Chet Hanks has shocked fans with his singing voice after he took to the stage to perform in front an audience for the first time – with viewers so impressed that they’re begging him to launch a country music career.
In the latest episode of MTV’s The Surreal Life, the 33-year-old rapper, who is the son of Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, participated in a talent show where he showed off his impressive vocal ability.
Accompanied by actor Tyler Posey, 32, on the guitar, Chet – real name Chester – performed a song called Leaving Hollywood and quickly had the crowd stunned by his ‘beautiful’ voice.
Speaking in his confessional ahead of his debut, Chet admitted: ‘I have experience performing for rap, and singing isn’t like rapping.
‘You’ve got to really open up your heart and show your soul to people.’
Chet Hanks has shocked viewers with his singing voice after making his debut performance
In the latest episode of MTV’s The Surreal Life, the 33-year-old rapper performed a ballad titled Leaving Hollywood
‘Once you step in front of a crowd, you feel those butterflies, that nervousness,’ he continued.
‘You have to be able to control your breathing. This is my first time singing in front of an audience. That requires a whole different level of focus for me.’
Luckily, Chet’s nerves didn’t get the best of him and he soon had the crowd cheering in applause.
Figure skater Johnny Weir was among those stunned by Chet’s voice and remarked: ‘Who would have thunk it that Chester is such a magnificent singer?’
Fifth Harmony singer Ally Brooke, who joined Chet on stage, added: ‘I did not expect Chet to have a voice like that.’
And it wasn’t just the fellow Surreal Life celebrities who were blown away by Chet’s voice, as viewers were also stunned by his talent.
Taking to X, one said: ‘Holy s***, Chet Hanks can legitimately sing? I think of all of the castmates, he is proving to be the most unlike his celebrity persona and I am here for it.’
Echoing a similar sentiment, another wrote: ‘Chet Hanks should just do country. He has the voice for it.’
Speaking in his confessional ahead of his debut, Chet admitted: ‘I have experience performing for rap, and singing isn’t like rapping’
It wasn’t just the fellow Surreal Life celebrities who were blown away by Chet’s voice, as viewers were also stunned by his talent
A third continued: ‘Um Chet release that song you performed at the pageant I’ll be tuned in to your country music!’
‘I already was in love with Chet Hanks and now he sings like a 90s rock singer?’ a fourth said, while a fifth added: ‘Chet can sing.’
Chet is no stranger to the music industry, having recorded his first rap song, White and Purple, in 2011 when he was a student at Northwestern University.
A decade later in 2021, he revealed he had been signed to Soulja Boy’s record label SODMG Records.
Chet, real name Chester, is the son of Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks
‘Chet Hanks, my new artist signed to SODMG Records as the first rapper signed this year.
‘We are about to make history, you know what I’m sayin’!?’ Soulja Boy, who shared a video of himself and Chet to Instagram announcing the news, exclaimed.
That same year, Chet released a new track titled White Boy Summer under the alias of Chet Hanx.
The song piggybacked off Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer campaign.
At the time, Chet clarified that the name of his ‘movement’ is not racial in nature, and that he’s not talking about ‘Trump and Nascar type white.’
The phrase raised eyebrows despite his assertion that it was about ‘good vibes.’
