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One of the highest-paid comedians in the world, Jeff Dunham – How rich is he?

Published

23 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Olivia Wilson

No one would have thought it possible that conversing with dummies would land a man on Forbes 100 Most Powerful Celebrities and the Guinness Book of World Records, as well as earn him his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but Jeff Dunham accomplished all that and more, with what he called his ‘suitcase posse’, as he brought to life characters that millions found highly entertaining. He was dubbed “America’s Favorite Comedian” as he resurrected the art of stand-up ventriloquism by giving it an edgier, more modern take.

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Table of Contents

Get to know Jeff Durham

Three months after Jeffrey Douglas Durham was born in April 1962, he was adopted by Howard Dunham, sole proprietor of Dallas’ oldest real estate appraisal firm, and Joyce Dunham, a homemaker. As an only child, he still had fond memories of his childhood, raised in a Presbyterian household in an upper-middle-class Dallas neighborhood.

Jeff admitted to not being a cool kid, but he didn’t think of himself as weird either. He did well in school and even had perfect attendance from first grade through sixth. While he had a few friends in their neighborhood, he mostly rode his bike everywhere, and went off on all sorts of adventures on his own.

Received a ventriloquist dummy as a Christmas gift

His mother took him to a Toy Fair before Christmas in 1970, to sound him out on what he wanted. He was eight at that time and excitedly pointed out one toy after another, thinking he would take one home that day. Naturally, he would have to wait until Christmas morning before he got his present, which it turned out was a dummy named Mortimer Snerd, a mass-produced puppet originally created by well-known ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. Jeff had previously watched performances by ventriloquists on television, but had never seen a dummy in ‘real’ life until that fateful day in the store, and showed it to his mom.

He and his mother went back to the Toy Fair, where the latter bought him a record album called Instant Ventriloquism by Jimmy Nelson. His father took him to the Dallas Public Library’s bookmobile, so they could borrow books on ventriloquism – he confessed to still having the book, “Fun with Ventriloquism by Alexander Van Rensselaer” in his possession. Fast forward to 2009, Jeff gave a representative from the Dallas Public Library a $10,000 cheque for an ‘overdue fine,’ and had the audience laughing when he brought out that particular book on stage, still haven’t returned it.

Why did he get into ventriloquism?

Not many people would choose ventriloquism, a performance act in which a person would create the illusion that his or her voice came from somewhere else usually a dummy, as a hobby or a way to make a living because it was thought of as strange. This wasn’t really surprising, considering that back in the day, it was considered a religious practice used to foretell the future or speak to the dead. Its entertainment value was explored in the 18th century, and went from there. However, with the dummies being featured in psychological thrillers and horror films, it gave creepy vibes to some.

So, what made Jeff Dunham go into ventriloquism? There wasn’t really anything he was particularly good at or interested in when he was young. He couldn’t exactly pinpoint why he found the ventriloquist dummy appealing, but its uniqueness and the idea of making it talk fascinated him. It had become a way for him to get out of his shell; he was never popular and just sort of blended into the background. He said, ‘If I developed this skill of ventriloquism, I could make people laugh; I could finally stand out.’ and he certainly did.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=291272306272379

His first performance

Jeff made his debut as a ventriloquist in his third-grade class at the Northwood Hills Elementary School. It was for an oral book report on the Grimm Brothers’ “Hansel and Gretel.” With Mortimer Snerd on his knee and him pulling the string on its neck, he gave a two-minute presentation. Perhaps encouraged by the warm reception, he gave an unscripted routine for 10 minutes in which he made fun of his teacher and classmates. Everyone liked it.

His teacher, Miss Bentley, gave him an A+, and Jeff believed it was not because he delivered a good report, but because of what he accomplished – ‘The shy, almost pudgy, fairly unremarkable kid with freckles and braces had found something that he might be good at.’

https://www.instagram.com/p/CoLDEH7veDr/

Meet his dummies

Jeff said that performing with a dummy allowed him to say things that he would never say and get away with it, at least most of the time. When he was creating his characters or materials, he didn’t set out to upset or offend anyone. He said that he drew a line for himself that he wouldn’t cross. For the most part, he just acted goofy, but still tried to inject edgier topics. When he had his characters say something they shouldn’t, he acted shocked, disappointed, or offended, and then protested what had been said.

