Mackenzie Sagun, born and raised in Groton, embodies the triple threat of entertainment: sing, act, dance. The 25-year-old has done it all and tried it all.

Then an amazing turn of events landed her on a sound stage in Norwich in front of cameras, lighting, producers and a Grammy nominated artist. She was chosen to appear in Billy Gilman’s world-wide video for his latest song “Soldier,” and it may just change everything.

Gilman was the runner-up in the finals on the TV show “The Voice” in 2016 but long before that he gained fame locally as a country singer at age 10 when the Rhode Island resident signed a record deal and became the youngest person to have a Top 40 country hit. His album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard chart and he earned two Grammy nominations. When his voiced changed in his teens his record label dropped him. He has struggled to “fight back” ever since.

“I was cast for Billy Gilman’s ‘Soldier’ music video during a voice lesson with Angela Bacari,” said Sagun. “Angela is my voice coach as well as Billy Gilman’s. She asked me during my lesson if I could box and the rest was history.”

Gilman’s song “Soldier” is a powerful, beautifully crafted song about homelessness, drug addiction, and bullying. In the video, Sagun plays a down-on-her-luck homeless millennial who is so desperate for cash she learns how to fight – in a boxing ring – in the hopes of snagging the prize money. The video can be found at youtu.be/4fdCALWYyAM.

Darryl MarcAurele from the Strike Zone MMA in Norwich taught her how to fight. Sagun speaks no words in the video, but acts through her eyes and expressions.

Dancing since age two, Sagun’s been professionally dancing for 12 years and teaching dance at Alyson’s School of Dance for six years. Some highlights of Sagun’s career until now include:

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[naviga:li]Performing as a backup dancer for Joby Rogers’ Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience and New Kids on The Block’s “The MixTape Tour”[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Performing on tour in 10 different cities in China, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Washington, New Jersey, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Texas and Rhode Island[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Performing at Mohegan Sun Arena and Foxwoods Grand Theater, and[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Recording and singing a parody of the Donna Summer song “Last Dance” for the Women’s National Basketball Association All-Star Voting Campaign.[/naviga:li]

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