Off The Record

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

Published on August 30, 2024

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

“I’m doing my own song tonight, because I really think that it shows who I am,” said the then-12-year-old Grace, who was born in Kansas and lived in New York at the time. “I hope. I hope it does.”

To cut a long tale short, yes.

Because of her outstanding performance, Grace was tipped to become “the next Taylor Swift.” It also put her on a successful, confetti-covered road. In Season 11, she won the $1 million prize on AGT.

Grace VanderWaal’s First AGT Audition

“Miracles can happen, so possibly,” Grace told Judge Simon Cowell when he asked her if she believed she could win.

When Simon inquired about the song she’d be doing, she said, “It’s about me.” Then she added that most of her school friends “don’t really know I sing.”

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 of “I Don’t Know My Name,” a candid, heartfelt song about discovering who you are.

“I don’t know my name. I don’t play by the rules of the game,” Grace sang. “So you say I’m just trying, just trying.”

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.

“This is a show about surprises,” he said. “You used the word miracle, and I think you are a living, beautiful, walking miracle.”

“You’re original,” Howie continued, as he alluded to the lyrics of her song. “People 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 they’re going to know your name.”

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. “You are amazing,” he told her.

Simon shared that Grace’s talent for finding songwriting inspiration in her own life reminded him of a pop superstar. “Grace, you know what I predict for you,” he said. “I think you are the next Taylor Swift.”

“What a great girl. What a great personality,” Simon said to his fellow judges.

“Wow,” said Heidi Klum. “That is a big wow.”

“She is special,” said Mel B.

“Do you think you’ve got a star now?” Howie asked Simon.

“I 100 percent think we’ve got a star,” said Simon, who added that he was “annoyed” that he didn’t get to press the Golden Buzzer.

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

View previous seasons of America’s Got Talent on Peacock right now.