An incredibly gifted tween ventriloquist wowed America’s Got Talent’s judges again on Tuesday night, be serenading Simon Cowell with an Aretha Franklin classic.
Darci Lynne, 12, earned the golden buzzer during her on-air audition in June, and has kept upping her game ever since by introducing new characters to her routines.
The Oklahoma City girl debuted her newest companion in the semifinals, stepping onstage with a puppet named Edna Doorknocker—an elderly lady with an ardent crush on Simon.
Duo: Ventrioloquist Darci Lynne, 12, debuted her newest companion on America’s Got Talent on Tuesday, stepping onstage with a puppet named Edna Doorknocker
Ambitious: The Oklahoma City girl earned the golden buzzer during her on-air audition in June, and has kept upping her game ever since by introducing new characters to her routines
‘He’s a hit with the ladies in their eighties back at the home, ya know?’ Edna told Darci about Simon when the ventriloquist pulled her out of a suitcase.
Darci amazingly managed to give Edna and accent and a slightly raspy voice, contrasting with her own tone.
When Darci raised her concerns about Edna and Simon’s age difference, pointing out that the 57-year-old judge could give the elderly puppet ‘a heart attack’, Edna boldly replied: ‘Oh don’t worry, Darci, Simon knows mouth-to-mouth.’
The girl pretended to look disgusted, complaining: ‘Ew, TMI!’ while Simon laughed at the exchange.
After a bit of banter, Edna explained she was just trying to tell Simon how he makes her feel, at which point Darci suggested the puppet should sing him a song.
Flame: Edna had an ardent crush on Simon Cowell and decided to serenade the judge by singing Aretha Franklin’s A Natural woman for him
Getting closer: At one point during the song, Edna asked Darci to bring her next to Simon, and the girl agreed to the character’s request
Taking it in stride: Simon didn’t seem to mind the attention and clapped for Darci as she hit all of the song’s highest notes without so much as moving her lips
Edna seemed to like the suggestion, and Darci launched into a flawless rendition of the 1967 classic A Natural Woman.
She hit all of the song’s highest notes without even moving her lips, and even managed to continue to interact with the puppet, who asked Darci mid-song to bring her close to Simon.
Darci agreed to the request, and finished her performance next to the judge, who apparently enjoyed the routine and duly clapped to congratulate Darci.
His fellow judges, Mel B, Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum, followed suit by giving the girl a standing ovation.
High praise? ‘He’s a hit with the ladies in their eighties back at the home, ya know?’ Edna told Darci about Simon when the ventriloquist pulled her out of a suitcase
They love it! Simon’s fellow judges , Mel B, Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum, followed suit by giving the girl a standing ovation
Future: The audience will decide whether Darci becomes a finalist or not, with the result of the vote being announced tonight
Despite the judges’ clear enthusiasm for her act, Darci’s future on the show isn’t sealed yet. At this stage of the competition, finalists will be picked according to a vote by the audience, the results of which will be revealed tonight.
Amazingly, Darci began singing aged six and entered pageants prompted by her mother, who hoped the performances would help her daughter overcome her shyness.
After winning several pageants and talent shows, Darci gave ventriloquism a try when she was 10.
The multi-talented girl has enjoyed it so much she has given up on another activity, gymnastics, to focus on performing.