Filipino boy invited to Ellen DeGeneres show after popular YouTube video of him singing

MANILA, Philippines – Fourteen-year-old Aldrich Lloyd Talonding from the southern Philippines can’t believe his luck: talk show host Ellen DeGeneres wants him to fly to the United States to be a guest on her show.

A video of Talonding’s soulful rendition of Luther Vandross’ “Dance with my Father,” — made for fun and posted on YouTube by a cousin — has had more than 1.1 million hits since April 21.

DeGeneres recently played the video on her show, called the boy “amazing” and asked him to “please come here and sing to me and all of my friends here.”

Talonding said Thursday he is applying for a U.S. visa after getting a call from the show’s producer last week.

The son of Christian ministers says he is “happy, surprised and nervous” about his newfound fame.

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Online:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQMeeIvSsDw

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