Jake Zyrus
Who was Jake Zyrus?
Filipino singer who gained international fame as Charice Pempengco before transitioning and becoming known as Jake Zyrus, performing on major American television shows.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Jake Zyrus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Jake Zyrus, born on May 10, 1992, in Cabuyao, Philippines, is a Filipino singer, actor, and television personality who first gained international attention as Charice Pempengco. Starting from modest beginnings in the Philippines, Zyrus took part in many local singing contests before catching the eye of international audiences. His breakthrough came with an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2007, which introduced him to American viewers and led to a series of high-profile opportunities that quickly boosted his global profile.
In 2008, Zyrus appeared on a special episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, which highlighted his musical dreams and home life. During the show, he was surprised by his idol Céline Dion, who invited him to perform with her at Madison Square Garden in New York City during her world tour. They sang 'Because You Loved Me,' dedicating the performance to Zyrus' mother. The moment was later shown again on Oprah's program, further increasing his international visibility. He then performed in concerts with David Foster and Andrea Bocelli, establishing himself among top names in popular music.
Zyrus released his first album My Inspiration in 2009, followed by the self-titled album Charice in 2010. That album entered the Billboard 200 at number eight, making it the first album by an Asian solo singer to reach the chart's top ten. The single 'Pyramid,' featuring Iyaz, became his most successful song, charting in the top 40 in several countries after its debut performance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Later in 2010, Zyrus began acting on the Fox musical-comedy-drama series Glee, playing Sunshine Corazon. This role introduced him to a new audience and showed his abilities beyond singing.
In 2011, 'Before It Explodes,' written by Bruno Mars, was released as the lead single from Zyrus' second international studio album, Infinity. He later released two more albums, Chapter 10 in 2013 and Catharsis in 2016, while also going on concert tours across Asia. In 2017, Zyrus came out as a transgender man and announced his name change from Charice Pempengco to Jake Zyrus. This announcement was widely covered and marked a new phase in his personal life and career. Since then, he has continued to make music, act, and connect with fans through social media platforms like YouTube, where he remains active as a content creator and performer.
Before Fame
Jake Zyrus grew up in Cabuyao, Laguna, Philippines, in modest circumstances. From a young age, he showed a powerful singing voice and began competing in local and national singing contests across the Philippines, racking up wins that caught the attention of the country's entertainment industry. His participation in Filipino TV shows gave him early exposure, but it was his talent competition performances that showcased his exceptional vocal ability to bigger audiences.
In the mid-2000s, online video platforms like YouTube changed how talent could be discovered outside traditional media channels. Videos of Zyrus performing circulated online and caught the eye of American TV producers, leading to his invitation to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2007. That appearance was the gateway to international stardom for a young singer who had spent years honing his skills on Philippine stages.
Key Achievements
- First Asian solo artist to reach the top ten of the Billboard 200, debuting at number eight with the 2010 album Charice
- Performed alongside Céline Dion at Madison Square Garden during her 2008 world tour
- Recurring cast member on the hit Fox series Glee, portraying Sunshine Corazon
- Released five studio albums including My Inspiration, Charice, Infinity, Chapter 10, and Catharsis
- Gained international recognition following appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and multiple specials on The Oprah Winfrey Show
Did You Know?
- 01.Zyrus' self-titled 2010 album became the first album by an Asian solo artist to enter the Billboard 200 top ten, debuting at number eight.
- 02.Céline Dion surprised Zyrus on live television during his Oprah Winfrey Show appearance, then invited him to sing 'Because You Loved Me' with her at Madison Square Garden.
- 03.The song 'Pyramid,' featuring Iyaz, was first performed live on The Oprah Winfrey Show before becoming a top-40 hit in multiple countries.
- 04.Zyrus played the character Sunshine Corazon on the Fox series Glee, a recurring role that introduced him to the show's large international fan base.
- 05.The lead single from Zyrus' album Infinity, 'Before It Explodes,' was written by Bruno Mars, who had by that point become one of pop music's most in-demand songwriters.