Top 10 Best Kid Talents in America's Got Talent
#10: Bianca Ryan
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This then 11-year-old singer wowed the judges so much that she took home the top prize on the first season of “America’s Got Talent.” Interestingly, Bianca was actually trained as a dancer from a young age and only changed gears when she decided to audition for “Star Search” as a singer instead. In her audition for “America’s Got Talent”, she performed the Dreamgirls torch song “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and got “yes” votes from all three judges. She continued to impress the judges and audiences alike, and became the first singer, the first female, and the first kid winner of the show.
#9: Anna Graceman
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Another talented 11-year-old songstress, Anna Graceman made it to the Top 10 in the sixth season of “America’s Got Talent.” Graceman’s parents fostered a love of music in her at a very young age, playing classical music for her even before she was born. By 18 months old, she was singing the melodies of entire songs, and by four she was playing the piano. Clearly their nurturing paid off because she made it all the way to the finals, impressing the judges – and audiences - along the way.
#8: Adrian Romoff
Not only is this kid a whiz on the piano, but he’s also pretty much a genius, having skipped five grades in school. In his quarterfinal performance, Romoff performed Euphemia Allen's "Chopsticks" and Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" and managed to garner a standing ovation from judge Heidi Klum. Ultimately, he didn’t get enough votes to be able to move on in the competition, but it worked out alright for him, though. At only 9 years old, he was invited to attend Juilliard School of Music, and went on to win a $100,000 college scholarship.
#7: Jackie Evancho
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After hearing this impressive performance, it’s hard to believe that Jackie Evancho’s parents didn’t realize that their daughter’s singing ability was anything special. After seeing a film version of “Phantom of the Opera”, Jackie became enthralled with all things opera and went around the house singing all day. Her parents thought her voice was “nice”, but it took seeing the audience’s reaction after a performance at a local talent show to realize just how incredible her talent was. AGT’s judges and the audience, however, were impressed from the get-go and Evancho ultimately placed second in season 5 of the show, paving the way for fellow operatic hopeful Laura Bretan.
#6: Anna Christine
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Anna’s rendition of traditional folk song "The House of the Rising Sun" caught the eye of the judges in the audition phase of season 8, and her crooning brought her all the way to the semi-finals. In the quarter-finals she sang Nina Simone’s "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", and garnered many votes from the audience. After her final performance, the judges were split on whether she should proceed, with Howard Stern and Mel B. supporting her. Unfortunately the tiebreaker went to the audience’s votes and Anna was eliminated.
#5: Heavenly Joy Jerkins
This kid was made for show biz. With her parents being producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and singer Joy Enriquez, Heavenly Joy was primed for the stage from a very young age. The then-5-year old may not have made it past the Judge Cuts, but audiences were clearly impressed by her skills. Today, the video of her audition has received over 22 million views on YouTube since it aired. She sang a Broadway-worthy rendition of “In Summer” from the movie Frozen while tap dancing at the same time, reminding Howard Stern – and many others – of a modern Shirley Temple.
#4: Ruby and Jonas
Ballroom dancing may not seem like a pursuit for young people, but this light-footed duo defies expectations. Season 8 was actually the second time Ruby Castro appeared on the show, having made it to 6th place as a member of the dance troupe “The Untouchables” in the previous season. The two had worked together for less than a year before their show audition, but they'd quickly found success on and off the AGT stage. Ruby’s older brother D’Angelo, meanwhile, also appeared as a ballroom dancer in season 8 and, it was his act – D'Angelo and Amanda – that kept the younger duo out of the Semifinals.
#3: Victoria Jacoby
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Singing and dancing may be enviable skills, but you can’t help but be in awe of what this little girl can do. Her unbelievable contortionist skills seemed to defy biology, but she pulled them off with ease. Victoria, who was adopted from China when she was 6 months old, has some skills that can’t be replicated by just anyone. After being eliminated in the Vegas round, Victoria was brought back as a “wild card” contestant later on in the season. In the end however, and despite wowing the audience, she just didn’t get enough votes to make it to the quarter-finals.
#2: Kadan Bart Rockett
What do you call a renaissance man who isn't quite a man just yet? Whatever the title would be, Kadan Bart Rockett should definitely hold it. Landing on the show for his magic skills, Kadan is also an actor who starred in the movie “Dark Skies” with Keri Russell, as well as appearing in several TV spots and many commercials. He has even performed his act on cruise ships, in theatres, as well as for “Cirque: Illusions of Grandeur”. For his audition on the show, though, he stuck with his take on a stage magic classic: sawing his younger sister in half in front of the judges. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Yasha & Daniela Ballet Folklorico Mestizo Elias & Zion Phoenix
#1: Grace VanderWaal
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When Grace VanderWaal appeared on stage for the first time in the 11th season of “America’s Got Talent,” no one expected the powerhouse performance she gave. Howie Mandel gave her a “golden buzzer,” projecting her right to the live shows. Performing an original song with flavors of Regina Spektor and Florence Welch, even Simon Cowell was impressed, commenting that she could be the next Taylor Swift. The then-12 year old VanderWaal went on to win the competition and has since released an EP of her songs and has made numerous TV appearance to showcase her talents. There’s no doubt that we’ll be seeing more of her!
