Originally filed Thursday, July 12, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Sharaya J of Kennesaw is the first reality show competitor I know of who is going through chemo treatment in the middle of a show.
The rapper, suffering from breast cancer, has competed three times over four episodes on Fox’s “The Four” and has fended off all rivals to date. Her voice has gotten progressively more ragged, a direct result of chemotherapy. But she got lucky thanks to July 4th, which gave her a week off to build back her strength.
“It’s been a blessing to have this break,” she said last week from Los Angeles. “I’ve definitely taken advantage of it.”
Sharaya, who returns tonight in an episode taped a few days ago, could still win this entire competition.
Her last chemo treatment was June 29. She has one more at the end of the month.
She said no matter how crappy she feels, she has been able to rally every time she hears the music and starts rapping. “I love the stage,” she said. “It’s always been a happy place for me since I was a little girl.”
The audience votes to keep her or not and so far, they can’t help but favor her, even against some very good competitors. (America is not involved with who wins, unlike “The Voice” or “American Idol.”)
Sharaya hopes she is getting votes for her performance, not because she’s sick. No pity votes, please!
“I’ve been grinding a long time,” she said. “I know I’m talented. When I hit the stage, they feel my energy. They feel my vibe. They feel my passion. They’re being entertained. If anything, I’m at a disadvantage. I’m not feeling 100 percent but I’m putting 1,000 percent effort.”
She is one of only two original singers left, along with British singer James Graham, who has also fended off three singers. "He's my guy," she said. "My main man. We're really cool. We spend so much time together!"
Sharaya hopes to keep building each week. “I am the only one doing original lyrics every week,” she said. “I’m definitely trying to keep it fresh and innovative.”
One other Atlantan, R&B singer Whitney Reign, was on the show for four episodes but was eliminated June 28. "When I met Whitney on the show," Sharaya said, "she came to my chair and said, 'I've been a fan of yours for so long. I live in Atlanta.' She used to dance for me in some of my videos!"
Sharaya said the effects of chemo have exhausted her. But at the same time, the reaction she gets from fans has kept her going and fueled her creativity. “It’s ultimately a dope experience,” she said. “A chance to do your art and inspire people at the same time.”
Right after chemo, she said, she has a hard time eating. She drinks a lot of juice to get nutrients down. Then, the nausea meds kick in. “I like green juices,” she said. “A lot of kale.” She also likes hummus and pita. She sucks on ice a lot to keep her chords cool. “Your mouth,” she said, “gets raw.”
She has tried to rest whenever she could. On July 4th, “I saw on the beach for a couple of hours to get some Vitamin D,” she said. “Just me by the ocean. That was exactly what I needed.”
UPDATE: She won her fourth challenge Thursday night, dispatching 16-year-old Dylan Jacob. Diddy said she remains super hungry and ate him for dinner. (Culinary analogies are big on this show.)
ON TV
"The Four," 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fox
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