X Factor star Joe McElderry won the ITV singing contest in 2009 when he was just 18, but has since completely transformed his look since his TV debut all those years ago.
It’s been more than a decade since singer Joe McElderry made his television debut when he appeared in the sixth series of The X Factor.
Fresh-faced Joe was only 18 when he appeared on the ITV singing show and managed to wow people at home with his voice and won the entire competition.
Even though his debut single, a cover of Miley Cyrus’ The Climb, reached number one on the charts, the journey wasn’t easy for Joe.
With many X Factor champions taking the top spot this Christmas, a Facebook campaign has been launched to try and prevent this from happening.
Unfortunately, Joe fell victim to the campaign, and Rage Against the Machine’s song Killing in the Name took the top holiday spot instead.
At the time, Simon Cowell said he was “gutted” for Joe for losing the top spot.
She said, “I’m heartbroken for Joe because a single number one meant so much to him. But I have to commend Jon and Tracy (Morter, who started the campaign on Facebook).”
Joe talked about his sexuality in 2010 after hackers accessed his Twitter account and declared him gay.
In a heartwarming statement, he told his fans that he had always been an honest person and that it was important for him to keep telling the truth.
On its website, the statement read: “It has been the most amazing year so far and I feel very privileged. It has also been a time of true self-realization and I feel I have grown so much in these few months.”
talk to The sun at the time, he said, “I think the thing on Twitter was when I realized I was gay. I feel good, it’s liberating. Now I can move on with my life.”
As part of his X Factor win, Joe signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco label.
Although in 2011, the singer was fired after only selling 7,000 copies of his single Somebody Wake Me Up.
However, Joe revealed to the Shields Gazette that he called a meeting with the label where he decided he wanted to be dropped after expressing his displeasure.
He insisted that there were no disputes and said that “there were no hard feelings” between him and Simon and that there never will be.
Along with his professional struggles came home dramas as in the same year Joe and his mother were victims of a terrible ordeal as a stalker.
Joe and his family had to testify in the harassment trial that led to the assailant’s conviction.
During the trial, the court heard that the stalker showed up more than once at his home and also sent offensive tweets to Joe.
On one occasion it was alleged that he knocked on the door while Joe was in the bathroom and his friend answered the door explaining that the singer was not there.
So he left and went to his old house where he told Joe’s mother, Eileen, that her son was a liar.
According to evening standardat the time, Joe said he was “shaken” and “scared”.
He revealed that his mother looked distraught before telling him to lock the doors.
The next day, Eileen saw the man in the supermarket and then called the police after the incident.
Recounting the day, Joe said, “She looked really upset, but I was more concerned about where she was and if she was with someone. After that, I went to lock the door. We spent the night writing our statement when suddenly a van police stopped and put him in the van.
Joe said he felt intimidated and even though he knew he was in the public eye, he didn’t have to feel insecure in his home.
Eventually, the stalker was fined £ 1,000 and sentenced to pay £ 915 in costs.
He also received a five-year injunction preventing him from contacting Joe or his mother.
After the terrible ordeal, Joe starred in numerous reality shows, including The Jump and Popstar To Operastar, which he also won.
Sticking to the music, Joe has been on tour several times since he appeared on The X Factor and appeared in pantomimes in Newcastle.
Joe quickly became a stage star in the Who musical Tommy and was also Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from 2016 to 2017.
The singer, now 30, has big plans for 2022 that include another tour.
Joe will play the role of George Michael on the “Freedom” tour and pay homage to the legend by singing his greatest hits.
During his time on the X Factor, Joe got the chance to perform alongside the late singer he still thinks of.
He said: “I still have to pinch myself today because I got to sing with George. It was an absolute honor and privilege and a memory that will stay with me forever.”
Although many remember Joe as a young, fresh-faced singer, he is now almost unrecognizable with a more edgy appearance.
Earlier this year, she appeared in ITV’s Steph’s Pack Lunch and had her hair styled in a leather jacket.
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Source: Dailystar
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
