Remember Angelica Hale, the nine-year-old Filipino-American girl who first made a splash as the only contestant who earned a Golden Buzzer during the audition phase of “America’s Got Talent” last month?
She’s back on the popular talent search series and just earned her second straight Golden Buzzer with another stirring performance during the Judge Cuts phase of the competition.
Taking on Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire,” Angelica was pretty much in the zone as she belted out the popular R&B tune and karaoke favorite in show-stopping fashion.
Angelica’s performance drew wild cheers and appreciative responses from judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell and guest judge, Chris Hardwick.
“I’m so blown away because you walked out and you got this sneakers on and you look like this adorable little child and you opened your mouth, it’s like how did those pipes fit in that tiny body? You are unbelievable!” exclaimed the visibly impressed Hardwick, a popular entertainer known for his stand-up comedy and podcasts.
Hardwick then empathetically declared, “I just feel like…Angelica, you are the chosen one!” before ringing his buzzer.
The official video of Angelica’s performance had earned over 1.5 million views on YouTube and 8.9 million plus on the Facebook page of “America’s Got Talent” as of posting time.
Daughter of a Filipina who hails from Iligan City and currently based in Atlanta, Angelica is a survivor of a life-threatening kidney disease. When she was only four years old, she developed a medical condition that turned out to be a bacterial infection in her lungs which later progressed to double pneumonia.
Angelica’s illness severely damaged her kidneys. As a result, she had to be put on life support and needed kidney transplant. Fortunately, her mother Eva turned out to be a perfect match for her and after Eva donated her kidney to her daughter, Angelica fully recovered and is now pursuing what many see now as a very promising singing career.
She is the first to receive a Golden Buzzer from the remaining Top 36 acts and will advance to the Live Shows phase of the competition.
Watch Angelica Hale’s performance of “Girl on Fire” on “America’s Got Talent” here:
