and hardcore genre, and performs at small clubs and other local venues.

Hunter was the one who found Barbara after her stroke, and dialed 911; he later had a tense argument with Whitney while discussing future plans to take care of their aging parents. Although fans have grown to love Hunter since he began appearing on “Fabulous Life”, it appears that the wannabe celebrity had been planning a move to Atlanta for quite some time, implying that his appearances on his sister’s show were also to gain media exposure. Since having moved to Atlanta, Hunter has been working on projects which he will share with fans when the time is right.

Buddy Bell, one of Whitney’s closest friends, has shared much of his personal life on the show. From difficult breakups to a rehab stint he underwent due to a drug addiction, Buddy has been through the wringer many times on “Fabulous Life”, and the show’s viewers have been rooting for him to turn his life around and find true love.

https://www.facebook.com/MyBigFatFabulousLifeNews/posts/pfbid02PMh29svzM894H5rmXKZ5cfC4Nt9wxzK4ebsLqtWW4Y5k6ijiqoiTQbGZES7ckoSol

In late 2021, Buddy thrilled fans with news of his engagement. Whitney previously said that it sucked not being able to see her best friend so much, since he was so serious about this new relationship, but she appears to be happy about the engagement, and is still supporting her friend in every move he makes. No wedding date has been set as of October 2022, but Buddy will still make appearances on “Fabulous Life” for the time being.

Ashley Baynes has also known Whitney for over a decade and is another plus-size brunette with a love of life. She has two children – daughter Harper, and newborn son August Daniel, who was born in May 2022. There were odd rumors of Ashley being a surrogate for Whitney, but the father of both children is Ashley’s longtime boyfriend Eric, who prefers not to be on TV.

The rumors began when Whitney, who is struggling to get pregnant without help, asked her other friend Heather if she’d be a willing surrogate. Although Heather agreed at first, she later had doubts and seemed to change her mind, which is why people thought Ashley had taken one for the team and become Whitney’s surrogate. Ashley also helped Whitney with her IVF treatments, and even administered the injections to her friend’s belly several times.

Image source

Todd Beasley and Whitney also go way back, having known each other since high school. The fellow musical theater major has earned himself scores of female fans, thanks to his good looks and affable personality, and his genuine friendship with Whitney is praised for being one of the show’s most authentic aspects.

Todd was Whitney’s dance partner in the famous “Fat Girl Dancing” videos that put her on the map, which is why, after being told by a doctor that she’d no longer be able to dance due to her weight and health issues, Whitney asked Todd for help to get back on track, to do what she loves most. Together, Todd and Whitney choreographed dance classes and ran classes. He seems to disapprove of Whitney’s anonymous French boyfriend, but has made it clear that he’ll always be around when needed.

Fellow TLC star Tal Fish was inspired by Buddy’s honesty regarding his cocaine addiction, and came clean about his own struggle to recover from years of substance abuse. “I’m a person in long-term recovery myself and I also work in the substance use field,” he explained. “In order to achieve and sustain recovery, you have to get help from other people. It’s not a battle that you can fight by yourself.”

Tal celebrated two years of sobriety in April 2017, meaning that he’s been sober for almost a decade. Some of his interests include going to the theater, soaking up the sun at the beach, and visiting museums to expand his cultural knowledge. He’s also an avid gym rat, and loves spending time with his mother, who was a constant presence by his side during his substance abuse struggles.

Heather Sykes is an exuberant single mother after splitting from Jared, her husband of many years, for unknown reasons. The brunette has worked as a global director of editing at Market America since 2006, a job she landed immediately after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies.

Heather and Jared – who married aged 21 and 24 respectively – share two children: Ava and Eli. Eli is already an honor roll student, whereas Ava loves performing in school plays and musicals. Heather and Jared are doing a good job of raising their kids to be respectful and well-rounded individuals, and often do family activities together, despite their separation.

Last but not least is Nada, who is seen by some as the show’s villain. In 2018, Whitney was in a dysfunctional relationship with a man named Avi, who was seeing other women on the side. Instead of breaking up with him, Whitney controversially decided to track these women down, and have face-to-face conversations with them.

One of these women was Nada Louis; Whitney, who was absolutely convinced that Nada was just a side chick, was left heartbroken after learning that Nada and Avi became engaged, and that she herself was the other woman. This became a hot topic of discussion amongst “Fabulous Life” fans, with one shrewd Reddit user saying: “I was always amused by the way Whitney and TLC portrayed Whitney as the woman betrayed, when it was actually Nada with whom Avi had apparently talked marriage, meeting her family and all… Whitney was the chick on the side.”

Whitney and Nada buried the hatchet, and even went on activities together, such as a hiking trip during which they had a long heart-to-heart. Whitney was serious about Avi and even considered changing religions for him, so perhaps it’s for the best that she discovered his philandering ways early on in the relationship.

So what’s Nada Louis up to now? Well, the Egyptian body positivity activist has over 10,000 Instagram followers and is currently living her best life after being on vacation all summer 2022. She has also left Avi behind, and is now in a committed relationship with a man named Tony, whom she often posts on her social media profiles. Nada is also singing again, having stopped for many years for unexplained reasons, and occasionally uploads short song covers.

Associated Shows

There’s a reality series on almost every topic under the sun, and shows on obesity and morbidly obese people have become increasingly popular in the last few years. “Fabulous Life” associated shows include “My 600lb Life” and “1000lb Sisters”, which we will be discussing in this section.

“My 600lb Life” follows overweight individuals as they attempt to make the switch to healthy lifestyles. The title of the show is somewhat deceptive, as participants are only required to initially weigh over 490 pounds. The famous Dr. Now guides them through a weight loss process, but is no stranger to tough love and isn’t afraid to call out his patients if he feels they’re not putting the work in to get back to a healthier weight.

Dr. Now is an expert in tackling weight issues and analyzes every patient individually, providing them with a tailor-made diet and exercise routine, and conducting counselling sessions whenever necessary. In extreme situations, he will also advise patients to undergo a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgery to lose more weight. The show comes with follow-up episodes showing how patients are faring a year after leaving the show; most of them have happy endings and maintain their new healthy lifestyles, but others, understandably, fall off the wagon, and succumb to food addiction once more.

Image source

“1000-lb Sisters” is another TLC offering, which follows the Kentucky natives Amy Slaton-Halterman and Tammy Slaton. The show premiered in January 2020, and went viral due to the rather humorous clips of Amy and Tammy’s antics that began circulating online. Tammy, impressively, lost over 115 pounds, whereas Amy has lost over 150.

Although “1000-lb Sisters” has been mocked and vilified by some, others are glad that it demonstrates the tough reality of obesity, without reducing obese people to a number on a scale. Amy and Tammy are very down-to-earth characters – but with strong personalities – and can often be seen doing normal everyday activities during filming, making the show more entertaining.

Martha Clifford

As an Author at Net Worth Post, I guide a dedicated team in the art of revealing the stories behind the world's most influential personalities. Fueled by a relentless curiosity and a knack for uncovering hidden stories, I immerse myself in the intricacies of our subjects' lives, weaving together accurate data and compelling narratives. My involvement spans the entire editorial process, from the seed of research to the final flourish of publication, ensuring that every article not only educates but also captivates and motivates our audience. At Net Worth Post, we are committed to providing thorough investigations into the net worth and life achievements of innovators across diverse sectors such as technology, culture, and social entrepreneurship. My method merges meticulous research with eloquent storytelling, designed to bridge the gap between our readers and the remarkable individuals who redefine our tomorrow. Through spotlighting their journeys to success, the hurdles they've surmounted, and their contributions to society, we aim to give our readers a deep and inspiring insight into the luminaries who are paving the way for progress and ingenuity in the modern era.

Click to comment

Lists

Is “Yellowstone” based on a true story?

Published

19 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Martha Clifford

Wondering if “Yellowstone” is based on a true story? What inspired the writers to produce the Dutton family drama? When part one of the “Yellowstone” season 5 was launched, viewers have been concerned about finding out whether the series is based on a true story. Fans have also been interested in learning about the Dutton family story, which some believe to be real. Read on to learn if “Yellowstone” is based on a true story, and what inspired it.

Image source

Table of Contents

Background

“Yellowstone” is a Western drama series about the Dutton family, which owns the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the biggest in Montana. The drama series premiered in June 2018 and revolves around the Dutton family at the ranch, bordering a national park, the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, and developers in need of the family’s piece of land.

“Yellowstone” is centered on John Dutton III, a character acted by Kevin Costner, a sixth-generation patriarch and widowed member of the Dutton family who owns and runs the ranch. He fights to protect the ranch from those seeking to repossess his family’s land for other developments that do not align with the interests of the family.

The producer of “Yellowstone,” Taylor Sheridan believes that the drama series has been a success with the audiences, although critics have different views and reservations. He makes it clear that the series is for people who experience the life it portrays. The writer also states that the audience is expanding, because many people love westerns; they provide entertainment and different perspectives about life in the west.

People who resonate with the plot depicted in the drama series will certainly love it. “Yellowstone” flows through different genres, where it sets the stage for being campy, then becomes dramatic, and violent. It’s a blend of the old western, new western, and soap opera. While it infuriates other people, it appeals to the interests of individuals who love storytelling.

“Yellowstone” is a hit partly because its location is fantastic, it’s acted in a wicked way, and explores a world that is unknown to many people. It consists of powerhouse actors who put on an outstanding performance.

https://www.facebook.com/yellowstoneparamount/posts/4268604499878381

Is “Yellowstone” Based on a True Story?

The answer is ‘no’, because “Yellowstone” is not based on true people or events that have happened in real life. However, Taylor Sheridan revealed in an interview with The Los Angeles Times in 2018 that the series explores issues that he’s witnessed, and the problems that still exist in US’s western mountain states.

For instance, “Yellowstone” explores issues related to land development, oppression, resource mismanagement, extreme poverty and inequality. These challenges still exist in other parts of the US, and the consequences are dire, especially when they happen in small rural areas with fewer people.

Taylor also added that once construction companies start encroaching on landscapes in farms and ranches, the effects are more dramatic. He reiterated that the show is based on the “gentrification” that has occurred in the western states, a process where wealthier people move to poor or less developed areas and begin to improve them by building new houses and launching other developments.

While gentrification attracts new businesses and improves the overall appearance of the place, it often displaces the current inhabitants in the process. The creator of the “Yellowstone” drama series has witnessed some of these changes in mountain states, such as Wyoming and Montana where he stays.

Gentrification mainly benefits wealthy people at the expense of the less privileged. When the place is developed, only the rich can afford the modern properties, and natives will be pushed off their land. In other words, this process creates inequality among people living in a certain area. The rich can use their influence to determine the state of affairs in a particular area, which will put other people at a disadvantage.

The creator of the drama series places the white rancher in a position of Native Americans, which was different 100-plus years before the onset of gentrification. What is taking place now in the west puts the natives at a disadvantage; for example, once the land developers move in and make improvements, they often sell that fantasy to wealthy people.

In most cases, the rich people who become the new occupants often come from affluent areas such as Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and Florida. As a result, the poorer natives end up landless because they cannot afford properties constructed on their indigenous land.

When wealthy people buy pieces of land in the western states, they often use them for weekend getaways, and in the process, the way of life of the indigenous people is impacted. Land values and other aspects such as inheritance taxes are bound to increase, which will affect the welfare and lifestyle of the people living in the gentrified places.

Sheridan revealed in an interview with CBS news in 2022, that “Yellowstone” derived its inspiration from his experience as a rancher – most of the horses used in the filming of the drama series are his. He said that the horses are not very safe, and this is why the actors are not always riding on them – the horses were specifically bought for the drama series, and the creator taught the actors how to ride them.

Called one of the most important western writers in decades, Taylor Sheridan created the hit TV series "Yellowstone" and its prequel, "1883" (along with the prequel's upcoming sequel, "1932") https://t.co/l0PtHrTZfS pic.twitter.com/xkqZTP0UtA

— CBS Sunday Morning ? (@CBSSunday) June 11, 2022

Are the Duttons a Real Family?

The Duttons are not a real family. According to the equestrian website Horsey Hooves, the family’s patriarch John Dutton could have been inspired by famous ranchers such as Bill Galt and W.T. Waggoner. Waggoner owned the 525,000-acre Waggoner Ranch in North Texas, which was founded in 1849, was once the largest ranch in the US, and was passed down through several generations.

The Waggoner family owned the ranch until 2015, when it was sold to businessman Stan Kroenke for $725 million. Bill Galt is the owner of the 248,000-acre ranch in Montana, the same ranch where “Yellowstone” is set. Horsey Hooves said Galt is also known as “The Last American Cowboy.”

Cowboy life is still common in North Texas, although it’s facing some challenges from gentrification. As a result, “Yellowstone” sought to portray a western life unknown to many people. The drama series draws its audience from people who love the cowboy lifestyle, since the practice is no longer widespread across the US.

Is the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch Real?

Although “Yellowstone” is not based on a true story, the ranch where the drama series takes place is real – Chief Joseph Ranch is found in Darby, Montana, and consists of several cabins used by guests as accommodation when they visit, and several have appeared in the show. The key areas that appear in the drama series include Rip’s Cabin also called the Ben Cook Cabin in real life, the Armory, the Trapper cabin, and Lee’s cabin also called the Fisherman Cabin.

