Jake Zyrus (; born May 10, 1992), formerly known professionally as Charice Pempengco () and under the mononym Charice, is a Filipino singer and television personality.
In 2007, after competing in many singing competitions and several appearances on Filipino television, Zyrus performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the United States. The following year, in 2008, he made several international televised appearances, including a special on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which documented his musical ambitions, home life and family, and featured Zyrus singing for Oprah's studio audience. On that appearance, Zyrus was surprised by one of his singing inspirations, Céline Dion (appearing from her tour via Skype), who invited him to sing with her at New York City's Madison Square Garden, during her 2008 world tour. At the concert, the two sang "Because You Loved Me", dedicating the moment to Zyrus' mother. The performance was eventually replayed on another special episode of Oprah's talk show.
Zyrus then began performing in concerts with David Foster and Andrea Bocelli, among others, and released an album My Inspiration (2009). Zyrus released the studio album Charice in 2010, which entered the Billboard 200 at number eight, making it the first album of an Asian solo singer ever to land in the top 10. The single "Pyramid" from that album, featuring singer Iyaz, is Zyrus' most successful single to date, charting within the top 40 in a number of countries after its debut live performance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Crossing over to acting and television, Zyrus joined the cast of the musical-comedy-drama TV series Glee, later in 2010, as Sunshine Corazon. In 2011, "Before It Explodes", written by Bruno Mars, was released as the lead single from Zyrus' second international studio album, Infinity. Zyrus would release two further albums, Chapter 10 (2013) and Catharsis (2016). Zyrus also made his own concert tours in Asia. Zyrus was one of the four judges of the Philippine version of The X Factor, on ABS-CBN, in 2012.
Zyrus identified as a lesbian from 2013 to 2017. When he came out as a transgender male after having male chest reconstruction and beginning testosterone treatment, he adopted the name Jake Zyrus and discontinued the use of the name Charice.
Early life Zyrus was born as Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco in Cabuyao, Laguna province, the Philippines,Meet Charice, the little girl with the big voice at usatoday.com. Retrieved on October 2, 2010 and was raised by single mother Racquel. To help support the family, Zyrus began to enter singing contests at the age of seven, from town fiestas in various provinces to singing competitions on TV,Voice of the Future at thenational.ae. Retrieved on February 19, 2009 eventually competing in almost a hundred such contests.Teen Singing Sensation at oprah.com. Retrieved on February 19, 2009
In 2005, Zyrus joined Little Big Star, a talent show in the Philippines loosely patterned after American Idol. Eliminated after the first performance, Zyrus was called back as a wildcard contender and eventually became one of the finalists. Although a consistent top scorer in the final rounds, Zyrus finished the show in third place.Charice may become America's next top pop star at nydailynews.com. Retrieved on June 27, 2010 After Little Big Star, Zyrus made several appearances on local television shows and commercials, but did not receive wider notice until 2007 when an avid supporter, FalseVoice, started posting a series of Zyrus' performances on YouTube. These videos received over 15 million views, making Zyrus an internet sensation.Top 10 defining moments in Charice's career ABS–CBN Corporation. Retrieved on October 21, 2010
Career
2007–2008: Discovery and early work In June 2007, producers at Ten Songs/Productions, a music publishing company in Sweden, invited Zyrus to record demos after seeing the online videos. Zyrus recorded seven songs, six covers and an original song called "Amazing",Charice gets recording contract via youtube at pep.ph and was next invited to the South Korean talent show Star King on October 13, 2007, singing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" and a duet of "A Whole New World" with Kyuhyun from Super Junior.Gleeful Charice on music, places, and international stardom at manilastandardtoday.com. Retrieved on July 24, 2010
Having also seen the online videos, Ellen DeGeneres invited Zyrus to appear on her show, his first appearance in the United States, where he performed two songs on the December 19, 2007, episode: "I Will Always Love You" and "And I Am Telling You".Charice Invited in Ellen at pep.ph; and Charice wows Americans in Ellen at pep.phThe Ellen DeGeneres Show – I Am Telling You to Watch This at ellen.warnerbros.com Zyrus then made a second appearance on Star King in Korea on December 28 as the "Most Requested Foreign Act", performing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and singing a duet with Lena Park.Official Website Biography at charicepempengco.com. Retrieved on February 19, 2009 In January 2008, Zyrus was invited to Malacañang Palace to perform for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.Charice Pempengco pays courtesy call to President GMA today – January 4 at pep.ph. Retrieved on April 17, 2008
Zyrus next guested on the April 8, 2008, episode of The Paul O'Grady Show in London, England.FIL-AM Community News – What's in store for Charice at philfortune.com. Retrieved on March 18, 2009 The Philippine debut EP Charice was released in May 2008; this mini album, consisting of six songs and six backing tracks, was awarded gold certification in the Philippines in OctoberCharice Debut Album Reaches Gold Status at abs-cbnnews.com and reached platinum status in 2009.Charice dedicates her second album to her mother Raquel at pep.ph. Retrieved on May 6, 2009 Zyrus appeared on the May 12, 2008, episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, "World's Smartest Kids", performing Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing".The Oprah Winfrey Show World's Smartest Kids at oprah.com After the show, Oprah Winfrey contacted David Foster to see what the music producer could do for Pempengco.
