The World's Most Talented Kids
Oprah launched her search for the World's Most Talented Kids a year ago, and in that time she's met plenty of small wonders—from a hula hooping New Zealander to a 21-month-old geography whiz. 
For the finale of the yearlong search, some of the most exciting young performers on the planet are taking the Oprah Show stage. Oprah's even invited Jordan, a talented 10-year-old she met this year, to co-host the show.
For the finale of the yearlong search, some of the most exciting young performers on the planet are taking the Oprah Show stage. Oprah's even invited Jordan, a talented 10-year-old she met this year, to co-host the show.
George Sampson has wowed the world with his gravity-defying dance moves. Simon Cowell has even called this 15-year-old the Rocky of dancing.
George started dancing when he was only 6 years old. When his single mother could no longer afford to pay for his dance classes, he took his break-dance moves to the streets to earn the tuition for his lessons. He worked on his craft nonstop, earning enough money to pay for classes and help support his mom and siblings. "If I didn't work hard, if I was lazy, if I only did an hour instead of three or four, you could tell because that money would just not even be half as much," he says. "That's when I realized the more effort I put into it, the more money I'd get."
George started dancing when he was only 6 years old. When his single mother could no longer afford to pay for his dance classes, he took his break-dance moves to the streets to earn the tuition for his lessons. He worked on his craft nonstop, earning enough money to pay for classes and help support his mom and siblings. "If I didn't work hard, if I was lazy, if I only did an hour instead of three or four, you could tell because that money would just not even be half as much," he says. "That's when I realized the more effort I put into it, the more money I'd get."
At 13, George auditioned for the hit TV show Britain's Got Talent, but the judges turned him away. Not willing to be deterred, George returned to the show a year later. "[During] the last 12 months, I've trained harder and I've just gotten bigger and better," he told the judges.
In 2008, George earned millions of viewers' votes and won the talent search, bringing home the $150,000 grand prize. "I haven't touched a penny of it," he says. "I said to my mom I'd pay her mortgage off on the house, but she won't let me."
George's performing his victory dance—complete with an onstage rain shower—to a "Singin' in the Rain" remix.
In 2008, George earned millions of viewers' votes and won the talent search, bringing home the $150,000 grand prize. "I haven't touched a penny of it," he says. "I said to my mom I'd pay her mortgage off on the house, but she won't let me."
George's performing his victory dance—complete with an onstage rain shower—to a "Singin' in the Rain" remix.
George's newfound fame has earned him legions of fans and plenty of female admirers! "At first it was kind of scary, but I'm not complaining," he says.
Is there special girl in George's life? Only one, he says. "My mom's the first."
George says he was teased for dancing when he was young. "[For] every boy who dances, it happens at one point," he says. "But I just carried on. I mean, they were hanging outside [on] the streets, and I was in a dance studio with 25 girls!"
Is there special girl in George's life? Only one, he says. "My mom's the first."
George says he was teased for dancing when he was young. "[For] every boy who dances, it happens at one point," he says. "But I just carried on. I mean, they were hanging outside [on] the streets, and I was in a dance studio with 25 girls!"
Nora Al-Jabri is already a household name in her home country of Norway. She started competing in talent contests at 8 years old and became an overnight sensation when her sister posted a video of her singing on the Internet. The 13-year-old, who dreams of belting it out on Broadway, earned third place in Norway's Got Talent.
Nora is making her Oprah Show debut, singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
Nora is making her Oprah Show debut, singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
She may have already reached star status at home, but Nora has no plans of slowing down. "I want to do my own album and write my own songs," she says.
Nora's hoping to follow in some very big footsteps. "Celine Dion is my idol. When I heard her sing 'My Heart Will Go On,' I just said, 'She's the one,'" she says. "Also Beyoncé because she can act, she can sing, and she can dance. She can do everything."
Nora's hoping to follow in some very big footsteps. "Celine Dion is my idol. When I heard her sing 'My Heart Will Go On,' I just said, 'She's the one,'" she says. "Also Beyoncé because she can act, she can sing, and she can dance. She can do everything."
