Flashback: 2000 Summer Olympics

For me and all of my musical theatre friends in college, the highlight of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney was not sports-related. Instead, our fondest moment was when unknown DIVA Vanessa Amorosi sang "Heroes Live Forever" at the opening ceremony. Nothing short of incredible, Amorosi's voice rang through the Olympic Stadium and into our hearts; the song was played during just about every Singing Hoosier party, bus ride, slideshow, or other social event.

Here's the live performance:

Where is Vanessa Amorosi now, and what is she up to? Well, she has a new single out titled "This Is Who I Am," which comes from her newest CD Hazardous. More info is available on her website.

Wikipedia has a great article on Amorosi as well, including this paragraph about her vocal abilities:

Amorosi is known for her versatile vocal ability. She is able to vocally cover many genres of music including, pop, rock, blues, jazz, and gospel. Amorosi is also known for her vocal range which reaches Soprano C6 in what is perceived to be full chest voice. Amorosi's ability to connect chest voice and head voice is one of her trademark talents. Amorosi's effortless approach to singing in her upper registry is what helped her become well known in both Australia and Germany. She is also noted for her ability to sing in the whistle registry as well, hitting notes above E6. Amorosi's most powerful vocals can be heard in her song "Start It" from her 2008 album Somewhere in the Real World, in which she can be heard belting two A5's and two B5's in mixed/chest voice and an E6 in the whistle registry. Also in "I Am Woman", performed at the ARIA Hall of Fame tribute for Helen Reddy in 2006, Amorosi can be heard belting a sustained C6.

I can't wait!!!

How fabulous!  This has to be the fantasy of millions of gays out there...

Christina Aguilera, already signed on to star in her first feature film, Burlesque, will have Cher as a costar!  That's right, Xtina and Cher in the same movie, and it's about burlesque dancing.  Pretty great, right?

Not too many other details exist, but the movie should be released sometime in 2011.  I can't wait!

Image via DListed.

Too Many Divas Make Matt a Fierce Boy

I would so love to see Jennifer Hudson in concert, and this is just one small reason why.

At a recent concert in Atlanta, J Hud invited the legendary Jennifer Holiday on stage to perform the song that has trademarked both of their careers, "And I Am Telling You."

I don't know what is better: the performance itself or the gays in the background constantly yelling "oh my God oh my God!"  

It's unreal.

America's Diva Icons ?

I must have fashion and style on the brain today...  

Glamour magazine's last issue (probably from a month ago) included an editorial of photos of young Hollywood actors and other names posing as American style icons.  Included in the list are Michelle Obama (by Alicia Keys), Althea Gibson (by Chanel Iman), Audrey Hepburn (by Emma Roberts [above]), and Madonna (by Lindsay Lohan).  Interesting.

Super Bowl XLIII

First of all, did I get those Roman numerals correct?  I think so...  

Two football teams played an important game tonight called "The Superbowl."  It was the closing act for a truly amazing performance by the one and only Jennifer Hudson, aka the best singer in the world.

Check it out here, via Perez.

NEVER EVER JAM TODAY

It's Carol Channing's 88th birthday y'all, so it's finally an appropriate moment to share one of the craziest, most confusing, at times scary, and hilarious video clips.  

The great and talented Carol once played The Queen in a remake of Alice in Wonderland and brought us one of the most timeless pieces of musical theater history...

AI Divas honor Patti Labelle

Patti Labelle was recently honored by UNCF with an "Evening of Stars."  

It. Was. Ridiculous.

Thanks to Joe for the heads-up.  I don't think my life would be complete without these clips...

First, here's Jennifer Hudson singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow."

Next up, Fantasia's rendition of "Lady Marmalade."

Are you gagging?  Good, you should be.