Members of his ‘suitcase posse’ that helped him succeed included Peanut, the naughty but lovable purple-skinned sidekick of Jeff; José Jalapeño on a Stick with a Spanish accent; and Bubba J, a redneck who loved NASCAR and beer. They never failed to make the crowd laugh, and it was said that these were the most famous:

Achmed, the dead terrorist

The big-headed, boggle-eyed skeleton was a failed suicide bomber, as he had premature detonation. It was introduced in 2007 in the “Spark of Insanity” special. His most popular catchphrase was, ‘Silence! I Keel You!’ While Achmed became the most popular character that Jeff created, it was also the most controversial. Not many, particularly those from the Islamic world, appreciated the humor in an ‘Arab corpse joking about suicide bombs.’ In countries such as Malaysia and South Africa, where Achmed was banned, Jeff rebranded the character and named him ‘Jacques Merde, the Dead French Terrorist’ when he had shows there.

Here’s an interesting trivia about Achmed: Jeff traveled via a private jet for a show in Medford, Oregon, but the pilot had to abort the landing due to heavy fog. They landed instead in Klamath Falls, Oregon, but as the tower was closed and no one was manning the radio, the pilot parked the jet at one corner of the airport to wait for the fog to clear. As the pilots were shutting down the engines, four military Humvees surrounded the plane and they heard a voice from a loudspeaker announcing, ‘All occupants of the aircraft: You must exit the aircraft immediately with your hands in the air…’ About 25 US Marines had their M4 rifles pointed at them as they went down the steps. Jeff shouted, ‘Do you guys know Achmed, the Terrorist?’ One Marine replied that they watched him on TV, and Jeff said, ‘You guys!..It’s me!’ That cleared up any misunderstanding, and they all shook hands.

Walter

He’s a grumpy old man wearing a frown, and had his arms crossed in disgust or discontent. Jeff named him after a friend’s father, whom he described as ‘a cantankerous old fart,’ and another welder who lived near his apartment complex. The character was actually inspired by the American actress Bette Davis. Apparently, Bette was interviewed by Johnny Carson on his show, and Jeff found her refreshing as she didn’t care if what she said was outlandish or politically incorrect. Walter was a Vietnam war veteran and a retired welder, who loved his wife but was pissed off at her too. He was a big hit when Jeff introduced him to the crowd.

Jeff on his chosen career

Although he graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University, there was no doubt in his mind about what he wanted to do with his life. He didn’t have a back-up plan as he never thought that he would fail in his career as a comedian and a ventriloquist. His parents had been quite supportive since the start, and Jeff could only recall one incident in which they expressed a little uncertainty about his chosen profession. It was during one of his visits from college, and his father mentioned how their friends’ children were going to be a lawyer or a neurophysicist, and he would say, ‘Well, Jeff is still doing his puppet show.’ He never knew if his dad was trying to make a point, or just making a joke at that time.

His rise to fame

He was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school, and while he lived up to the hype, it took him a while to establish himself in his field. The goal he set for himself when he was still an aspiring comedian was to make a guest appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” and he achieved that in 1990. His fan base continued to grow over the years.

Earning a solo spot in the American stand-up comedy series called “Comedy Central Presents” in 2003 was a big deal. The ratings during its premiere and repeats were quite high, and it translated to more ticket sales and more shows. The network wasn’t too keen on having a ventriloquist on their programming, however, so it was only in April 2006 that they finally agreed to air the one-hour special entitled “Arguing with Myself.” The response went way beyond expectation, which surprised not just the network but also Jeff’s team, as it had around 1.7 million viewers. It was Comedy Central’s second-highest-rated show that weekend. The DVD sales of that special were astounding, as they hit platinum within three months of its release and then before long reached 250,000 units, and continued to grow.

The airing of the second special, “Spark of Insanity,” garnered 3.8 million viewers, which proved that his success with the first one wasn’t a fluke. Jeff went on the “Spark of Insanity” tour from 2007 to 2010 across the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. He made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2014 for the most tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour with over 1.9 million sold. He continued to release TV specials, some of which he wrote and became the executive producer, and went on tours across the globe except during the pandemic.

Jeff has also been a voice actor in various TV and movie projects, including “30 Rock,” “The Nut Job” and its sequel, and “Smurfs: The Lost Village.” His autobiography, “All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and Me,” published in 2010 became a New York Times Best Seller, and in 2017, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored him with a Star for the Live Performance category at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard – Jeff was accompanied by Walter as he accepted the star.

Since he joined YouTube in December 2006, he’s gained over four million subscribers, and his videos have garnered more than a billion views. His stand-up specials, “Jeff Dunham: Relative Disaster” (2017) and “Jeff Dunham: Beside Himself” (2019) were released on Netflix Originals, and both met with success.

His car collection

Jeff’s car collection is the envy of many car enthusiasts, not just because of the size but also the range. He had the usual classic cars, but there were exotic ones as well. Some of the cars that became much talked about by fans included the Ferret Scout, a British armored fighting vehicle he reportedly purchased for a zombie apocalypse, and the 1970 Plymouth Superbird, a highly modified version of the Roadrunner having the graphic image and distinctive horn sound of the Looney Tunes character named Road Runner. He also had a Hummer with DuPont Chrome Illusion paint, which enabled it to change colors depending on the light. In 2011, he bought The 1966 Batmobile, the movie prop or stand-in car used in the filming of the Warner Bros “Batman Returns” (1992) starring Michael Keaton. They retained its look, but re-engineered it and put a Corvette engine in it so it was drivable.

Jeff’s expensive hobby

His fascination for rotorcraft began at age four, when his parents took him to a State Fair, and thought it was the coolest thing when they rode a little Bell helicopter. In 1980, he saw a radio-controlled helicopter, and was enthralled upon seeing the four-foot-long machine lifting off and hovered five feet above the ground. He headed straight to a hobby store, and spent $1,000 on a kit, and everything else he would need to build and fly one. After a few months, he had a $2,000-worth chopper hovering an inch off the pavement. By 1986, he was building a life-size two-seat helicopter from a kit he bought from the money he saved from his acts. He did it at a friend’s barn, as he kept it secret from his parents. People from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspected his work, and he took pilot training lessons. Soon, he was flying his homebuilt helicopter all over Texas. When he was still a student pilot and had only logged 40 hours in the air, he crashed it in a cornfield, and rolled at 20 miles an hour until it stopped with the chopper lying on its side. Fortunately, he only suffered a slight bump on the head.

Personal life

His first marriage fell apart after 14 years. Try as they might to work things out for the sake of the kids (Bree, Ashlyn and Kenna), it still ended with him moving out of the house and filing for separation in 2008. His parents had stayed together for over 60 years, and he never imagined anything different for himself. Jeff shared that almost from the start, they had problems that were never addressed, and disagreements that were never resolved.

He had moved on and soon met Audrey Murdick, a personal trainer and certified nutritionist, and found it refreshing that she’d never heard of him. While his parents liked her when he introduced her to them, it took a while for his kids to accept her. Jeff was 50 when he married 32-year-old Audrey in 2012, and their twin boys, Jack Steven and James Jeffrey were born in 2015.

Very #ThankfulFor my beautiful wife Audrey, & amazing kids Kenna, Ashlyn, Bree, Jack & James! Every day is an adventure filled with loads of love & laughs! I'm the luckiest guy ever. I’m also crazily thankful for all my awesome fans! What are YOU thankful for this holiday season? pic.twitter.com/6GdCC20F9k

— Jeff Dunham (@jeffdunham) December 18, 2018

How rich is Jeff Dunham?

Jeff had come a long way from being an opening act to a headliner, and from filling small clubs that seated 500 people to arenas with 16,000 people per show. He realized early on that ‘You can amaze an audience once or twice, but you can make them laugh for a lifetime.’ This had become his mantra, as he said that he was a stand-up comic who just happened to use ventriloquism as a tool for comedy.

He topped Forbes’ list of highest-earning comedians in 2010 from merchandise profits and DVD sales, and his name would appear on that list again and again after that. By 2018, he was at No.9 at $16.5 million, with a gross income of close to $350,000 per show that year.

As of March 2023, his net worth according to authoritative sources was estimated at $140 million, and he reportedly makes $15 million a year. Jeff would like to think that even with all his success, his core values remained the same. As a way to give back, he’s been putting aside a dollar from every ticket sold in theater and arena dates for charity, since 2009.

Olivia Wilson

As the Freelance Writer at Net Worth Post, I steer producing riveting stories about the lives and triumphs of influencers. With an unwavering commitment to precision and a flair for weaving compelling tales, I guide our content creation, from the depths of research to the pinnacle of narrative excellence. My responsibilities encompass the full spectrum of editorial management, including the meticulous investigation, narrative development, and upholding the integrity and high standard of our output.

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Is “Yellowstone” based on a true story?

Published

18 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.

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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.

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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.

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

Published

18 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.