Stepping onto the stage of America’s Got Talent is a daunting task for any seasoned performer, but 13-year-old Evelyn Errante from Phoenix, Arizona, tackled it with the confidence of a seasoned pro. Harboring a lifelong dream of starring on Broadway and becoming a musical theater superstar, the young singer decided to take the ultimate vocal risk for her audition: performing the notoriously difficult powerhouse ballad “Defying Gravity” from the hit musical Wicked.
The massive undertaking immediately split the judges’ table down the middle. Evelyn’s performance sent the live crowd into a frenzy, earning high praise from Sofia Vergara, who compared her to a real-life princess and declared she was perfect for the stage. Heidi Klum, drawing from her own grueling experiences performing on Broadway, commended Evelyn’s raw vocal instrument for a 13-year-old. While noting that the performance had areas that still needed training and polishing, Heidi enthusiastically handed her a “Yes.”
However, the road forward wasn’t easy. Howie Mandel admitted that musical theater simply isn’t an art form he responds to, delivering a quick “No.” That left Evelyn’s fate entirely in the hands of Simon Cowell, who shocked the room by admitting he actually detests the song itself. Yet, despite his hatred for the track, Simon couldn’t deny Evelyn’s incredible grit. Commending her immense guts and ambition, he argued that the competition should absolutely encourage young artists with that kind of fire. Striking a dramatic final vote, Simon gave her the third “Yes” she needed, keeping her Broadway dream alive and sending her through to the next round.
