Alisan Porter

Alisan Leigh Porter was born on June 20, 1981, in Worcester, Massachusetts. She began performing at a young age, becoming the youngest participant to win the competition on “Star Search” at age five. This early success led to roles in film and television, establishing her as a child actor. She notably starred as Taylor Buckman in the 1989 film “Parenthood” and took on the titular role in the 1991 movie “Curly Sue” alongside Jim Belushi, which became a defining part of her early career. Her television appearances included a role as Molly Peerce in the ABC sitcom “Chicken Soup” in 1989 and a guest spot on “The Golden Girls” in 1991. Later, as a high school student at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut, Porter continued to engage in theatrical productions, performing as Anita in “West Side Story” and the lead in “Cinderella”.

As an adult, Porter transitioned into musical theater, moving to New York and securing a role as Urleen in “Footloose.” She later featured as Miriam in “The Ten Commandments: The Musical” at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, sharing the stage with notable figures such as Val Kilmer and Adam Lambert. In 2006, she performed as Bebe Benzenheimer in the Broadway revival of “A Chorus Line” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Her musical endeavors extended to forming bands, The Raz in 2003, and later The Alisan Porter Project, showcasing her skills as a vocalist and songwriter. In 2009, she released her independent debut album, “Alisan Porter.”

A significant turning point in Porter’s career came in 2016 when she auditioned for the tenth season of “The Voice.” Her blind audition, performing “Blue Bayou,” garnered chair turns from all four coaches. She ultimately chose Christina Aguilera as her coach and went on to win the competition on May 24, 2016, making history as the first artist to win the show with a female coach. Following her victory, Porter continued to release music, including the EPs “I Come in Pieces” (2017) and “The Ride” (2024), and the album “Pink Cloud” (2019). Beyond her music and acting, she is also a vocal coach for “The Masked Singer” and co-founded the blog “Lil’ Mamas.”