Pham Phuong Thao, the youngest singer to be awarded the title of People's Artist.
Upon learning that her name was on the list of recipients of the 10th People's Artist award, artist Phuong Thao was overjoyed. The singer said that the first person she shared this honor with was her mother, who for many years had been on the list of those who borrowed money to pay for her children's education.
Although her name is on the list of recipients of the 10th People's Artist title (according to Decision No. 1431/QD-CTN signed by President Vo Van Thuong on November 28), Artist Phuong Thao said she has not yet received official notification about being awarded the title of People's Artist. She only learned indirectly through the sharing and congratulations of journalists, colleagues, and friends, but she is still very happy, moved, and extremely excited and looking forward to it.
She plans for the first person to share the good news with her when the official decision is made to be her mother – the special person in her life, who for many years was on her "loan list" to "support" her in completing her studies.
Phuong Thao recounted: "I started my artistic career at 16. At that time, although my tuition was covered by the provincial dance and drama troupe, I still had to cover my living expenses. My parents were farmers, and our family was very poor, with many children attending school, making things extremely difficult. To provide me with a small amount of money for monthly living expenses, my mother had to borrow money and then gradually pay it off during the harvest season. For all the years I was in school, my mother was on the local debt list. But she never worried; she always encouraged me to try my best. Before these prestigious titles, a young person like me sometimes doesn't dare to think too much about them, simply understanding them as priceless gifts that I strive to give to my parents."
Regarding her feelings about being the youngest artist in this awarding ceremony (in 2016, when she received the title of Meritorious Artist, Phuong Thao was also the youngest artist - just over 30 years old), Phuong Thao shared: "Before these prestigious titles, my main feelings are emotion, nervousness, and especially gratitude. It can be said that despite my young age and the very prestigious title, I truly don't feel any pressure."
In reality, Thao received support from the audience, attention from her agency and colleagues, and was given the opportunity to work for five months before participating in competitions, striving to improve, and winning awards and medals, which were then presented to the state according to regulations. When Thao entered the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre, there were already veteran artists such as People's Artist Thu Hien, People's Artist Thai Bao… These senior artists had a long journey of dedication from wartime to peacetime. Thao's generation only needs to look to them to learn, strive, and inherit their legacy."
"For a young artist, a prestigious title is not only recognition from management agencies, leaders at all levels, and the public, but also a prestigious laurel wreath that adorns their career. It gives young people better direction and more motivation to strive to prove their worthiness of what they have been awarded," artist Phuong Thao continued.
Considered a multi-talented artist, Pham Phuong Thao has achieved success not only in her stage performances but also through her popular works in her released albums such as...A heartfelt song, Lullaby of the Homeland, Dream of the Countryside, A Little Love I Send...and she also has impressive original works such asHe returns home in triumph, the girl from Nghe An…and also in poetry, such as in poetry collections.The springtime of life has passed.