Shane Libel and his family own Chief Joseph Ranch – when the property was chosen as the filming location for “Yellowstone”, the Libels family and the filmmakers signed a five-season contract. Apart from the 5,000-square-foot mansion and cabins, other film locations include the armory, barns, arena and corrals.

The Chief Joseph Ranch consists of a real family home, also used for vacations. When not being used for film production, the cabins around the home are available for rental for a minimum of three nights. The guests are treated to a memorable Yellowstone experience.

In “Yellowstone” Season 5, Texas’ Four Sixes Ranch featured is a real ranch, and it will be the filming venue for “Yellowstone”’s upcoming spin-off of the 6666 show. The 350,000-acre 6666 Ranch has a rich history, as it was founded in the 19^th century when West Texas was still ruled by Comanches.

The 6666 Ranch appeared in “Yellowstone” Season 4, and featured Jimmy, who was sent to Texas to become a real cowboy. In May 2021, Taylor Sheridan and a group of investors bought the ranch for use as one filming location for “Yellowstone” and will feature in future episodes.

The 6666 Ranch is real and still functioning as it has over the last two centuries, encompasses the history of the country. At this ranch, the laws of nature and the rule of law merge in a typical fashion where some of the most dangerous events take place. The 6666 is a place where world-class cowboys are made, and is synonymous with an attempt to raise the finest livestock and horses in the world, still produce high-quality Quarter Horses and Angus cattle.

Is There Going to be a Yellowstone Season 6?

Many viewers often wonder if there will be a “Yellowstone” Season 6. However, the good news is that one of the actors – Cole Hauser who plays Rip Wheeler – confirmed in November 2022 that there will be one more season. He said there’s a lot of work going on to fully utilize the talent to fulfill the needs of the audience.

According to the executive producer Taylor Sheridan, “Yellowstone” comprises a diverse crew that is concerned about producing the best result. However, he confirmed in 2021 to “The New York Times” that he doesn’t want Yellowstone to run for nine seasons, so has actually already written the ending – taking too long without preparing the end can lead to stagnation of the show, so he’s still confident that the show will not run out of steam as it nears the end. So season 6, could well be the final

Yellowstone is not based on real life or fiction, but on world events. The creator has hinted that there has to be movement and evolution toward the conclusion.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmuMqHKJ37B/

Sheridan has already decided on the ending of “Yellowstone,” but has hinted at opening up more spin-offs after “1883,” “1923,” and “6666”; he doesn’t want to limit his creativity. More importantly, the creator has also expressed his connection to the sparseness of the west, since this is where he spent most of his lifetime.

Sheridan lived in New York briefly and enjoyed his stay, but clearly states that he cannot write about this place. Instead, he’s fascinated by outdoor events, which motivated him to write “Yellowstone”, saying that the outdoor world helps him get a clear picture of the vastness of the US.

Sheridan says that life in New York is different from living in western states, which still have many places in their natural state. It’s easier for him to observe the things that happen in these open places than in build-up areas like cities. Although Sheridan’s hinted that “Yellowstone” will come to an end, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of future episodes based on unfolding events.

Lists

How is Sara James from “America’s Got Talent” Doing Now?

Published

19 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Martha Clifford

Table of Contents

Rise to Fame

When Sara walked onto the stage for her audition for the 17^th season of “America’s Got Talent,” everything about her screamed “star!” Unlike most contestants whose nerves show as soon as they appear, Sara was composed and had an aura of calmness around her. She owned the stage, and wasn’t intimidated by the fully packed auditorium, as she shared some lighthearted exchanges with Simon, revealing that she was just 13 years old, which shocked the judges and the audience, since she spoke and conversed with a level of maturity way above her age.

The crowd went quiet as Sara took a deep breath and calmly launched into her performance of “Lovely” by Billie Eilish. The performance embodied the classic calmness and maturity that Sara’s fans have now come to love, showing-off her excellent vocal control, as she hit and held high notes, raised and lowered her voice to capture the deeply emotional meaning the song has to her, and held the attention of her audience with her ability to pass on her emotions to them through her voice.

