‘America’s Got Talent’ And Simon Cowell Discover “The Next Taylor Swift”

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Contortionists, dancers, mimes, family bands, and….Tape Face. ‘America’s Got Talent’ is always good for providing us with unique and sometimes shocking entertainment. But, every now and then someone comes across the AGT stage that has something just a little extra special. 

Such is that case with a 12-year old ukulele player. During last night’s pre-taped AGT Season 11 auditions, we had a chance to witness a performance so stunning and so beautiful that we just had to share. 

Grace VanderWaal took the stage, ukulele in hand, to perform an original tune called “I Don’t Know My Name.” She immediately won the hearts of America and the judges with her huge smile and sweet countenance. When judge Simon Cowell asked VanderWaal if she had the support of her friends from school, the middle-schooler admitted that most of her friends didn’t even know she could sing and that they had no idea she was auditioning for the show. 

As Grace began to sing, it was obvious that she was completely unaware of the depth of her talent. She couldn’t help but smile when the crowd started clapping for her just moments into her performance. After a lengthy standing ovation, judge Howie Mandell gave Grace the second golden buzzer of the season, sending her straight to the live quarterfinals. In fact, hard-to-impress called VanderWall “the next Taylor Swift.”

“This is a show about surprises,” Mandel praised. “I think you are a living, beautiful, walking miracle. Your original song about people not knowing your name … I think the world is going to know your name.”

Watch Grace VanderWaal’s knockout performance of “I Don’t Know My Name” in the video below. Do you agree with Simon Cowell that Grace is the next Taylor Swift? Let us know in the comments below.