"The Voice UK" Series 5 premiered on BBC One on Jan. 9. In the third blind audition aired on Jan. 23, Saturday, Filipino contestant Irene Alano-Rhodes, 42, was one of those who were able to make it to the next round.
During her blind audition, Alano-Rhodes performed "Wind Beneath My Wings." Two judges, will.i.am and Ricky Wilson, turned their chairs just a few seconds before the end of the song.
Before her performance, Alano-Rhodes revealed that she left the Philippines and went to London to join the "Miss Saigon" musical. She added that she married a man named Lee, whom she met in the production of the musical, and they had one son.
Unfortunately, Alano-Rhodes' husband died just two weeks after her father died of lung cancer in 2009, which made her say to herself she would never sing again. She described it as "the most painful year of my life" and "a horrible time" but it also taught her many things in life, including strength, faith, courage and hope.
It was will.i.am who pressed the red button before Wilson. Boy George and Paloma Faither decided not to turn around for Alano-Rhodes.
"That was simply wonderful," Wilson commented on Alano-Rhodes' performance. "You really got the sentiment of the song across. I loved it."
To convince Alano-Rhodes to choose him as her coach, will.i.am mentioned that his fellow Black Eyed Peas member and best friend, apl.de.ap, is from the Philippines.
"I turned around because you have an amazing voice," will.i.am also told Alano-Rhodes before she chose him as her coach. "You took it there. You peaked. The peak was okay and then towards the end I was like, 'Well if she continues to fight but I don't she's going to fight because she already pushed,' and then you fought more."
Aside from Alano-Rhodes, five other contestants made it to the next round during the third blind audition of "The Voice UK" Series 5. They are Charley Birkin under George's team, Deano under Faither's team, Tom Milner and Efe Udugba under Wilson's team and Lauren Lapsley-Browne also under will.i.am's team.
Watch Alano-Rhodes's "The Voice UK" Series 5 blind audition performance of "Wind Beneath My Wings" here:
