‘America’s Got Talent’: Angelica Stuns Audience, Hopes To Be New Whitney Houston

Angelica Hale is hoping to be the next Whitney Houston, and her dream just might come true based on her incredible America’s Got Talent audition.

Angelica is just nine years old but has a voice well beyond her years, showing the America’s Got Talent judges Tuesday night that she was ready to be the next big thing.

“I wanna be the next Whitney Houston. I want to be a superstar,” Angelica proclaimed to the judges and the audience. “And I’m so happy to be here, because I’ve been watching your show on YouTube and now I feel like I’m in it, and I’m so awestruck!”

The judges were all charmed by Angelica’s comments, but it was time to prove she had what it took to back up those claims. As she started performing a cover of Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” it became clear that she was in it to win America’s Got Talent. The young singer belted out at the song’s most powerful moments and reached some incredibly high notes with perfect pitch. The judges were visibly shaken by her performance, and the audience leapt to their feet.

“This shouldn’t actually happen! You’re tiny. You’re voice is huge,” judge Simon Cowell said. “I have a feeling we may be looking at a star in the future.”

The rest of the judges were just as impressed with little Angelica’s huge voice.

“Wow, I had goosebumps everywhere,” said Heidi Klum. “You’re a clever little girl, and you said you want to be a superstar. I think that might happen for you, let me tell you.”

“You are so special and your voice is so amazing,” Mel B added. “Thank you so much for sharing this with us today.”

Angelica pointed out that Mel B was her favorite judge on the panel, and the former Spice Girls member walked on stage to give show her some love. Simon comedically pressed his “X” buzzer when learning that Mel B was her preferred judge, quipping, “It was all going so well!”

While Angelica was happy about the comments from these three America’s Got Talent judges, it was Howie Mandel’s words that appeared to resonate with her most of all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TddQEzW9MQM

“Angelica, you said you’ve been watching this on YouTube and you felt like now you’re in it. I believe that not only are you in it, I predict that all your dreams are gonna come true, young lady,” Howie proclaimed, to which Angelica was visibly moved.

Simon, Heidi, Mel B and Howie all gave Angelica a “yes” to move forward to the next round of America’s Got Talent, with Simon saying that she was “absolutely brilliant.” Angelica waved cheerfully to the audience as she ran offstage to greet her loving parents.

Angelica will move on to the America’s Got Talent Judges Cuts, where acts perform a second time and the judges pick and choose which acts advance to the live shows. Young singers tend to do well on America’s Got Talent, as seen last season with 12-year-old Grace VanderWaal, who went on to win the season. Eleven-year-old Bianca Ryan also won the very first season of America’s Got Talent in 2006.

Season 12 of America’s Got Talent has already featured multiple cute kid acts in its first two episodes. In addition to Angelica, other child performers who have impressed the judges include singing ventriloquist Darci Lynne, dancing duo Artyon and Paige, and dancer Merrick Hanna. The Golden Buzzer, which automatically advances acts to the live show, has been activated twice thus far, for Darci Lynne in the Season 12 premiere, and for 29-year-old deaf singer Mandy Harvey on Tuesday.

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

[Featured Image by Trae Patton/NBC]