The New York Times has called master pianist Lang Lang the "hottest artist on the classical music planet." He began playing the piano at age 3, and by the time he was 5 he wowed his first audience at a public recital. Lang Lang's big break came at 17, when he was called on at the last minute to fill in with the Chicago Symphony. Then, in 2008, he mesmerized viewers across the globe with his performance at the Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies. Now 26, Lang Lang is selling out concert halls all over the world with his electrifying performances.
Lang Lang knows what it's like to be a talented kid, and now he's started giving back to other young musicians. He recently launched the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, which nurtures talented young pianists. Lang Lang calls three of the Foundation's scholars—8-year-old Anna Larsen, 8-year-old Charlie Liu and 10-year-old Derek Wang—the best young pianists in the world. Critics say they stole the show during their performance with the YouTube Symphony at Carnegie Hall.
Watch Lang Lang, Charlie, Derek and Anna perform Rachmaninov's "Waltz for Six Hands."
Watch Lang Lang, Charlie, Derek and Anna perform Rachmaninov's "Waltz for Six Hands."
Lang Lang says he chose Derek, Charlie and Anna because he was moved by their music. "When they played, I saw beautiful, inspirational feelings,'" he says. "They really open your heart and your eyes. When you have that, you've got to be a pianist. You've got to be a musician."
Derek, Charlie and Anna all say they are thrilled to have been chosen as Lang Lang's scholars. "It's not only that he's a great pianist, but he also uses playing piano to help society and the world, and he's one of my idols," Derek says. "I want to play like him."
Charlie says there is one thing he doesn't love about his piano gift. "I don't like practicing," he says. Lang Lang says that's perfectly normal. "Unfortunately, we need to sacrifice by practicing hard," he says. "But sometimes we also gain good feelings from music as well."
Derek, Charlie and Anna all say they are thrilled to have been chosen as Lang Lang's scholars. "It's not only that he's a great pianist, but he also uses playing piano to help society and the world, and he's one of my idols," Derek says. "I want to play like him."
Charlie says there is one thing he doesn't love about his piano gift. "I don't like practicing," he says. Lang Lang says that's perfectly normal. "Unfortunately, we need to sacrifice by practicing hard," he says. "But sometimes we also gain good feelings from music as well."
Noah Gray-Cabey was only 6 years old when he first appeared on the Oprah Show stage as a remarkable young pianist. Today, he's more likely to be found in front of the camera than behind a piano. He's appeared on hit TV shows like Grey's Anatomy and Heroes and says he owes it all to Oprah! "After I was on, the casting director from the show My Wife and Kids called me and wanted me to be on the show for a guest appearance," he says. "That's actually how I got into acting."
At 13, Noah says he still plays the piano, but between acting and school he doesn't have much time for practicing. Noah plans to graduate high school at age 15. "My friends love to tease me about the fact that I won't be able to drive until I'm a sophomore in college," he says.
The one downside of being so ahead of his time might be his dating pool. "If I want to date a girl in my own class, they're 16 years old," he says. "There's a little bit of an age difference. But I still do all right."
At 13, Noah says he still plays the piano, but between acting and school he doesn't have much time for practicing. Noah plans to graduate high school at age 15. "My friends love to tease me about the fact that I won't be able to drive until I'm a sophomore in college," he says.
The one downside of being so ahead of his time might be his dating pool. "If I want to date a girl in my own class, they're 16 years old," he says. "There's a little bit of an age difference. But I still do all right."
In 2008, Charice Pempengco wowed the Oprah Show audience with her jaw-dropping performance of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing." Since then, Charice has sung all over the world and shared the stage with music legends Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. With the money Charice has earned in only one year, she's bought her mother their very first house and car.
The upcoming year doesn't look too bad for Charice either. She recently signed a recording contract with Warner Records, and her international debut album will be released in late 2009. Plus, she's landed her first film role in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
The upcoming year doesn't look too bad for Charice either. She recently signed a recording contract with Warner Records, and her international debut album will be released in late 2009. Plus, she's landed her first film role in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
Charice is performing her debut single, "Note to God," which was written by legendary songwriter Diane Warren. "I had written the song, and when I heard [Charice's] voice, I thought that would be the perfect song [for her]," she says. "And, wow, did you prove way beyond what I could have hoped for!"
