Frost School of Music junior Nicole Acosta really is a singer. But for her network television debut on Fox's popular game show "I Can See Your Voice" for Elvis Night in May, the Miami native had to pretend she was a generic "college student" who might or might not have talent.
When Acosta did reveal herself, belting out a powerful version of the Elvis Presley hit "Can't Help Falling in Love," that wowed the panelists and audience, it was deeply satisfying.
"It was a super great experience," said Acosta, a vocal performance major in the Frost School's Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship (M.A.D.E.) program. "It's a great moment when you show what you can do."
Her moment seemed to make an impression on actor/comedian and "See Your Voice" celebrity host Ken Jeong. "Before I left, he asked "Is this your first time on TV?"" Acosta said. When she told him it was, Jeong replied, "Well, this won't be the last time."
Although this was Acosta's first time on live television, she's no stranger to performing or celebrity. The Cuban-American singer and songwriter has been singing pop music and performing music theater since she was young. Acosta, who grew up in Kendall and attended arts magnet school Miami Arts Studio (MAS) @ Zelda Glazer for middle and high school, was a beneficiary of pop/rock legend Phil Collins's Little Dreams Foundation, performing with Collins and other stars at an annual gala. She made it to the Hollywood Week of American Idol in high school, although her audition and performance were never aired.
She met Miami pop icons Gloria and Emilio Estefan when they came to see the first high school production of the hit Broadway show and Estefan bio-musical "On Your Feet," with Acosta in the Gloria role, at MAS. That led to Emilio Estefan bringing Acosta in to perform at the 2022 Summit of the Americas for President Joe Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris, and heads of state from across Latin America; and to sing the Cuban National Anthem for the Miami Marlins' Cuban Heritage Night.
Producers for "See Your Voice" contacted Acosta to audition in the fall of 2022, during her freshman year; then flew her and her mother to the Atlanta area for the audition, two rehearsal sessions, and filming. She had to keep her participation a secret for over a year, revealing it at a watch party for friends. (The show, which initially airs live on Fox, can be streamed on Hulu.)
Acosta, who at 18 was the youngest singer on the show, loved every minute of her TV experience, from the intensive vocal and dance coaching to sitting in the make-up chair. "People don't realize how much work goes into each episode," said Acosta, who is minoring in music industry and communications. "I felt really special. It was one of the best opportunities I've had and one of the most fun. It's not a contest where you're fighting to prove your talent, but more a celebration of your talent."
She learned from the experience as well. The coaching focused on "what would look or sound good on TV," Acosta said. "They wanted me to start with a big note to get the audience and the contestant's attention for that big shock factor. They'd tell us to make it more dynamic, make this part go down a little, or add vibrato here."
The contestants in "See Your Voice" watch six "secret voices," who are unknowns costumed in generic roles like "firefighter" or "personal trainer" as they lip-synch in front of a live audience. Wearing a flowy dress and denim jacket, Acosta lip-synched to a recording of her own rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes." The contestants, with the help of celebrity guests and host Jeong, can win up to $100,000 by correctly guessing who is a real singer and who is not. Acosta was eliminated, but returned to sing for real in the "Reveal" segment the following week – earning cheers from the audience and stunned looks from famous guests Cheyenne Jackson and Adrian Bailon-Houghton.
"I remember comments like 'I think she's a dancer or a cheerleader' and 'she seems like a really nice girl, but I don't think she can sing,'" Acosta said.
Her Frost School training helped prove them wrong. "I know in this industry when they tell you to do it, you gotta do it,"Acosta said. "So when you get there, it looks easy because of all the work behind the scenes."
