New York, NY (Top40 Charts) After 13 weeks of intense competition, TELEMUNDO's "La Voz Kids" (The Voice Kids) came to an end tonight, when hosts
Daisy Fuentes and
Jorge Bernal announced 11-year-old Jonael Santiago of #TeamNatalia, as the winner of the third season. The Puerto Rican-born singer, who currently resides in Miami, Florida, won $50,000 cash prize presented by AT&T to pursue his dreams and continue his education, plus a recording contract from Universal
Music Group for the production of a single and music video, in addition to $10,000 from Chrysler. The two top finalists, who also received $10,000 from Chrysler, were Franser Pasos of Daddy Yankee's team and Shanty Zumaya of Pedro Fernandez' team. Jersen Ruiz of Team Yankee, Alberto Castro of Team
Natalia and Milenia Perez of Team Pedro, were eliminated after the announcement of each of the three top finalists.
Tonight's spectacular gala began with a musical opening by the six finalists singing Victor Manuelle's hit, "Que Suenen Los Tambores." Before revealing the audience votes, the finalists made their last music performance, including Franser with Michael Jackson's "P.Y.T.," Jersen with
Hector Lavoe's "El Cantante," Alberto with Walk the Moon's "Shut Up and Dance," Jonael with Bruno Mars' "Treasure," Milenia with Rachel Platten's "Fight Song," and Shanty with Jenni Rivera's "Sobre Vivire" (I Will Survive). The Finale, televised from Universal Orlando Resort, also included remarkable performances by international music stars Gente de Zona featuring Marc Anthony, with their latest hit "La Gozadera," Lucero introducing a new version of "Quien Como Tu" and Coach
Pedro Fernandez with his new single, "Si Tuviera que Decirlo."
From the start of the
Blind Auditions, where the three Coaches Daddy Yankee,
Natalia Jimenez and
Pedro Fernandez turned their chairs, to the moment the winner was revealed, Jonael Santiago proved that he is a music star. Jonael, who joined #TeamNatalia, takes acting and singing lessons at a local community theater in Miami, and learned piano and guitar by ear and through instructions found online. He was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico and currently lives with his mother Xiomara and three sisters in Miami since they relocated from the island two years ago.
