San Clemente Teen to Compete on ABC's 'Rising Star' Singing Competition Tonight

A singer from San Clemente will be among the 10 acts performing on ABC's "Rising Star" tonight.

Morgan Higgins, 17, of San Clemente, is an incoming high school senior who loves singing, songwriting, acting and photography. She said when she is singing she is able to shed her usual shyness and feels like she can truly be herself.

Higgins called Pink, Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson her musical influences.

The series' contestants -- solo performers, duos and groups -- were found in a series of seven coast-to-coast auditions and online submissions.

Tonight's episode is the last of the series' three audition episodes. The first of three weeks of duels, with acts competing one-on-one, will begin July 13.

"Rising Star," which premiered June 22, is U.S. television's first singing competition in which viewers have the final say in real time about who advances, voting in real time via an app.

To increase the emphasis on viewers watching from home, a wall blocks the studio audience from initially seeing the performer. When a performer reaches 70 percent yes votes, a wall rises, revealing the act to the studio audience.

--City News Service