Dutch pop singer Jan Smit is one of the most celebrated pop stars in the Netherlands. In 1997, he released his first hit single "Ik Zing Dit Lied Voor Jou Alleen," at the age of 12. Trying his luck across the border, Smit became hugely popular in Germany with his German-language songs. After several years of declining commercial success, he was approached by one of the leading broadcasting studios to star in a reality show about his daily life as a successful teenager. The resulting television hit catalyzed an accompanying album, titled Vrienden Voor Het Leven, which brought Smit back to the top of pop charts. He scored big hits like "Laura," "Als De Morgen Is Gekomen" and "Cupido," before taking a break due to vocal cord problems. Celebrating his 15th anniversary in the music industry in 2012, he sold out a number of concerts nationwide and returned to Germany for a special televised performance, his first German concert in seven years. The same year, Smit made his acting debut with a starring role in the WWII movie, Het Bobardement.