Zyrus performed with Foster for the first time as one of the entertainers on the May 17, 2008, opening of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut.Charice with David Foster at Foxwoods at teampilipinas.info. Retrieved on March 18, 2009 This was followed by Foster's May 23 tribute concert, Hitman: David Foster and Friends, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, performing a medley of songs from The Bodyguard as well as "And I Am Telling You". A CD/DVD of this concert, including Zyrus' The Bodyguard medley, was released on November 11, 2008. The show was aired several times on PBS and other public television networks starting in December 2008 under the Great Performances banner.Hitman: David Foster and Friends at davidfoster.com One of the singers at the concert was Pempengco's idol, Andrea Bocelli. Bocelli subsequently expressed interest in performing a duet with Zyrus with an invitation to be a guest on his birthday concert "The Cinema Tribute" held on July 20 at the Teatro del Silenzio in Lajatico, Tuscany, Italy. Aside from a solo performance, Zyrus sang a duet of "The Prayer" with the tenor in front of more than 8,000 people.Charice Pempengco sings "The Prayer" with Andrea Bocelli at showbizandstyle.inquirer.netBocelli al Teatro del Silenzio di Lajatico con Noa e Charice at intoscana.it
In a guest appearance on the "Dreams Come True" episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 9, 2008, Oprah referred to Zyrus as "The Most Talented Girl in the World". After singing Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" with David Foster on piano, Zyrus was surprised by Celine Dion's appearance via satellite, inviting Pempengco to sing a duet with her at New York City's Madison Square Garden as part of Dion's Taking Chances Tour.OPRAH – Singing Sensation Charice Returns at about.com The duet, on September 15, of "Because You Loved Me", received rave reviews in news outlets including The New York Times,Charice earns rave reviews from NYTimes, NY Post at ABS-CBNNews.comEmotions With Exclamation Point at nytimes.com. Retrieved on 16-September-2008Celine There, Dion That at nypost.com. Retrieved on September 19, 2008 and was eventually featured on September 19 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.OPRAH – Charice and Celine Dion Sing "Because You Love Me" at oprah.com Zyrus sang at the Feyenoord's Centennial Anniversary in the Netherlands held on September 26, singing the team's anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone" in front of a crowd of about 50,000 football (soccer) fansWereldgroot aankomend talent zingt op Eeuwfees at feyenoordnet.nl. Retrieved on March 18, 2009 Zyrus then performed at the Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children Benefit Concert at the Wynn Las Vegas casino resort in October.Big Names Turn Out for Andre Agassi's Foundation at lasvegasnow.comSinger Charice performs during the 13th Annual Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation's Grand Slam for Children benefit concert at celebritywonder.com In November, Zyrus and David Foster appeared on Good Morning America to promote Foster's tribute album, Hitman: David Foster and Friends, performing The Bodyguard medley and "I Will Survive".Meet Charice: Teen With the Big Voice – Girl Has Wowed Audiences With Her Singing at abcnews.go.comIt's Time to Fall for Your Favorite Music Again – David Foster and child prodigy, Charice at abcnews.go.com
2009–2010: First major performances
In January 2009, Zyrus performed at two pre-inauguration events in Washington, D.C., in the lead up to the first inauguration of Barack Obama: the "Realizing the Dream" gala at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and the "Pearl Presidential Inaugural Gala" at the Mandarin Hotel.Asian Americans Share Center Stage at asianfortunenews.comCharice back in Manila after performing at Obama's pre-inauguration ball at pep.phInauguration Events Schedule at huffingtonpost.comCharice rocks Obama pre-inaugural balls at asianjournal.com February performances at two post-Oscar award events followed: Oscar Night at Mr. Chow's and Oprah's Oscar After Party, held in the Kodak Theatre.Leeza Gibbons Makes a Difference at hotspots.hollyscoop.com. Retrieved on 24-February-2009Michael Buble and Charice Wow the Crowd at Mr. Chow's at hollywire.com. Retrieved on February 25, 2009Oprah's Oscar After Party: Charice Sings "Fingerprint" at oprah.com. Retrieved on February 28, 2009 Zyrus then debuted a new original song, "Fingerprint", composed by Robbie Nevil and produced by David Foster,The Other Side of Charice at mb.com.ph. Retrieved on March 16, 2009 and then appeared in April in the season premiere of Ti lascio una canzone, an Italian musical variety show televised from Teatro Ariston in the city of Sanremo.Charice, una voce da vera star at tgcom.mediaset.it. Retrieved on 09-April-2009 Zyrus performed "I Will Always Love You", "I Have Nothing", "The Prayer", and "Listen",Charice captures Italians' hearts anew at abs-cbnnews.com. Retrieved on April 8, 2009 and went on to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in front of 57,000 baseball fans during the Los Angeles Dodgers 52nd season home opener at Dodger Stadium.The Manny Ramirez circus is getting an early start this season at latimes.com. Retrieved on April 14, 2009Opening week at Dodger Stadium begins Monday at losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on April 14, 2009