The 17-year-old Filipino singing sensation Charice Pempengco has topped an online poll conducted by followers of TV host/entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey via the website oprah.com.

Pempengco bested other big name nominees for Best Oprah Show Musical Performance with her rendition of “Note to God.”

Other contenders include Black Eyed Peas (with a Fil-Am member, apl.de.ap), the rock band Journey (with another Filipino, Arnel Pineda, as front man), Michael Buble, Rascal Flatts, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, and James Taylor.

Pempengco’s win was part of the website’s Best of 2009 polls.

Pempengco garnered 70 percent of total votes, according to the website, with Black Eyed Peas a far second, collecting 9 percent.

The young star was elated with the plum. “It’s a very big deal for me,” she shared.

Meanwhile, Time Magazine has also included Pempengco among its list of Top Ten Oprah Proteges, putting her at number five, recognizing how fast the singer’s star has climbed the stratosphere after appearing on “Oprah.”

Time noted: “Other talk-show hosts can make people famous, but sometimes only Oprah can make them stars. After producers of ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ saw a YouTube clip of the then 16-year-old Charice Pempengco singing ‘The Dreamgirls’ anthem ‘And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going,’ they flew her in from her native Philippines to perform. With Web clips of her concerts already a viral hit in Asia, Pempengco found herself on ‘Oprah’ a few months later, where her rendition of Whitney Houston's ‘I Have Nothing’ brought audience members to tears.

“That's when the magic started: Oprah introduced the teenager to record producer David Foster, who helped put together her first U.S. single, ‘Note to God;’ it debuted in May on the Billboard Top 50. Foster also added the starlet to the cast of his PBS special, ‘Hitman: David Foster & Friends,’ alongside singers like Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion.

“Pempengco, whom Oprah has dubbed the most talented girl in the world, will also play herself in next year's ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ sequel.”

With Pempengco on the list is Oprah’s BFF, Gayle King at number one and Dr. Phil at number two.

The complete list: 1. Gayle King, 2. Dr. Phil, 3.“The Secret” author Rhona Byrne, 4. Fitness guru Bob Greene, 5. Charice Pempengco, 6. Mehmet Oz, 7. Chef Rachael Ray, 8. Nate Berkus, 9. Jenny McCarthy, and 10. James Fry.

Pempengco’s debut US album is set for release in February or March 2010, with the carrier single, “Pyramid,” available in record stores in January.