Judges Thought She Picked A Hard Song, But Once She Started Singing I Got Chills

Singer-songwriter Grace WanderWaal offered a brief sneak peek during her audition in 2016, right before she made her stage debut on Americaโ€™s Got Talent.

โ€œIโ€™m doing my own song tonight, because I really think that it shows who I am,โ€ย said the then-12-year-old Grace, who was born in Kansas and lived in New York at the time.ย โ€œI hope. I hope it does.โ€

To cut a long tale short, yes.

Because of her outstanding performance, Grace was tipped to becomeย โ€œthe next Taylor Swift.โ€ย It also put her on a successful, confetti-covered road. In Season 11, she won the $1 million prize on AGT.

Grace VanderWaalโ€™s First AGT Audition

โ€œMiracles can happen, so possibly,โ€ย Grace told Judge Simon Cowell when he asked her if she believed she could win.

Source:ย Flickr

When Simon inquired about the song sheโ€™d be doing, she said,ย โ€œItโ€™s about me.โ€ย Then she added that most of her school friendsย โ€œdonโ€™t really know I sing.โ€

Her friends and everyone watching AGT were the first to hear her distinctive voice and expressive songwriting approach.

Grace, accompanied on ukulele, wowed from the opening note ofย โ€œI Donโ€™t Know My Name,โ€ย a candid, heartfelt song about discovering who you are.

โ€œI donโ€™t know my name. I donโ€™t play by the rules of the game,โ€ย Grace sang.ย โ€œSo you say Iโ€™m just trying, just trying.โ€

What did the judges say?

As the applause died down and the standing crowd took their seats, Grace got ready to find out what the four judges thought of her audition.

Howie Mandel was eager to express his opinions.

โ€œThis is a show about surprises,โ€ย he said.ย โ€œYou used the word miracle, and I think you are a living, beautiful, walking miracle.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re original,โ€ย Howie continued, as he alluded to the lyrics of her song.ย โ€œPeople not knowing your name is so right and so wrong, because I think the world is going to know your name. I think right now theyโ€™re going to know your name.โ€

He then hit the Golden Buzzer, sending Grace straight to live performances. Howie hurried over to give Grace a hug as she broke down in happy emotions.ย โ€œYou are amazing,โ€ย he told her.

Simon shared that Graceโ€™s talent for finding songwriting inspiration in her own life reminded him of a pop superstar.ย โ€œGrace, you know what I predict for you,โ€ย he said.ย โ€œI think you are the next Taylor Swift.โ€

โ€œWhat a great girl. What a great personality,โ€ย Simon said to his fellow judges.

โ€œWow,โ€ย said Heidi Klum.ย โ€œThat is a big wow.โ€

โ€œShe is special,โ€ย said Mel B.

โ€œDo you think youโ€™ve got a star now?โ€ย Howie asked Simon.

โ€œI 100 percent think weโ€™ve got a star,โ€ย said Simon, who added that he wasย โ€œannoyedโ€ย that he didnโ€™t get to press the Golden Buzzer.

Grace began her acting career in Stargirl and has since recorded CDs after gaining notoriety on Americaโ€™s Got Talent. In Francis Ford Coppolaโ€™s Megalopolis, she portrays a pop star.

View previous seasons of Americaโ€™s Got Talent on Peacock right now.

 

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