Ventriloquist Miss Louisiana Drops Jaws Yodeling Along To ‘Cowboy’s Sweetheart’

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Amongst a plethora of song and dance routines during the talent portion of the 2018 Miss America pageant, one contestant rose above the rest.

Not Your Ordinary Talent

Miss Louisiana, 22-year-old Laryssa Bonacquisti, confused pageant goers initially when she took the stage armed with two puppets. However, Banacquisti quickly changed their mind once she and her “friends” began yodeling along to Patsy Montana and the Prairie Ramblers’ classic “I Wanna Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.”

The talented ventriloquist wowed the pageant judges – the panel including country singer Thomas Rhett – visibly making their jaws drop when she began yodeling with her mouth closed.

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Bonacquisti told social media that, “My “friends” help me get my message across to people of all ages! I cannot wait to show everyone why I love my talent on the Miss America stage!” 

She Started Young

Bonacquisti began practicing ventriloquism when she was only 6 years old, her unique gift for the art form inevitably helping her win the title of Miss Louisiana and place 7th in the overall Miss America pageant.

Coincidentally, Bonacquisti is the ventriloquist who taught Darci Lynne Farmer (Season 12 winner of America’s Got Talent) the secrets of the trade.

You can watch her performance of “Cowboy’s Sweetheart” below!