John Legend, Mr. EGOT himself, was rejected by the popular TV show from his youth.
Legend, a trainer on “The Voice,” shared his startling story with Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” Monday.
The R&B singer recalled that he wanted “so badly” to be on “Star Search,” which featured figures like Beyoncé and Britney Spears in her original 1983-95 run with Ed McMahon as the host.
The caption said that a local mall near Dayton, Ohio was running a local “Star Search” contest, in which the winner’s tape would be sent to national “Star Search” television. The legend has won. His tape has been submitted.
“I never got a callback, so that was it,” he said. “But I had a $ 500 shopping spree in the new mall, and bought a lot of clothes, so I was happy.”
His entertainment aspirations also worked. The singer, songwriter and producer, 42, has won at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony – the rare EGOT – for his talents.
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