Image source

Sara’s trance-like hold on the crowd was broken when she sang the last note, sending Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara to their feet with the audience, to applaud the 13-year-old musical prodigy, as a still seated Simon Cowell clapped. When the crowd calmed down, Simon talked about how coming to the US changed his life, adding that he would like to make Sara’s first time in the country memorable before crowning her musical prowess and outstanding performance with the Golden Buzzer. With one press of the button, Simon Cowell set Sara on the path that AGT musical prodigies before her have followed to stardom.

Now, every person who watches Sara’s audition on YouTube asks the question, “How is Sara James doing now?”

Early Life and Musical Foundation

Born on 10 June 2008, Sara Zofia Egwu-James isn’t yet 15 years old. She has three siblings, Michelle James, John Junior, and Jakub Dancewicz. Sara was born to a Polish mother while her father is of Nigerian descent, but grew up in the US. At her age, Sara is just in high school, holds a first degree in music from Slubice, plays the piano and the guitar. Despite gaining global success for a raw, powerful voice that she’s learned to control allowing her to hit high and low notes without straining, Sara is continuing her music education by taking vocal lessons with Edyta Kregiel, and practicing her singing and performing at the Municipal Cultural Center.

Sara gets her musical talent and interest in singing, playing instruments and performing from her parents. Her father John is a singer and performer, who has participated in some talent competitions. In 2011, he was one of the “X-factor” contestants, appeared in the “Bitwa na voices” choir singing competition as part of a choir, and half of the Polish singing duet “Loui & John”, under contract with Sony Music Poland.

Sara’s mother, Arleta Dancewicz, is equally musically talented, but didn’t pursue music professionally, although sang in church when Sara was growing up. Inspired by her mother’s passionate performances and her father’s professional musical acts, Sara joined a local children’s choir, and staged several performances across the city. She honed her vocal and performing skills through seasonal performances such as in a local Christmas Carols Festival, and entered some singing competitions for children. Although Sara’s parents are now separated, they both support Sara in her aspiration for a career in music, and have shared her confidence that she will rise to become a global music icon, since she started singing at four years and staged performances individually and as part of a group at just six years of age.

“The Voice Kids-Poland”

Sara joined her first major singing competition, “World Talent Show” in 2020, when she was just 12 years old, placing third in the competition, and was the proud recipient of the coveted Silver Microphone, and honored to receive the award at the closing performance of the Lubuski Song Festival Pro Arte. Although she didn’t win, emerging third emboldened Sara, and encouraged her to sign up for larger competitions.

In 2021, Sara entered her name for consideration for a slot on “The Voice Kids” Poland. For her blind audition, Sara chose to perform Demi Lovato’s “Anyone.” Her performance, which has gathered over 4.45 million views on YouTube, enthralled the audience, and had all coaches pressing their buttons and turning within seconds to indicate they wanted her on their teams. She chose Tomson and Baron, and embarked on a journey of musical discovery as she learned from the two rockstars.

Tomson and Baron’s mentorship was evident in Sara’s first battle on “The Voice Kids.” She battled two fellow contestants Amelia and Matylda, performing Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” Although the two girls were talented, Sara beat them easily and earned the favor of all judges as well as the admiration of the live audience. With her new status as fan favorite, Sara put on impressive performances, particularly in the finals when a whistle note in her performance of Will Ferrel and Molly Sanden’s “Husavik (My Hometown)” had the crowd on its feet clapping and screaming for minutes after she finished singing.

Sara’s ability to impress the crowd with the raw power of her voice, the passion she put into her performances, and her ability to improve on past performances under the guidance of her coaches, earned her first place in the competition. With the title of the winner of the 4^th season of “The Voice Kids Poland,” Sara set her eyes on competitions outside her native Poland, as part of a strategy to take her voice and music career global.

“Szansa na Sukces” and “Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021”

One year after winning “The Voice Kids Poland,” Sara entered “Szansa na Suckes,” a Polish talent show that offered an opportunity for its winners to participate in a European junior singing competition. For the competition’s finale, Sara sang her way into the audience’s hearts with her cover of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”, which won her the competition, receiving the most votes from both audience and judges, installing her as Poland’s representative in the “Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021.”

?? Sara James
? Somebody
? https://t.co/HiLUOtE2hJ pic.twitter.com/wxiGTv2pmO

— Junior Eurovision (@EurovisionJr) October 18, 2021

In December that year, Sara, who had never performed outside Poland, went to Paris for the “Junior Eurovision Song Contest.” Unlike her past performances where she sang covers of her favorite songs, Sara made the bold and risky decision to perform her own original song “Somebody.” Her gamble paid off, as she received a standing ovation from the audience. She emerged second in the competition, to Armenia. Although she didn’t win the competition, the audience and jury’s reaction to her song and performance gave her the boost of confidence she needed to try for a spot on “America’s Got Talent.”

“America’s Got Talent” and “All Stars”

“The Voice Kids Poland” laid a foundation for Sara’s success in her music career, while the “Junior Eurovision Song Contest” gave her a platform to take her music to the rest of Europe. She remained relatively unknown to the rest of the world until 2022, when she earned her spot on “America’s Got Talent” or “AGT” as the competition is commonly known. At “AGT,” Sara carved a spot out as a fan favorite with her first performance, which earned her a Golden Buzzer from the fastidious and fellow European record Executive Simon Cowell.

When Simon gave Sara a permanent spot in the live shows in Las Vegas, Nevada, the then 13-year-old secured a platform to showcase her voice and performing prowess to an American audience. However, the guaranteed spot didn’t lessen her resolve to continue delivering unforgettable performances that would earn her fans among the show’s global audience. In the semi-finals, her first performance after the audition, Sara sang Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” earning herself another standing ovation from the audience. The performance has over four million views on YouTube, and has attracted 4,665 comments, each expressing awe over her ability to hit, hold, and switch notes effortlessly, while maintaining control of her vocals.

In the finals, Sara impressed the audience with a cover of “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush. Her performance had all four judges on their feet celebrating with the crowd, and hoping that the emotional, well-paced, and captivating rendition of the song earned the 13-year-old the ultimate prize. However, she was not named among the top five, finishing in the bottom six of the top 11 contestants in the show. Although she didn’t win the competition, she left with a large group of loyal fans who flocked to the comment section of the video of her performance in the finals to express their surprise and disappointment that she wasn’t named the winner of “AGT” season 17.

https://www.facebook.com/johnjamesofficial/posts/pfbid02ys948Uo1RVTcwKMB52pkuPr69KW1X8hCtK8P6Mg5rvaMgK5VH2EKr8sHzgr6RVw7l

However, Sara was chosen as one of the contestants for “America’s Got Talent: All Stars” early in 2023, against musical prodigies and groups from past seasons such as the Bello Sisters, the Light Balance Kids, Aidan Bryant, and the Detroit Youth Choir. For her performance at “All Stars,” Sara chose “As It Was” by recent Grammy Award winner Harry Styles. Before her performance, Sara engaged in a conversation with Simon Cowell, discussing her performance in the previous competition and aspirations for the future. Her characteristic confidence and promise that she will become the first “AGT” prodigy to win a Grammy had the crowd eagerly waiting to be blown away by her performance.

Sara didn’t disappoint the judges and her audience, producing her classic powerful, moving and captivating performance, which gained 2.8 million views on YouTube in just four weeks. Her rendition of the original song included most of the notes from the original, but Sara had altered some notes, transforming the song into a masterpiece. Unfortunately, she was up against fan favorites and prodigies from other seasons of “AGT”, who staged equally remarkable performances, and once again she was eliminated, although the audience, judges and Sara’s fans are convinced that she’s on her way to becoming a global icon in the music industry.

Record Deal, Album, and Original Music

In 2017, Sara released an Extended Playlist entitled “Just Like Me” containing four songs – “Blind,” “Boys Like You,” “Just Like Me,” and “If I Ever.” She wrote and released three other original songs in 2021, including “Czarny mlyn,” “Jak co roku,” and the song she performed at her first regional competition, “Somebody.”

After a successful stint at “AGT,” Sara James was signed by Universal Music Polska. She’s since written and released six original songs, including “My Wave” and “Take Sama.” In addition, Sara has released several covers as part of her record deal, most notably Harry Styles’ “As it Was”, and Elton John’s “Rocket Man.”

Her raw, powerful, and well-controlled voice, ability to bring out the emotion in her originals and covers, and to hold long notes has earned Sara millions of listeners across all music streaming platforms. In 2022, she became the most streamed artist on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist, with over 10 million streams on the platform. She was honored to become the first Polish artist to earn the coveted ambassadorial role on the music streaming platform.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cows4QRJEkj/

The Future

Sara hopes to win a Grammy someday. In 2023, she’s planning a tour for her new album, during which she hopes to unveil a more mature sound, and present herself to the world as a seasoned artist. Sara also hopes to become a role model for young people and women from all over the world, encouraging them to pursue their dreams.

The future is full of possibilities and opportunities for Sara to stage performances all over the world, share her voice and new sound with her fans, and release more original music.