Lai Noelle isn’t old enough to drive, drink or vote. But she is old enough, and good enough, to win NBC‘s America’s Got Talent.
The 14-year-old native of Dallas, Texas made it count during the Season 21 Live Quarterfinal of AGT, for a performance that aired on Tuesday night (Sept. 1). The glare of the big lights and the stress of the moment didn’t undermine Noelle, who absolutely smashed a reimagined cover of Elton John’s “Your Song.”
Noelle brought her own flair and power to the number, which was received by a standing ovation from the room. Those on their feet included judges Howie Mandel, Mel B and guest Kenan Thompson, stepping in for Simon Cowell. It was Cowell who, earlier in the season, gave Noelle the Golden Buzzer when she auditioned with Sienna Spiro’s “Die On This Hill.”
“Oh my gosh,” Mel B remarked after the latest performance. “You have so much more to learn and experience, but where you’re starting from is pure perfection. Let me tell you that right now. That was incredible.”
Vergara agreed. “I mean, you sound like you’re a huge artist already. I am a little bit upset because, you know that I was going to give you the Golden Buzzer and Simon just took it, took you away from me. But you know what, you deserve to hear. What a wonderful voice and what a wonderful song.”
Mandel remarked that Noelle was “so beyond your years.” And her talking voice was “nothing like your singing voice.” Cowell knows his stuff, Mandel reminded everyone in the place. Noelle is “a golden buzzer winner.”
Kenan didn’t waste any time. “I hope y’all ready for some more confetti,” the funnyman and actor warned. And with that, he instructed Vergara to activate the Golden Buzzer — on his behalf. And with it, streams of gold, spins, twirls and smiles. As the confetti rained down, Thompson explained that Noelle was “dynamically gifted” and an artist who brought that incredibly rare “wow factor.”
Eleven acts took the stage, and now America votes. Only, with the Golden Buzzer, Noelle can skip the drama and progress to the Finals.
Watch her performance below.
