Stephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica Gleaner pics
Jamaican teenagers are showing off star qualities on stage at The American Idol and The voice UK
18 year old Jahzan McLaughlin, a former student of The Queen’s Preparatory School and a contestant on American Idol. Judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan were totally impressed with Jahzan at her audition and her version Clean Bandit’s Rockabye (features Sean Paul and Anne-Marie) blew them away as her mother Zandriann Maye giving her full support danced next to her. Jahzan has advanced to the Hollywood round after all 3 judges voted yes and with her mom giving thanks and praise it was done. These two are a team.
Her mother Jahzan told their unfortunate story of being homeless in New York, her mom Zandriann a past member of Ashe, Sings, Dances and hopes to become an actor, a student of Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and was a member of Ashe. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
Gevanni Hutton, the 17-year-old teen competing on ‘The Voice UK’. Hutton relocated from Jamaica to the UK two years ago and is currently the favorite to win this season of The Voice UK , he’s through to the semi-finals, and has secured his place on WILL.I.AM’s team. He’s been named the ‘pure prince of soul’ since he sang People Help the People by English music group Cherry Ghost in the elimination round. His family was there to support him. We will never forget Tessanne Chin’s big win on season 5 of NBC’s ‘The Voice’. Well proud.