Britain’s Connie Talbot Is Toys for Tots’ “Littlest Ambassador” for 2009

Story and photos by Nancy Lee White Hoffman

When I was kid, all I wanted to be when I grew up was a singer; however, two things got in my way. First off, I was shy, painfully shy, and secondly, I couldn’t sing well. Yet it was all I wanted to do for the longest time.

It seems as though 9-year-old Connie Talbot has had the same dream. You may have seen her on “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2007 when she was 6 years old, or later in a “YouTube” video, when she wowed the audiences and judges, including the brutally honest Simon Cowell, and finished runner-up, beating out thousands who auditioned for a spot on the British television show, similar to our “America’s Got Talent.” Fortunately for Connie, she’s not scared to get up in front of an audience, and she has a natural singing ability.

Connie is a poised young lady who said she has been singing since she could talk. One of the amazing things about Connie, who hails from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands region of England, is that she’s never taken a singing lesson. “Britain’s Got Talent” was her first public performance. Before that, she only sang in front of family or friends. She said she was too young to compete on “The X Factor,” another British television show, which is “a bit like ‘American Idol.’ ” So she asked her mom, Sharon, if she could try out for “Britain’s Got Talent.” Connie said, “It was fun!” and she wasn’t nervous performing in front of all the people, but her dad, Gavin, said he was nervous watching her.

How has “Britain’s Got Talent” prepared Connie for what she is doing now? It has made her “more confident and more comfortable” in the shows that have followed. When we talked, she had made 100 appearances on TV shows, including “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and “QVC,” a home shopping network. In addition to the United States, she has traveled to South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Japan, Poland and Jamaica. “I’ve been very lucky to see the world,” she said.

Connie’s U.S. debut album, “Over the Rainbow,” has sold more than 350,000 copies. She has garnered five Gold and Platinum awards. She holds two “Guinness World Records” for the youngest artist to ever receive a Gold album and the youngest to chart. She’s waiting to hear if her recent one-hour PBS special brings a third mention in “Guinness World Records” because at age 8 she may very well be the youngest person to have her own show. Meanwhile, more requests for appearances and shows continue to come in, said her manager, Peter G. Kuys, AAO Music chairman. Because some countries, like Australia, are a long way to travel, Connie does a few shows by satellite.

"When A Child Is Born"

In addition to traveling and singing, Connie likes drawing/designing, swimming and being with friends and her family—Mom and Dad; 16-year-old brother, Joshua; and 14-year-old sister, Mollie. Connie also manages to keep up with her schoolwork while on the road. At the request of her teacher at her school in England, she is making daily entries in her diary. Math and word games often substitute for the classroom because there is a lot of time spent traveling. Connie’s parents and manager are in constant touch with her school to ensure she keeps up with her education.

Asked during her latest visit in November what she enjoys most about the United States, she said, “I like everything . … It’s brilliant.” When pressed for a favorite place, she chose Florida, because she was recently there and “it’s sunny.” She especially enjoyed a boat ride on the Intercoastal Waterway.

Her least favorite thing about America was seeing “Chucky, the horror doll,” while on a Walk of the Stars tour in Hollywood. He might not be this writer’s least favorite thing about America, but I would put him on a list of least favorite things too. Other than seeing Chucky, Connie said, “Everything has been perfect.”

She awakened with quite a start one morning, though, when she looked out her hotel room. She even woke her parents up, saying, “Mom, Mom, Mom, someone has taken the Hollywood sign.” She thought the 45-foot-tall letters that spell out Hollywood in Los Angeles had disappeared, but it was only “the fog over it,” she said, laughing.

On Nov. 18, Connie and her team, including her mom and dad, stopped by the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation headquarters building in Triangle, Va., near Marine Corps Base Quantico. The foundation is the authorized fundraising and support organization for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots Program, and Connie is the program’s “Littlest Ambassador” for 2009. The foundation staff surprised Connie with birthday gifts, a card and an ice cream cake. After the staff sang “Happy Birthday” to her, she sang “Over the Rainbow” a cappella for them. Connie actually turned 9 two days later.

Connie has been making appearances on behalf of Toys for Tots, including singing at the recent 2009 Campaign Kick-Off Luncheon in Alexandria, Va. Her second U.S. album, “Connie Talbot’s Holiday Magic,” debuted in October and may be found in retail stores, such as Borders, or online. A portion of the proceeds from the CD goes to Toys for Tots. Connie also has designed a bracelet for her “Connie Girl” jewelry line that features Toys for Tots. Proceeds from it as well will go to the charity.

Connie takes her job as ambassador seriously. “It’s a great charity and I’m glad to help it. Hopefully, everyone will take part in the charity and help, so every child gets a toy to play with.”

“The Marine Toys for Tots Program is proud to have Connie Talbot as our ‘Littlest Ambassador,’ ” said Lieutenant General H. Pete Osman, president and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Her selfless desire to help children less fortunate than herself reflects the values of our Corps and epitomizes the goodness of the Toys for Tots Program.”

“[Connie’s] incredibly caring for such a young person. … She’s really giving and has an enormous heart,” said Kuys. “Usually we’ll go to the mall after a two-week promotional tour. She buys presents for her brother and her sister, her girlfriend and the next-door neighbor, but never herself.”

For Connie Talbot, it’s more about setting a good example and giving rather than receiving. “That’s the whole thing about Toys for Tots, her understanding of it,” continued Kuys. “If she could find the way to give every child a toy herself, she would. It’s just within her character. … The thing that is staggering about Connie is her character.”

He said that Connie’s character, more than her voice and good personality, would be what makes her a super star. “She’s incredibly mature.” Kuys, relying on his 39 years in the business, along with his wife who works with him, Connie’s parents and even her driver, is trying hard to keep Connie grounded and singing as long as she wants. Kuys said she’s one of the most professional people he’s worked with. “She always wakes up smiling. She goes to TV stations as I would go to the kitchen and make myself some toast. She politely says thank you to everyone. … What you get is Connie.”

Connie has a new CD coming out within the year. She has written lyrics for a least one of the songs. The CD’s working title is “Beautiful World”—her view of the world.

And my view of Connie Talbot is “Beautiful Child.” Toys for Tots is indeed fortunate to have her as their “Littlest Ambassador.”

You go, Connie girl!

Author’s note: Please remember Toys for Tots this holiday season and drop a toy in one of their boxes found in various offices, retail businesses, malls, etc. There still is time to make a monetary donation if you’d prefer. For more information on Toys for Tots, email mtftf@toysfortots.org or visit www.toysfortots.org, and for more information on Connie Talbot, visit www.connietalbot.com.