Gene Simmons’s Daughter Sophie Looks To Create Name For Herself
Her father is the front man of one of the most legendary rock bands in the world. But Gene Simmons’s daughter Sophie stepped out of the spotlight of her famous dad and into her very own during Wednesday night’s final auditions of The X Factor USA.
The teenage daughter of the 63-year-old KISS rocker wowed all four judges, including Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell.
Student Sophie Tweed-Simmons, 19, was desperate to be voted through to the next round of the TV talent show on her own abilities, and not because of her hugely successful father.
But her cover was blown when judge Demi Lovato recognized her.
Arriving in a SUV with actress mother, Shannon Tweed, Sophie initially looked overwhelmed by the process.
‘It’s a lot bigger than I thought,’ she said when she saw the venue where the auditions were taking place in San Francisco.
Her father, Gene, who also accompanied his daughter, could be seen asking: ‘Are all these people auditioning? All of them?’
In an interview before her audition, Sophie said: ‘My dad is Gene Simmons from KISS. I really just want to step out of being the daughter of the guy from KISS. I want to be my own person and hopefully this is the way to show the world who I am.’
Her dad’s presence drew the attention of waiting fans, who could be seen snapping photos of him with their cellphones.
‘I grew up with music but I didn’t ever want to sing before because I didn’t want my dad’s help with it,’ Sophie explained. ‘It’s just hard when the crowd grows into my mob of pictures. I want to prove to myself I have talent.’
But her attempts to go incognito failed when judge Demi recognized her from her last name.
‘That’s where I know you. You’re Nick’s sister. Nick Simmons. Gene Simmons’ kid,’ she said.
And Sophie’s smile was wiped off her face when an astonished fellow judge Simon asked her: ‘You’re Gene Simmons’ daughter? What does your dad feel about this?’
She said: ‘They didn’t know I was doing this until yesterday and they’re pretty upset with me. I just didn’t want any help.’
‘Good for you,’ said Simon. ‘That’s the way to do it.’
Sophie then proceeded to sing Adele’s Make You Feel My Love as her parents watched nervously backstage.
The crowd loved her performance, but the judges were initially not so sure.
Elite.
