After the highly contested finale of La Voz Kids on Sunday night (June 7), where 11-year-old Jonael Santiago went home a champion, here are 10 things you need to know about the Telemundo singing contest:
Jonael Santiago Wins ‘La Voz Kids’
1. Those performances are fully live. Not only are the kids singing live (and killing it), they have a live band performing with them. Rehearsals have been relentless. Shout-out to musical director Milton Salcedo.
2. All action took place at the Blue Man Group Theater inside Universal Orlando.
3. Milenia Perez, the 14-year-old from Clinton, Oklahoma, is a Mexican American with red hair, blue eyes and a voice hat evokes Adele. Even though she wasn’t voted as one of the top three finalists, her performance of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” was pretty awesome. “It makes me think I’m at one of the big awards shows, not La Voz Kids,” said an impressed Daddy Yankee.
4. Alberto Castro couldn’t control his tears when he didn’t make it to the last round. Aw!! But he still did a great job!
5. The coaches in La Voz Kids are all about encouragement and smiles. No delightful nastiness here, which seems to bring out the best in the kids.
6. Most of the finalists are fully bilingual and can perform in English and Spanish. Four out of the six final numbers were in English, including winner Jonael Santiago’s rendition of Bruno Mars’ “Treasure.”
7. The kids on La Voz Kids sing like pros but look and act like kids. Thank God.
8. Yes, there will be a season 4 next year.
9. The show has been such a smash for Telemundo, sources say there’s interest in doing The Voice Kids, in English.
10. Winner Jonael Santiago is a big fan of Demi Lovato and Tori Kelly, and would love to record Kelly’s “All In My Head.”