In 2016, a shy girl named Grace VanderWaal, 12, went on the stage of America’s Got Talent with only her ukulele and a song she had written. “I’m doing my own song tonight because it shows who I am,” she said, giving us a sneak peek at the amazing talent that would soon take the world by storm.
She strummed the first chords of “I Don’t Know My Name,” and everyone in the room and millions of people watching at home were deeply moved. But Judge Howie Mandel was so moved that he pressed the coveted Golden Buzzer, which filled the stage with confetti and made sure Grace would be in the live shows.
It was Mandel who said, “You are a living, beautiful, walking miracle,” and it was Simon Cowell who said, “I think you are the next Taylor Swift.” Both Heidi Klum and Mel B were impressed. Klum just said, “That is a big wow.”
Grace’s original songs and emotional depth wowed both the crowd and the judges throughout the competition. Winner of Season 11’s $1 million grand prize, she was one of the youngest people in AGT history.
Grace did well, but it didn’t end there. She went from singing to acting very easily. Her acting debut was in the 2020 Disney+ original movie Stargirl, where she played the lead part with natural charm.
Her acting career is still going strong, and she will soon play a rising pop singer in Francis Ford Coppola’s epic film Megalopolis. This much-anticipated project brings together her musical skills and her growing starring career.
As Grace’s fame grows, her haunting melodies and deep words continue to draw fans all over the world. Many people compare Grace to Taylor Swift, but she has made her own way in the showbiz business.
From her days as a shy teenager to her current life as a multifaceted Hollywood star, Grace VanderWaal has shown that she is more than just a short-lived star. What Howie Mandel said would happen did happen, and now everyone knows her name. Grace doesn’t seem to be slowing down either.
Watch Grace’s unforgettable audition for American Idol and shows on Peacock to see the birth of a star who keeps getting brighter every day.
