Grace Vanderwaal attends the 'America's Got Talent' Season 11 Live Show at Dolby Theatre on August 23, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images) (Photo : (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images))
"America's Got Talent" (AGT) Season 11 (2016) revealed its winner in the star-studded finale. Grace VanderWaal, the 12-year-old singer-songwriter, took home the most coveted trophy and $1 million grand prize. Here are a few things to know about the young star of NBC's long-running reality talent show.
According to VanderWaal's bio on network's official website, she makes her own songs and she started doing so at the age of three. She has been performing her songs for her family. VanderWaal took piano and saxophone lessons. However, Ukulele remains her instrument of choice, which she learnt playing from YouTube videos.
Her journey on "America's Got Talent" (AGT) began with her preliminary audition where she sang an original song titled "I Don't Know My Name," and she earned a golden buzzer by Howie Mandel. In the second round she sang another original song titled "Beautiful Thing." In semifinals she performed a song name "Light the Sky." And in finals, she performed her original song titled "Clay" with an anti-bullying message.
Following her first performance on "America's Got Talent" (AGT), she became quite popular on YouTube and her Youtube channel "Oh Never mind it's just me" garnered over 24,700,000 views and 590,000 subscribers. She is the first female artist to win "America's Got Talent" (AGT) after Bianca Ryan of Season 1 (2006).
In the finals, she beat singers like Sal Valentinetti, Laura Bretan, Brian Justin Crum, vocal group Linkin' Bridge, mentalist duo The Clairvoyants, comedic mime Tape Face, juggler Viktor Kee, magician Jon Dorenbos and contortionist Sofie Dossi to become the ultimate winner.
Meanwhile, USA Today reveals that she wanted to become an American Idol, which came to an end after its 15th season ended this year.
"It's always been a dream to go on 'American Idol,' but you have to be 15 or older," she said. "I'm not even gonna lie: I wasn't really a die-hard (AGT) fan before I auditioned. Of course, I've watched all the seasons. I've power-watched everything. I, of course, knew who (former Idol judge and new AGT judge) Simon Cowell was."
She has often been compared to Taylor Swift but Katy Perry is her one of her favourite artists. And she would love to collaborate with Jason Mraz.
"Jason Mraz, I would love to meet and just sing a song with. I really like his music and singing his songs."
Credit: YouTube.com/Oh Never mind it's just me
