CHANGSHA, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 17, 2025--
Singer 2025, the flagship music competition produced by Hunan TV’s Mango TV, is fast becoming a global phenomenon—bridging cultures through the universal language of music. With back-to-back endorsements from UNESCO and support from over 15 official institutions—including China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Brazilian and Malaysian embassies in Beijing, and Tourism Malaysia—the show is being recognized as a new platform for international cultural dialogue.
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Now featuring eight international performers, Singer 2025 has gained particular momentum with the recent appearances of Brazilian singer Alexia Evellyn and Malaysian powerhouse Jess Lee. Their performances sparked enthusiastic media coverage across Asia and Latin America.
Brazil’s Ambassador to China, Marcos Galvão, praised the show’s unifying impact: “Music knows no borders and brings us closer, conveying what words alone cannot express.” Tourism Malaysia’s Deputy Director-General, Lee Thai Hung, added, “We hope Jess Lee’s participation fosters deeper cultural ties between Malaysia and China.”
Fans online echoed this excitement, welcoming international artists with open arms. Comments such as “We love seeing global artists embrace Chinese music” and “Jess Lee’s performance gave us chills!” flooded social media.
Jess Lee’s return to the spotlight in Episode 8 was nothing short of electrifying. Performing the song Diva, she brought down the house with a commanding vocal delivery that reignited her status as a star. Having taken a break from the music industry in recent years, Lee’s comeback was deeply personal—a story of resilience, passion, and the power of holding on to one’s dreams. Viewers widely hailed her as the true embodiment of the song’s title.
More than just a singing competition, Singer 2025 continues to offer a powerful platform for cross-cultural storytelling and emotional connection. As the season progresses, the show promises even more unforgettable performances from around the world—uniting audiences across continents through music.
Malaysian Singer Jess Lee
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.
Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.
“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.
"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.
Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.
Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.
Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.
At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.
Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.
Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.
After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.
“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”
Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.
Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.
His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.
“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”
Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.
FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
