Broadway Legend Lea Salonga Names BTS’ V Her Ultimate Favorite Artist
Broadway icon Lea Salonga has once again showered praise on V of BTS, reaffirming him as her favorite artist. In a recent Mother’s Day interview, Salonga revealed that she has been frequently listening to V’s solo track ‘Winter Ahead’, specifically highlighting the lyrical phrase, “I’ll be with you until the spring runs.”
During a Q&A segment, the host struggled to recall the song’s title after quoting the touching lyric. Without hesitation, Lea chimed in, “Oh… Winter Ahead,” instantly recognizing and naming the track. When asked if it was a song she had been listening to often, she confirmed enthusiastically.
Lea Salonga’s admiration for V is not new. The globally renowned musical theater star, who debuted in ‘Miss Saigon’ as Kim and became the first Asian woman to win a Tony Award, has long expressed her appreciation for his artistry. Her illustrious career includes roles such as Éponine and Fantine in ‘Les Misérables’ on Broadway, and she’s also the voice behind Disney classics like ‘A Whole New World’ from ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Reflection’ from ‘Mulan’.
At the 65th Academy Awards, Salonga performed the award-winning ‘A Whole New World’, further cementing her legacy in the entertainment world.
In 2020, Salonga declared her fondness for a fan-focused performance video of V, stating, “There isn’t a single moment to discard. Everything he does has a purpose and an intention.” She added that even V’s way of walking holds meaning and that he deeply understands how to command the stage.
In 2021, she took to Twitter expressing, “Taehyung, you’re perfect. I tweeted just to say this.” She lauded his soulful voice, urging him to continue sharing music with the world, as it brings her inspiration and joy.
Once again in 2024, during a media interview, she declared, “V is my ultimate favorite member,” saying his voice “feels like it’s hugging the heart.”
Adding to the praise, legendary operatic soprano Sumi Jo celebrated V’s birthday by covering his self-composed track ‘Snow Flower’. She openly expressed admiration for his perfect pitch and suggested the idea of an opera duet following a performance video of him singing.
On an international note, Nour Arida, a Lebanese model renowned across the Middle East, revealed during an MTV Lebanon interview on July 12 that her favorite song is V’s ‘Blue’, shining light on his growing global influence.
Bridging generations and genres, V continues to inspire some of the world’s greatest performers, proving that his artistry resonates far beyond K-pop boundaries.
