# Uyên Linh

Trần Nguyễn Uyên Linh (born December 31, 1987), better known as her stage name Uyên Linh, is a Vietnamese pop singer who won the third season of Vietnam Idol in 2010.

## Biography

Uyen Linh was born in Ho Chi Minh City. After graduating from Le Hong Phong High School, she moved to Hanoi to study International Politics at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. During her study there, she opened a small fashion shop near the school. It worked quite well. However, due to her busy schedule, the shop was subsequently closed. When in Hanoi, Uyen Linh also mastered the Northern accent, which is often considered standard in singing Vietnamese songs.
Uyen Linh's idol is Whitney Houston and her favorite genre is RnB. According to one of her interviews, she admires the voice of Whitney because "Whenever Linh hears her singing, Linh feels like unable to stray away from Whitney. Linh feels extremely focused on Whitney's graceful shape of the lips, body movement and emotions; especially those moments when she's sublimating on stage. It creates the wish inside that urges Linh to want to shine brightly like Whitney. So, for Linh, the title "Idol" carries a larger and more meaningful message than it appears, especially when Linh chose to be a singer. Linh thinks that one in a hundred of people who is chosen to be a singer and they need a strong source of support to continue the chosen path, whether it's right or wrong. For Linh, Whitney Houston represents that source."
In 2008, she auditioned for the second season of Vietnam Idol and the third series of Sao Mai – Điểm hẹn prior to re-auditioning for Vietnam Idol (season 3), but failed to make it through. She received special prizes from 2008 Soul of Melody, 2008 Let's Get Loud contest. She was a finalist of Northern region in pop genre of Sao Mai 2009 but she did not make it to the National.

## Vietnam Idol (Season 3)

Uyen Linh auditioned for the third season of Vietnam Idol in Hanoi. She advanced to top 10 from the semi-final by the selection of the judges. Uyen Linh's performances were highly applauded by the judges throughout the contests. However, she was in the bottom three in the fifth gala round and was originally eliminated from the show but later was saved thanks to Đăng Khoa's withdrawal (one of the judges later confirmed that they would have saved her otherwise). From top three, she received many positive feedbacks from the judges, audiences, and the mass media with her successful performances.
| Week | Theme | Song choice | Performance order | Result |
| Audition | Auditioner's Choice | "If I Ain't Got You" | N/A | Advanced |
| Theater | Solo Performance Group Performance | "Vẫn Hát Lời Tình Yêu" (Still Singing Love Songs) "Giận anh" (I'm Mad at You) | N/A | Advanced |
| Semi-final | Random choices | "Với anh" (With You) | 6 | Advanced to Top 10 by the Judges' choice |
| Top 10 | Freestyles | "Những lời buồn" (Those Sad Words) | 10 | Safe |
| Top 9 | Pop/Rock | "Mùa đông sẽ qua" (Winter will end) | 5 | Safe |
| Top 8 | R&B/Hip-hop/Dance | "Lời của ánh mắt" (Message of the eyes) | 8 | Safe |
| Top 7 | International music | "Fallin'" | 2 | Safe |
| Top 6 | Unforgettable songs | "Khát vọng" (Aspiration) | 4 | Bottom 3 |
| Top 5 | Diva songs | "Trở lại tuổi thơ" (Back to the Childhood) | 1 | Eliminated (Saved thanks to Dang Khoa's withdrawal from the contest) |
| Top 4 | Duets | "Anh mãi là" (You'll always be) with Mai Hương "Em và tôi" (You and I) with Lân Nhã | 1 4 | Safe |
| Top 3 | Judges' choice | "Chỉ là giấc mơ" (Just a Dream) "Đường cong" (The Curve) | 1 4 | Safe |
| Top 2 | Contestant's choice International music Winning song | "Sao chẳng về với em" (Why Don't You Come Back to Me) "Take Me to the River" "Cảm ơn tình yêu" (Grateful for the Love) | 2 4 6 | Winner |
* ^1 Đăng Khoa withdrew from the contest; therefore, Uyên Linh was saved from elimination.

## Post-Idol

Uyen Linh appeared on "2010 Moments" year-end talk show on K+, a cable channel of Vietnam Television and talked about her life after Vietnam Idol. She later was chosen as a Person of the Year 2010 by VTV. Early 2011, she released her debut single – Cảm Ơn Tình Yêu – her winning song from Vietnam Idol and received positive reception. She appeared on Duyên dáng Việt Nam 23 for two nights, performing a cover of Xích lô and another song with My Linh, Hương Lan and Phuong Vy.
Quickly after her victory, she was invited to several music shows and events. It was rumored that she required about $2000 or 40 million dong for 2–3 songs each performance. Uyên Linh neither denied nor confirmed this rumor and commented that "I lack experience in dealing with show hosters". Linh was chosen to be an opening act for David Archuleta concert in Ho Chi Minh city on June 22, 2011.
Uyen Linh's debut album was originally set to be released in May, however, the album release was pushed back to late June. As of October 1, 2011, the release date of her debut album is yet to be confirmed. On October 22, 2011, Linh's debut music video for the song Giấc mơ tôi had its premiere on MTV Vietnam. Linh's promotional single Người hát tình ca was awarded January's "Song of the Month" in a program called Favorite Song organized by VTV despite the fact that the studio version of the single was not released until the release of the album. Her debut album Giấc mơ tôi was open for pre-order two days before the official release, all copies in the first phase was sold out in one day. Her album was officially released on February 9, 2012.
In 2023, Uyen Linh participated in the VTV3's reality singing show Chị Đẹp Đạp Gió Rẽ Sóng [vi]. Her solo cover of Hồ Quỳnh Hương's "Anh" (You/My Dearest) received positive reception during the show, praised for "her beautiful vocals imbued with deep emotions that touched the hearts."

## Discography
### Singles

| Year | Single | Album |
| 2010 | "Cảm ơn tình yêu" (Thank You, Love) | Vietnam Idol 2010 |
| 2011 | "Người hát tình ca" (One Who Sings Love Songs) | Giấc mơ tôi (My Dream) |
| 2012 | "Giấc mơ tôi" (My Dream) | Giấc mơ tôi (My Dream) |
| 2012 | "Mượn" | Giấc mơ tôi (My Dream) |
| 2013 | "Nơi cuối chân trời" (Where the Horizon Ends) | |
| 2013 | "Chờ người nơi ấy" (Waiting For You Over There) | Mỹ Nhân Kế |

### Albums
#### Studio albums

| Title | Release date |
| Giấc mơ tôi | February 9, 2012 |

#### Compilation albums

| Title | Release date |
| Vietnam Idol 2010 | January 2, 2011 |

### Music video

* Giấc mơ tôi (2011)
* Mượn (2012)
* Nơi ấy có cha (2013)
* Chờ người nơi ấy (2013)

### Unreleased songs

* If I Ain't Got You (Performed in Vietnam Idol audition)
* Fallin' (Performed on Vietnam Idol)
* Tell Him
* Gió (Performed on Vietnam Idol)
* Chìm Trong Muôn Thuở
* Trả Nợ Tình Xa