A musical show on Tuesday America’s Got Talent earned a contestant praise from judge Simon Cowell, not to mention a fast track to the show’s next round.
Lavender Darcangelo is a 27-year-old singer who took the stage with her father. She said she had been singing since she was three, although she didn’t speak until she was four and a half, before adding, “I’m also autistic and blind.”
Darcangelo went on to say that she’s on the show because she has “a lot of dreams,” one of which is that she wants to start a school with classes based on what students are naturally curious about.
“So a school I would have thrived in,” she said.
Darcangelo also opened up about how she was adopted later in life after meeting her father, Will, through an afterschool music program he started. She was then adopted by Will, who was on stage, and her husband Jamie, who was watching from the audience.
The singer then performed her version of a song made famous by Irene Cara in the film Fame, “Out Here On My Own”, which was powerful and impressive and ultimately earned a standing ovation from everyone in the audience, as well as the four judges.
After Darcangelo’s performance ended, Cowell was the first judge to give his reaction.
“It was sensational. Honestly, sensational,” he said. “Everything was magical, magical. You have such a talent. You have such an incredible personality. And you know what? We do the show because we meet people like you from time to time. And I’m so happy that you are came on our show to share your talent with us because it’s an audition I’ll never forget. It was amazing, amazing.”
Judge Sofia Vergara called the song “spectacular” and “beautiful” and said at one point she forgot she was judging and just enjoying Darcangelo’s voice, while Howie Mandel called it “a dream come true”.
Then came the time for Heidi Klum’s balance sheet.
“I feel like I’m falling in love,” she said. “This AGT journey is an amazing journey, and I would love to be your cheerleader and hold your hand to the finish line.
And at that point, Klum put his “buzzer” where his mouth is by pressing a Golden Buzzer, which automatically sends Darcangelo straight to the next round of the show, known as the start of “live shows.” .
She becomes the fifth performer this season to win a Golden Buzzer and joins other musical groups like the Mzansi Youth Choir, 8-year-old drummer Chioma and 17-year-old singer Putri Ariani – who also happens to be blind. The only remaining Golden Buzzer belongs to Vergara.
As golden confetti fell from the rafters, tears fell for Darcangelo and his dads. Klum rushed to the stage to celebrate, and host Terry Crews came out to finally ask Darcangelo how she was feeling.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s a dream or if I’m really awake.”
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.