Pop star goes viral after returning as singing contest judge

The keyword “My Tam” was in the top searches of Google on July 8-9. On forums, photos of My Tam’s moments in the show were shared and attracted hundreds of thousands of likes and millions of views.

In the first episode on July 8, besides giving her reviews and advice to contestants, she showed great chemistry with other the judges and brought the audience laughter.

Photos of My Tam in the first episode of Vietnam Idol 2023 were widely shared by fans on social media. Photos by Cat Tien Sa

My Tam said she was excited to return as the judge of Vietnam Idol for the first time since 2013. “Feelings and memories of 10 years ago came back to me,” she said.

To focus on the show, My Tam had to temporarily put several projects aside. She said the number one criterion to select a contestant is their voice, which has to capture her heart from the first listen.

Huynh Thanh Huyen, deputy director of Cat Tien Sa Company, the organizer of Vietnam Idol, said the invitation was sent to My Tam right after she completed a project. The two sides have collaborated before so negotiations went smoothly and My Tam signed up.

“When we brought the contest back after seven years, My Tam was the first name that we thought of. We highly appreciated her talent, professionalism, and experience as well as attraction, which will inspire the contestants,” Huyen said.

Music production group DTAP, one of the judges of the casting round and also musical director of the contest, said: “My Tam is a veteran artist with many years of experience and has solidified her place in the hearts of fans for years.”

Many contestants said My Tam is one of the reasons they signed up for the show. They want to receive advice from her to guide them to be better.

My Tam was born in 1981 in Da Nang. She won an award at the MAMA Awards 2012, a top annual South Korean music awards show.

In 2014, My Tam was honored with an “Asia’s Music Legend” award at the Top Asia Corporate Ball in Malaysia, an event aimed to praise notable Asian individuals, organizations, and countries.

Last year, she held the liveshow “Tri Am” at My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, which attracted over 30,000 people.

Vietnam Idol, first aired in 2007, is the Vietnamese version of the renowned British music TV show Pop Idol.