America’s Got Talent

Grace VanderWaal won the 11th season of *AGT*. Grace has been named as one of the most successful contestants of *AGT* of all time.

## Background

Grace told *Teen Vogue* “It’s always been a dream to audition for *American Idol*, but you have to be 15 or older. And as you may know, this [was] the last season. And so we always said that when I was 15, I was going to audition for *American Idol*. And then one day my mom just called me downstairs and she had her laptop out and was like, ‘I signed you up for *America’s Got Talent*.’ Just like that. And then the next weekend I auditioned.”

## Her audition

Prior to her audition, Grace had only sang at the Bean Runner Cafe on a few open mic nights in NY. Grace auditioned for *America’s Got Talent* on March 4, 2016 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, CA.

She was originally going to sing *Dog Days Are Over* by Florence and the Machine until producers confirmed she could sing an original.

Before she sang *I Don’t Know My Name* in front of millions of people, she admitted that her original was about her and that most of her friends didn’t really know she sang. Simon Cowell asked her “Do you believe that you can win?”, to which she replied “I mean, miracles can happen so possibly.”

Her performance with her ukulele immediately grabbed the attention of the crowd and she received a standing ovation. Howie Mandel said “You know, this is a show about surprises and you’ve used the word miracle and I think you are a living, beautiful, walking miracle. Your original of people not knowing your name is so right and so wrong because the world is gonna know your name. I think right now they’re gonna know your name because you are going straight to the live shows” and pressed the golden buzzer.

The audience cheered her on as her sister, Olivia, ran out to hug her and Grace cried tears of joy. Even Howie Mandel, a germaphobe, ran on to the stage to hug her. Simon Cowell told her “Grace, you know what I predict for you, I think you are the next Taylor Swift.” Grace said “I’m kind of just daydreaming and I’m getting ready to wake up” when asked how she felt before leaving the stage in awe.

## In between the audition and the live shows

Grace’s audition would not air on national television until June 7, 2016. After her new found fame, she kept going to open mic nights at the Bean Runner Cafe, started uploading originals to her YouTube channel Oh Never Mind It’s Just Me - Grace VanderWaal and started performing at local concerts around her area.

## The live shows

She performed *Beautiful Thing*, a song she had written for her sister, for the Quarterfinals. She sang *Light the Sky* for the semi finals and she sang *Clay* for the finals. On September 14, 2016, she was named the $1 million dollar prize winner of *America’s Got Talent*. Grace reacted by crying tears of joy.

## The aftermath

She appeared on national tv shows and signed a recording deal with Columbia soon after winning. Taylor Swift sent her flowers with a note saying “Keep following your dreams, Taylor” and Jason Mraz called her, congratulating her. On the Ellen show, Grace clarified what Simon Cowell meant when he told her was the next Taylor Swift saying “And that’s what I meant when I called you the next Taylor Swift, not cuz you look like her, not cuz you sound like her, he’s worked with Taylor Swift and she’s like strong and knows her opinions and that’s how he feels about me.” On October 27-29, 2016, she headlined her own show at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas.

## What she did with the money

She donated some of the money to charity, got a very cool treehouse built by Pete Nelson from Treehouse Masters, and got a pug named Frankie (short for Frankenstein).

## Grace’s times back at AGT

Grace was part of the Holiday Spectacular that aired on December 18, 2016, singing *Frosty The Snowman*. She also sang her single, *Moonlight*, on the show back in August of 2017.