From Amsterdam to Kyiv and now to the USA, Glennis Grace has made it big around the globe. The latest proof is her successful string of performances on America’s Got Talent. The songstress from the Jordaan neighbourhood in Amsterdam has earned endless praise over the past few months as a contestant on the American talent competition — and it’s not over yet.

She’s called it the “biggest challenge in her life next to motherhood”, but she’s made it look easy. She started the journey with her amazing audition in which she blew away judges and the audience. And then Glennis conquered the quarter-finals and semi-finals and is now getting ready for the final on September 19.

Former De Toppers member Gordon, who met Glennis when she was eleven and performing at the Unicef Gala for Kids in 1989, says that he told her that her quarter final performance could have been better, but that her semi-final performance went beyond every boundary for him.

Speaking on RTL Boulevard he said that he personally advised her to sing the American national anthem “The Star Spangled Banner” as one of her songs in the final of the show.

She may be focusing on her American Dream for now, but she told RTL Boulevard that she won’t forget the Netherlands either.

“There are so many people who want me to perform, here in America and not only in America, that’s the best part. The Netherlands, I won’t forget either… soon I am going to announce something big…” she said grinning big for the cameras of the tabloid-like show.

A few minutes later the host said: “I heard something about the Eurovision around here.” To which Gordon said: “I am not going to say anything.”

Glennis Grace, however, has a traumatic past with Eurovision. Her earlier participation resulted in a split from her former manager. According to Glennis in a 2011 interview with Grazia, it also gave her an eating disorder. Her song “My Impossible Dream” stalled in the semis back in 2005.

In 2013 she said that she did not want to return to the Eurovision stage. Two years later, she told radio channel FunX that she would have been open to participating with the supergroup Ladies of Soul. Back then she said: “I am critical though: it is not about what it should be about anymore,” calling Eurovision “forced”.

As AVROTROS has started a trend of sending returning acts, it wouldn’t surprise us if they put up Glennis for Tel Aviv. Though on her official website she doesn’t seem to put much care into Eurovision, as the site rather awkwardly (and incorrectly) states that she “participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Russia.”

Inside team wiwibloggs we are also divided about a possible return. Some of us are really enthusiastic and think that Glennis could give us a winning song, while others are more critical and point out that she has only had success with cover songs and not much with original material.

But what do you think? Should Glennis Grace return at Eurovision? Are you watching AGT and rooting for her? Let us know in the comments below!

Read all our Netherlands news here

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Alex
Alex
5 years ago

I totally believe she was underrated in 2005 (FYROM passed and not Glennis?) but it’s hard to find a big ballad that will steal the hearts of the viewers so it’s tricky. I guess focus on your new projects in America and if nothing happens, try to find a big ballad for Eurovision.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

I would just like to ask: when was the last time a straightforward classic Eurovision diva power ballad actually won? By my count, not since 1993 (I guess you could almost say 2007 or 2014 but those both had more going on there). The fact is, they’re just not winner material. They can get close, but you need that special kind of “oomph” to make that extra push. That’s why a darker, more dynamic song like 1944 or a more dynamic stage show like Heroes could beat (very good but) relatively strait laced songs like Sound of Silence or A… Read more »

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Excellent point. I think this is actually a sign of Eurovision (and the general Zeitgeist) improving. Singers like Glennis are made for the Simon Cowell “look how long I can hold a note” competitions.

Jonas
Jonas
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

I think she if she was to come back, she would have learned that lesson from 2005. That formula didn’t work then, why would it work now? As they say, the definition of madness is repeating the same thing but expecting different results. I do think she could do well with a contemporary song, however.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

This also – to keep it in 2005, and ’98 while we’re at it – is why Chiara kept getting close but not all the way there. Her voice was always strong, but the songs were such generic nothings that she could only hope for a high position. “Diva” and “My Number One,” on the other hand, were catchier and had bigger hooks (the singer’s natural charisma, great staging for “Number One,” catchier choruses that stuck in your brain). She was playing with a losing hand. And if it was hopeless back then, trying it again in ’09 was pure… Read more »

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Honestly give this vocal legend a song like Halo by Beyoncé or Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis and we might have a winner in the basket.

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
5 years ago

Glennis has proven herself to be a great singer, but I’m against her returning to Eurovision. I have a feeling that AVROTROS will market her as a Whitney Houston tribute act and give her a dated ballad. Mr. Pannecoucke will also probably be commissioned to stage her song (the man that murdered SENNEK, Waylon and Trijntje’s chances) and worst of all, she has a very bad attitude towards Eurovision. That alone makes her very unapproachable for viewers and jurors alike. Overall, Glennis Grace is a great singer but she shouldn’t go to Eurovision. She’ll crash out of the semi finals.… Read more »

Eyal
Eyal
5 years ago

I loved her in Kyiv! Until today I sing her song to myself from time to time, changing the lyrics according to my mood…

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

Geography doesn’t have to be your strong suit but seriously, how ignorant do you have to be to think Kyiv is in Russia when you even went there yourself?
Also, someone who used to be in a band like De Toppers really shouldn’t give anybody advice about anything. I remember seeing the dude at the afterparty in Moscow after he and his fellow queens crashed and burned in their semi final and he was drunk out of his mind, pretending to hump one of his backing singers. A disturbing scene. I’m surprised this pig did not have his #metoo moment.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
5 years ago

I doubt she wrote her own biography on her website. That’s what her agency does for their client and that just happened to be a really ignorant person. She knows the country she went to, nobody is that stupid.

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
5 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Nobody is that stupid but some friends of mine actually thought Prague is a country…