2019 Jimmy Awards Winner Ekele Ukegbu

2019 Jimmy Awards winner Ekele Ukegbu, from the Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance in New York, NY, performs "I'm Here" from "The Color Purple."

[@heyjonas8057]

Make this a "what a very insane talent" button 🙌

[@joannk.2557]

SHE WILL BE IN THE AIDA REVIVAL. I’M CALLING IT NOW. I’ve said it before (on the Jimmys Live stream but the video got taken down womp womp) and I’ll say it again because she is amazing (and the director of the revival, who did the intermission show, was there)!

[@AaronWachs]

Hell yeah girl. Put her on Broadway ASAP. (You know if there is still any shows left by the end of the year)

[@joannk.2557]

Lol, very true. RIP so much of Broadway.

[@skyalemar1070]

Aaron Wachs this didn’t age well lol

[@calebmcarthur323]

@@skyalemar1070 No it did not lol

[@mikaylakozlof8651]

that didn't age well....

[@stephpiano2908]

This aged so badly oh my god

[@gracelikesgreen]

I love how she stayed in character to the very end! That exit was fierce!

[@morgandehart1529]

I love that shoe changed it to align with the instrumentation. She chose specific moments to belt and pulled back at some really soft and tender moments which since there's not a full orchestra and only a single piano works WONDERFULLY.

[@maddierivers485]

Can you imagine the outrage people would have been in if she didn’t win

[@kaymay4205]

She left to a standing ovation

[@wubbalubbadubdub3762]

I gave a standing ovation in my bedroom

[@francesco93vr]

Completely speachless.
Her voice, her energy, her eyes.
Keep working Ekele, you're gonna be unforgettable.

[@danielanzures2687]

Her walking off the stage will be one of the most iconic moments in Jimmy Awards history 💁‍♀️

[@ZoraTheberge]

She’d be an amazing Nala. She’s already on the Minskoff.

[@malachidavisbackup]

I know she isn't famous yet but i just want to meet her and learn how she has such confidence.... Its soo amazing.😭❤

[@jessikirtley792]

can you like a video twice

[@mireyavelasquez8604]

Ekele you are such a beautiful powerhouse and I know you are going to go so far in this industry. Break a leg girl

[@honeybeigemua]

I’m about a year late but this was a well deserved win. Has me in TEARS!!! I see so much success for Ekele!

[@debramaurer2374]

This brought me to tears. What an incredible, beautiful talent.

[@tessmarsh5898]

Brought me to tears as well. Incredible song and she’s an incredible talent.

[@sunsh1ne646]

no matter how many times I watch this I still get chills

[@bookishm]

she’s incredible, what a voice - so much soul and emotion behind every word. she’s gonna be so successful :)

[@Smithiannettoni]

She literally is my bar for performance. Like no one passes her for me

[@theresagiorgio6428]

Damn, girl!!! My eyes welled up about 10 seconds in

[@Wrendrawsstuff]

Wow. Started crying. Still have chills. I can’t believe how much emotion I went through watching a high schooler sing over my phone. If you don’t get on Broadway (which you will), I might just have to pay you to sing me songs everyday.

[@alexbergen8356]

I am in awe of the power and talent she has. QUEEN.

[@stephanieyakely1365]

jesus christ. beautiful.

[@LaurenOrion]

Take all my money and put her on Broadway

[@pdsketch603]

Holy, oh my god. That was the best this in the entire world

[@michaelj3504]

STUNNING. PERFORMANCE. STUNNING.

[@ThePurpleZebraEater]

i am sobbing. wow.

[@creativeco-lab3530]

A masterful performance! In tears!

[@wisdomencouraged9326]

full body chills

[@wisefodor]

Magnificent!

[@dokyungsoo1152]

Uuuuuhkay. Im so thankful right now I got to recall this yt channel. This is amazing! ❤

[@elizabethnunnery3809]

chills all over my body

[@erickadominiquekamanou-ten622]

That’s myfrienddd!!!!!

[@anthonyarroyo2672]

I saw her on on live with kelly and Ryan any one knows what song she was singing on the show great voice

[@gracesemler2984]

Easy as Life from Aida the musical :)

[@anthonyarroyo2672]

Thank you

[@TheWiseGrif]

QUEEN

[@janellamanguerra8094]

holy shiz. amazeballs!

[@gabee8750]

I was like how did Lexie love not win. Then I saw this

[@padraigpantoja8387]

future aida in the aida revival i’m calling it

[@katiej5405]

WHAT A QUEEEEEEN

[@katkakotianova]

i knew that she was gonna sing im here as soon as i saw her face

[@ellamei3118]

SHES SO GOOD BUT WHY DID I THINK SHE DID THE DEBBY RYAN THING WHEN SHE SAID IM BEAUTIFUL

[@bregieirofernandes]

No words

[@kaymay4205]

Who the hell disliked this?
Who?
SAM BRING OUT THE BUTTER SOCK

[@clarahansen2601]

She killed it! But I feel like some other performances were definitely stronger, so I personally do not understand the win, but she worked really hard and her acting is incredible! Congratulations

[@elliekristine4156]

i hear a lot of straining on the high notes :/ the talent is undeniable and her acting is incredible but i hope she finds someone to help with that before she starts doing this for a living, which will definitely happen. she needs to preserve that voice!!

[@mireyavelasquez8604]

Ellie Plunkett she was also going through a long 10-day week singing every single day and after all that your voice does get a little strained. I’m sure she has people to help her but also consider the extreme rehearsal process during the Jimmy’s

[@kannwall]

so easy to compare her to cynthia but damn does she stand out on her own

[@abbyschubert1690]

Cynthia Erivo is that you?

[@briansounalath]

It’s really screamy. Like trying to emulate Cynthia but she doesn’t have the technique or breath control yet. Just make it your own.

[@kevbloxtime]

Let's see you do it then

[@jasmynedelcarmen4495]

It’s so pitchy!!!

[@wubbalubbadubdub3762]

Jasmyne Del Carmen u try to sing this after a whole week of singing

[@jasmynedelcarmen4495]

First name Last name still not good.

[@sarahwarf344]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAH okay

[@padraigpantoja8387]

you probably suck at singing so don’t even

[@noahcegielski4011]

But for a high school student this is fucking incredible!