Viewers are confused by a familiar face on 'American Song Contest' premiere
American Song Contest made its debut on NBC Monday, hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson.
The brand new, always live, music competition series, inspired by the long-running show Eurovision Song Contest, features 56 singers, representing each U.S. state and territory, who compete for the title of "Best Original Song." And just like Eurovision, the premiere episode featured a familiar face.
Representing the state of Connecticut was two-time Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Michael Bolton, who performed a song titled, "Beautiful World."
While a lot of viewers at home were confused about the fact that Bolton was allowed to be a contestant and even exclaimed that it was unfair and "cheating" to have a well-known successful artist in the competition, fans of Eurovision were quick to point out that the original series does just that. Bolton fans also took to social media Monday praising the singer. One fan tweeted: "Michael Bolton had no right slapping that hard." (@heylookatmatt)
In fact, even Clarkson was fangirling out, as she shared: "What a song for the world right now. Y'all, that was so beautiful. I'm a huge Michael Bolton fan. I got my pin ready. I'm going to chase him down backstage. I don't care if he doesn't want to sign it. I'm going to have him sign it. I love you!"
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
SNOOP DOGG: What's up, everybody? Welcome to "American Song Contest."
[CROWD CHEERING]
Yes, sir, look at all this love. And we are live, baby,
KYLIE MAR: "American Song Contest" made its debut on NBC Monday, hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson. The brand-new, always-live music competition series, inspired by the long-running "Eurovision Song Contest," features 56 singers, representing each US state and territory, who compete for the title of Best Original Song. And just like "Eurovision," the premiere episode featured a familiar face.
[MUSIC - MICHAEL BOLTON, "BEAUTIFUL WORLD"]
MICHAEL BOLTON: (SINGING) We're going to make this a beautiful world, a beautiful world, oh, oh. We're gonna make this a beautiful world.
KYLIE MAR: While a lot of viewers at home were confused about the fact that Michael Bolton was part of the competition, like this person who tweeted asking if it was considered cheating, fans of "Eurovision" were quick to check them and even came to Bolton's defense. One viewer wrote, "firstly, I will not be here for any Michael Bolton slander. Secondly, this staging looks great. Finally, this vocal is just taking me back, period," while another hilariously shared, "Michael Bolton had no right slapping that hard." In fact, even Kelly Clarkson was fan-girling out.
KELLY CLARKSON: What a song for the world right now, y'all. That was so beautiful. I am a huge Michael Bolton-- I got my pen ready. I'm gonna chase him down backstage.
I don't care if he wants to sign it. I'm going to have him sign it. I'm going-- I love you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
