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Cate McHugh | Image: Facebook<\/p>\n Cate McHugh | Image: Facebook<\/p>\n
Amelia Jones\u00a0<\/p>\n
A singer from Llantwit Major who began her musical journey busking on the streets of Cardiff has reached the semi-finals of ITV\u2019s The Voice UK.<\/p>\n
Cate McHugh, 31, is part of Sir Tom Jones\u2019s team on the singing competition, having impressed the Welsh music legend during her blind audition.<\/p>\n
She will compete in the semi-final on Saturday, October 24, after making it through the Battle Rounds and a subsequent sing-off against fellow members of Team Tom.<\/p>\n
McHugh began busking in Cardiff at the age of 16, performing outside a bank on Queen Street with her guitar.<\/p>\n
She went on to develop her singing career through live performances, including a five-year stint working on cruise ships after signing up in 2015.<\/p>\n
The experience gave her the opportunity to perform for audiences around the world. However, during those years, she began to notice changes in her eyesight.<\/p>\n
She found out she has Stargardt disease, a degenerative condition affecting central vision. Her sight began deteriorating when she was in her early twenties.<\/p>\n
She has explained that the condition affects what she can see directly in front of her, while she retains some peripheral vision.<\/p>\n
Although losing her sight presented challenges for her career, Cate continued pursuing music and returned to developing her singing work after the Covid pandemic.<\/p>\n
She has also spoken about the importance of representing people with sight loss on television, saying that people might not realise she has a visual impairment simply by looking at her.<\/p>\n
Her journey on The Voice UK began with a blind audition, where she performed \u201cDie With a Smile\u201d, originally recorded by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.<\/p>\n
Sir Tom Jones turned his chair for her and welcomed her onto his team. McHugh said it was a special moment to be chosen by the Welsh singer, particularly given his experience working with artists who have experienced sight loss.<\/p>\n
Jones praised her voice, telling her: \u201cYou\u2019ve been blessed with a wonderful voice. If you\u2019re short-sighted, you\u2019re not short-voiced.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Battle Rounds, she performed against country duo Eric and Jensen, singing Chuck Berry\u2019s \u201cYou Never Can Tell\u201d.<\/p>\n
She then took part in a sing-off against fellow Team Tom contestants, performing a version of \u201cYou Never Can Tell\u201d by Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band. Jones selected Cate to progress to the semi-final.<\/p>\n
Tom Jones departure<\/p>\n
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