Watch Charice sing "Note to God"
Music superstar David Foster produced "Note to God." He says watching Charice sing reminds him of when her first saw Celine Dion perform at only 18 years old. "In my world, this only happens two or three times probably in my lifetime," he says. "[Charice] doesn't crack under the pressure. That's so important. The more you lay on her, the greater she becomes, which is just amazing."
Watch Charice sing "Note to God"
Music superstar David Foster produced "Note to God." He says watching Charice sing reminds him of when her first saw Celine Dion perform at only 18 years old. "In my world, this only happens two or three times probably in my lifetime," he says. "[Charice] doesn't crack under the pressure. That's so important. The more you lay on her, the greater she becomes, which is just amazing."
Charice has spent her whole life singing the tunes of her idols, so she says she's thrilled to have a song to call her own. "I'm not going to sing other songs now," she says. "People are going to [hear this and are] going to say, 'Oh, that's Charice's song.'"
She's met some big-name stars in the past year, but there's still one guy Charice would love to see face-to-face. "I want to meet Justin Timberlake," she says. "I want to try some fast songs and dance moves because I really love to dance also."
Charice says she isn't dating anyone right now, but she does have a crush. "It's Josh Groban," she says. "I was with him last month, and I was like, 'That's Josh Groban!'"
She's met some big-name stars in the past year, but there's still one guy Charice would love to see face-to-face. "I want to meet Justin Timberlake," she says. "I want to try some fast songs and dance moves because I really love to dance also."
Charice says she isn't dating anyone right now, but she does have a crush. "It's Josh Groban," she says. "I was with him last month, and I was like, 'That's Josh Groban!'"
Jordan may be the host of the talent show, but she's working on a new talent of her own. "I'm hoping I can play the guitar as well as [today's guests do their talents]," she says.
Jordan's favorite musician right now is Taylor Swift, she says. "The words [of her songs] are actually really true, and she plays the guitar wonderfully, and she's a beautiful singer."
Jordan's favorite musician right now is Taylor Swift, she says. "The words [of her songs] are actually really true, and she plays the guitar wonderfully, and she's a beautiful singer."
Oprah's got a special surprise in store for Jordan. "When [Taylor] heard that you're a big fan and that you wanted to learn to play guitar, she sent you one of her guitars."
Jordan is shocked, but she's even more surprised when Taylor herself presents her with the new instrument. "Oh my God," Jordan says. "Thank you!"
The surprises aren't over! "Jordan, we're going to give you an assignment to go interview Taylor while she's on tour," Oprah says. "Then, this fall, we're going to play that interview, and she's going to come on and she's going to perform on The Oprah Show."
Jordan is shocked, but she's even more surprised when Taylor herself presents her with the new instrument. "Oh my God," Jordan says. "Thank you!"
The surprises aren't over! "Jordan, we're going to give you an assignment to go interview Taylor while she's on tour," Oprah says. "Then, this fall, we're going to play that interview, and she's going to come on and she's going to perform on The Oprah Show."
Jordan's not Taylor's only huge fan. In 2008, the Grammy-nominated singer sold more albums than any artist on the planet. Her latest CD, Fearless, was number one on the charts for more than 10 weeks. "I wake up every morning and I still can't believe this actually worked out," she says. "When I was growing up and when I was little, I never felt entitled to success. ... I just loved music, so this is the best pleasant surprise ever."
Taylor's only 19-years-old, so she knows a thing or two about being young and talented. "I think that the most important thing is to be different enough where you stand out. The only place that being like everybody else is cool is junior high," she says. "Also, be good to people—every single person that you come in contact with. My heroes are great musicians, but more than that they're great people."
Meet more small wonders.
Oprah presents the world's smartest kids.
Taylor's only 19-years-old, so she knows a thing or two about being young and talented. "I think that the most important thing is to be different enough where you stand out. The only place that being like everybody else is cool is junior high," she says. "Also, be good to people—every single person that you come in contact with. My heroes are great musicians, but more than that they're great people."
Meet more small wonders.
Oprah presents the world's smartest kids.
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