On "The Voice," Alisan Porter’s Emotional Journey Continues

As the title characteramp160in the belovedamp1601991 film amp8220Curly Sueamp8221 Porter just 10yearsold at the time appeared to have the world at her feet Already holding the honor of being the youngest contestant to win amp8220Star Searchamp8221 taking the title when five her singing career took an acting detour when she landed the lead role in amp8220Curly Sueamp8221 starring opposite Jim BelushiBut her detour into the world of addiction almost derailed her career entirely Porter now 34 regained her sobriety in 2007 married in 2012 became the mother of two and thanks to a successful audition for amp8220The Voiceamp8221 last July seems to once again be on the rise Sheamp8217s crediting her past misgivings for making possible her current successamp8220Adam Levine said it best when he said amp8216When you39re being true to yourself as an artist you have to dig into those thingsamp8217 Porter told me amp8220I guess I39m choosing to delve into past emotions for my performances No one39s forcing me toamp8221amp160 Thereamp8217s no doubt her life experiences have contributed to some outstanding performances in turn making her a serious contender for this seasonamp8217s top prizeamp8220No incredible song about love or heartbreak was ever written without someone experiencing it and then choosing to write about it or choosing to sing about itamp8221 she said amp8220I think my duty as a performer and artist is to dive into the things within me that make me feel makes me vulnerable make me want to perform and make me connect to a song I think it39s so important to connect to a songamp8221Her past performances on the show certainly stand as a testament to that In particular her Top 10 performance of amp8220Let Him Flyamp8221 dedicated to a friend who didnamp8217t survive his own addictionamp8220I don39t think I39d ever quite had a connection like that to a songamp8221 she revealed amp8220Yes I love singing certain songs but this one really told the story of a time in my life It was emotional since I got the email with the different song choices and that was the one we chose Iamp8217d listened to the Patty Griffin version of the song hundreds and thousands of times but hadn39t heard the Dixie Chicks version For me it was important to stay true to the original written by one of the most iconic songwriters at least in my mind ever It was emotional from every rehearsal until the performance tonight That was the first time I got through that song without crying I really wanted to show that emotion but at the same time I wanted to sing it properly and do the song justiceamp8221amp160amp160amp160That performance was only enhanced by the presence of First Lady Michelle Obama and the hundreds of troops that filled the audience that night amp8220It was epicamp8221 she said of the occasion amp8220The audience was rooting in a great way loud and they were cheering I just felt a sense of responsibility to perform in a certain way for them because obviously the troopsamp8217 whole life is spent sacrificing for usamp8221As a strong member of Team Christina Porter holds back when asked which of her team members could possibly be this yearamp8217s winner choosing to take a realistic approach on the competition amp8220It would be great but honestly at this point I think we realize that all of us will go home and one of us will winamp8221 she admitted amp8220Whomever that is we love them and we want them to succeed and have a career Whatever happens at this point I think we are happy about itamp8221One thing she has mixed feelings about is that she has made an entirely new audience aware of amp8220Curly Sueamp8221 According to the singer she had to be upfront about itamp8220I couldn39t not say anythingamp8221 she laughed amp8221amp8216The Voiceamp8217 is a TV show and they pull for these things so it was impossible not to mention and it would39ve been the first thing that came out But yes it39s a nice resurgence for amp8216Curly Sueamp8217 Well for them for me not so much I was ready to put her to bedamp8221While new fans might be enjoying amp8220Curly Sueamp8221 for the first time Porteramp8217s eye is firmly fixed on winning amp8220The Voiceamp8221 and making those allimportant weekly song selections She wanted to pay homage to her Massachusetts pal Steven Tyler with some Aerosmith something she did outstandingly this week with amp8220Cryinamp8217amp160amp160amp160Thereamp8217s one song Porter hopes to deliver before amp8220The Voiceamp8221 is over and given its previous advantageous outcome it probably wonamp8217t come as a surprise to older fans amp8220I39d love to do amp8216Somewhere Over the Rainbowamp8217 just because I did it when I was little on amp8216Star Searchamp8217quot she said quotThat might be a cool full circle momentquotamp160amp160amp160Next week the Top 8 battle it out for a place in the semifinals amp8220The Voiceamp8221 is telecast Monday and Tuesday live at 8 pm ET on NBCThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageMyersBizNet management or associated bloggers

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On "The Voice," Alisan Porter’s Emotional Journey Continues

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On "The Voice," Alisan Porter’s Emotional Journey Continues

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