Seventeen-year-old vocal powerhouse Carmelle Collado has been busier than ever, and rightfully so—she’s proving that talent, faith, and humility are a winning combination.
Fresh from her triumphant stint as the first-ever Grand Champion of ‘Tawag Ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown’, Carmelle has continued to make waves with a string of high-profile appearances.
Just days ago, she graced the stage of ‘It’s Showtime’ with Marko Rudio during the show’s live opening number. On June 11, she brought her voice to a higher calling, performing at the National Youth Day 2025 celebration at Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, a testament to her devotion as a proud Catholic and daughter of Camarines Sur.
And there’s more ahead for the young singer.
Carmelle is set to bring her golden vocals to the Araneta Coliseum on July 20 for the much-anticipated All-Star Games, where she will perform in front of thousands. Then on August 23, she will share the stage at the BRAVO concert at The Theatre at Solaire, alongside OPM greats Jed Madela, Bituin Escalante, Sofronio Vasquez, and Lyka Estrella.
But perhaps the biggest international spotlight yet will come on August 30, when Carmelle joins the star-studded lineup of ‘ASAP Live in England’ at BP Pulse LIVE in Birmingham, UK. This milestone will mark her first performance on international soil since her TNT win.
Carmelle’s journey is one of perseverance and grace. Before becoming ‘TNT’s’ grand champion, she weathered an early elimination in the preliminaries. But her comeback during the Resbakbakan round—with powerhouse renditions of ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ and ‘One Moment In Time’—earned her a place in the final examination round. Her electrifying performances of ‘Better Days’ and an Aretha Franklin medley wowed judges and viewers alike, earning her a 98% score and a standing ovation.
Beyond the lights and trophies, Carmelle remains grounded in her faith and family. She dedicated her victory to her grandmother, saying, “Thank you, Lord,” the moment her name was called. A portion of her ₱1 million prize will go toward helping her flood-prone hometown, including renovating their local church and her grandmother’s home.
She also credits divine guidance and the support of her school, King Thomas Learning Academy Inc., for helping her balance her studies and singing career. Her teachers and schoolmates have been behind her every step of the way—even adjusting her class schedule to accommodate her performances.
As Carmelle embarks on a new journey with Star Magic, she dreams of performing again with her former coach Bamboo, and hopes to one day share the stage with BINI and Sarah Geronimo.
“I’m just really happy and thankful for all the support,” she says. And truly, with her talent, faith, and heart in the right place, Carmelle Collado’s star is only getting started.
