Alisan Porter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alisan Porter
Porter in 2015
Born	(1981-06-20) June 20, 1981 (age 44) Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education	Staples High School, Connecticut
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1987–present: Actress 2009–present: Singer, songwriter
Spouse(s)	Brian Autenrieth ​ ​ (m. 2012; div. 2017)​ Justin de Vera ​ ​ (m. 2023)​
Children	3
Musical career
Genres	Pop rock country
Associated acts	Alisan & Ilsey, The Canyons, Adam Lambert, Christina Aguilera

Alisan Leigh Porter (born June 20, 1981) is an American pop, rock, and country singer, actress, and dancer. When she was a child, Porter appeared in movies like Parenthood, Stella, and I Love You to Death. Her most famous role as a child was playing the main character in the 1991 film Curly Sue alongside Jim Belushi.

As an adult, Alisan Porter acted in musical theater shows. These included The Ten Commandments: The Musical and the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. She released her first solo music album in 2009. In 2016, she tried out for the tenth season of NBC's singing competition show The Voice. She joined Team Christina and won the show in May of that year.

Life and Career

Alisan Porter was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. She started singing and performing when she was only three years old. At age five, she became the youngest person ever to win the TV show Star Search. In the same year, she also appeared on Pee Wee's Playhouse.

Porter acted in several films as a child. She became well-known for playing the main role in the 1991 movie Curly Sue with Jim Belushi. On television, she played the youngest daughter of Lynn Redgrave in the sitcom Chicken Soup in 1989.

Porter continued acting in high school at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut. She joined a theater group and performed in many shows. She played Anita in West Side Story as a freshman and the lead in Cinderella as a senior. Her drama teacher said she was amazing in West Side Story and inspired everyone around her.

When she was 18, Porter moved to New York to try out for Broadway shows. She was cast as Urleen in the musical Footloose. Later, she moved to Los Angeles. There, she starred as Miriam in The Ten Commandments: The Musical at the Kodak Theatre. She performed alongside famous actors like Val Kilmer and singers like Adam Lambert.

In 2003, Porter became the singer and main songwriter for a band called The Raz. The band broke up in 2004. In 2005, she started a new band called The Alisan Porter Project. In 2006, she performed in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line as Bebe Benzenheimer. Her first independent album, Alisan Porter, was released on October 9, 2009.

Porter sang the National Anthem at the 2016 A Capitol Fourth special. This event took place on July 3 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and was shown on PBS. She also sang the anthem before a nationally televised football game in Oakland, CA, on November 6, 2016.

In 2017, Porter was one of the main performers in a new Las Vegas show called The Voice: Neon Dreams. Other singers from The Voice also performed with her.

The Voice (2016)

On February 29, 2016, Alisan Porter became a contestant on season 10 of The Voice. For her first audition, called the "blind audition," she sang "Blue Bayou". All four coaches – Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Pharrell Williams – turned their chairs for her. This meant they all wanted her on their team. She chose Christina Aguilera as her coach.

In the "battle rounds," Porter sang "California Dreamin'" against another contestant. In the "knockout rounds," she won against Daniel Passino. Porter continued to sing well in the live shows, and the public voted for her to stay each week. She made it to the finals, where she sang her own original song, "Down That Road". On May 24, 2016, Alisan Porter was announced as the winner of season 10 of The Voice. She also made history as the first artist to win the show with a female coach, giving Christina Aguilera her first win as a coach.

Personal Life

Since December 2008, Porter has written articles for movmnt magazine. She also created a private Facebook page for mothers called Lil' Mamas. In 2012, she started a related blog website with the same name, which she runs with her business partner, Celia Behar.

On March 10, 2012, Porter married Brian Autenrieth in California. He was a fruit exporter and a former child actor in soap operas. They have two children: a son named Mason Blaise (born July 17, 2012) and a daughter named Aria Sage Autenrieth (born May 8, 2014). On December 18, 2017, Porter announced that she and Brian had separated in March of that year. She said they remained close friends and focused on doing their best for their children.

On October 20, 2021, Porter had her third child, a daughter named Shilo Bee. The father is her childhood friend, professional dancer Justin de Vera. On April 16, 2023, Porter and de Vera got married at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Albums

EP's

Releases from The Voice

Albums

Singles

Other works

Porter has also helped write songs for other artists:

• Adam Lambert – For Your Entertainment (2009)
  • "Aftermath" (written with Adam Lambert, Ferras, Ely Rise)
• Scarlett Cherry – Labor of Love (2011)
  • Angel (written with Ely Rise, Scarlett Cherry, Lee Cherry, Guy Baruch)
  • Sleep Until You Dream (written with IIsey Juber, Jordan Lawhead, Scarlett Cherry, Lee Cherry)
  • Never Knew Love (written with Ely Rise, Scarlett Cherry, Lee Cherry)

Porter also appears on the 2006 Revival Cast Recording of A Chorus Line. She played the character Bebe Benzenheimer, just like she did on Broadway.

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Alisan Porter para niños