Nine-year-old Angelica Hale from Atlanta, Georgia, is taking the internet by storm after her impressive performance in America’s Got Talent that aired on Tuesday.
Belting out the emotional lyrics of Andra Day’s “Rise Up” during the audition, Angelica showed a vocal range and talent far beyond her years that simply stunned everyone in the room.
“I want to be the next Whitney Houston. I want to be a superstar,” Angelica started, “And I’m so happy to be here, because I’ve been watching your show on Youtube and now I’m like, in it! And I’m so awestruck.”
The performance earned her a standing ovation and four yeses from the judging panel comprised of Mel B, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Simon Cowell.
“This shouldn’t happen. You’re tiny. Your voice is huge,” Simon told the young singer. “You are absolutely brilliant. I predict that all of your dreams are going to come true.”
The video of Angelica’s audition has gone viral online, with over two million views garnered on America’s Got Talent’s YouTube channel less than 24 hours after the show’s broadcast.
Angelica’s spot in the show revealed a touching backstory. Prior to Angelica’s performance, her parents told Tyra Banks, the show’s presenter, that the child needed a kidney transplant when she was four years old. In 2013, Angelica was on life support. It was only until discovering that her Filipina mother, Eva Bolando, was a match and the two went into surgery for a transplant.