America’s Got Talent crowned its season 12 champion Wednesday during a two-hour star-studded finale.
Young ventriloquist singer Darci Lynne, 12, was named the winner of the $1 million prize and will go on to headline a Las Vegas show as the result of her win, which came after an impressive performance that saw her singing The Beatles’ hit With A Little Help From My Friends, with two different dummies.
The talented young tween’s sensational win will come as no surprise to dedicated viewers of the show, as Darci had been tipped as a front-runner since her first appearance on the talent contest.
Winner! Talented ventriloquist Darci Lynn Farmer was crowned the winner of season 12 of America’s Got Talent on Wednesday
Overwhelmed: The 12-year-old was overcome with emotion after hearing the news, and sank towards the floor in tears
Teamwork: Darci was a favorite of the judges from the very start, and continued to wow them week after week with her unique performances, which she said she hoped would help to raise awareness about ventriloquism
Emotional: Darci burst into tears after learning that she had been crowned the winner of the show, a success which will see her earn a $1 million prize – and the chance to headline her own show in Las Vegas
Standing ovation: The judges looked ecstatic at the news of Darci’s victory
The season finale featured performances by Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain and British singer James Arthur.
The final 10 acts performed Tuesday on the NBC talent competition show, but had to endure an agonizing 24-hour wait before the winner of the contest was finally revealed in front of a live studio audience.
The field was narrowed down to the top five as host Tyra Banks, 43, announced the first results of viewer voting.
Deaf singer Mandy Harvey, dog act Sara & Hero, light-up dance crew Light Balance, and 10-year-old singer Angelica Hale all finished in the top five alongside blonde tween Darci – who was overjoyed at winning the competition.
From the start: Mel B was on hand to comfort Darci and congratulate her, having been one of her biggest fans throughout the entire show
No hard feelings: The ventriloquist’s biggest rival, 10-year-old singer Angelica Hale, happily hugged her after they discovered she had won
Third place was awarded to Tyra Banks’ golden buzzer pick – Ukrainian dance crew Light Balance.
Fourth place was deaf singer Mandy, 29, while fifth place went to Canadian dog-trainer Sara, 22, and her acrobatic pup Hero.
The remaining finalists who did not make the top five were: singer/songwriter Chase Goehring, dance group Diavolo, comedian Preacher Lawson, plane crash survivor and singer Kechi, and young singer Evie Clair, who lost her father to cancer earlier this month.
Tense: The two young girls were the final acts standing before the winner was revealed
The announcement came after 52 million public votes that host Tyra Banks, 43, said was the ‘biggest vote in AG history.’
Kelly Clarkson kicked off the entertainment with a performance of What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger) with Kechi Okwuchi and Angelica.
The former American Idol winner also did a solo of her new hit Love So Soft.
Talented trio: Kelly Clarkson performed with Angelica and Kechi Okwuchi
Sage advice: The American Idol winner performed and offered advice to the finalists
Good loser: Angelica was more than happy to congratulate her rival, and admitted she was thrilled with her run on the show
Kelly’s wisdom for the finalists: ‘It’s all about getting on TV…even if you don’t win, you’re still on the show the same amount of time as everyone else’.
Diavolo performed with Light Balance to Harry Styles’ hit Sign Of The Times.
At the end of the show a dancer pulled off his mask to reveal himself as Derrick Hough from Dancing With The Stars.
Surprise appearance: Derek Hough revealed that he was part of the Light Balance crew
Sara and Hero did a dog training session with the judges and their pets.
Heidi brought her two German shepherds Max and Freddie.
‘If anyone comes onto my property they are like mincemeat, immediately,’ giggled the former supermodel.
German shepherds: Heidi Klum brought her two German shepherds for a training session with Sara
She wore lemon: The German-born beauty shined in a bright yellow dress
Mel B brought her two French bulldogs and Howie had his bulldog Harvey in tow.
Simon has three unruly Yorkshire terriers named Freddie, Squiddly and Diddly.
‘You can’t teach an old judge new tricks,’ said Sara, as the session descended into chaos.
Dog lover: Simon Cowell brought his three Yorkshire terriers Freddie, Squiddly and Diddly
Lie down: Howie Mandel was commanded to lie down by Sara and followed orders
Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, made an appearance to introduce a duet with Shania Twain and Mandy.
Mandy, who has been deaf for a decade, sang You’re Sill The One with the country music icon.
Shania, 52, also did a solo of Life’s About To Get Good – with a troupe of male dancers clad in pastel shorts.
Oscar winner: Marlee Matlin introduced a duet by deaf singer Mandy Harvey and country icon Shania Twain
Dynamic duo: Shania and Mandy belted out You’re Still The One together
New song: The Canadian singer also performed her new song Life’s About To Get Good
Darci met with one of the world’s greatest ventriloquists, Jeff Dunham.
‘I’m so proud of you, everything you’ve been doing,’ he told the twelve-year-old Oklahoma-resident.
Dunham’s pedantic dummy noted that America’s Got Talent ‘isn’t even proper English’.
The judges: Howie, Mel B, Heidi and Simon presided over season 12 of the NBC talent competition show
‘It’s America has talent, Simon didn’t think of that eh?’ he asked.
Darci then performed a set with AGT’s season two winner Terry Fator, and his dummy Winston the Turtle.
Howie Mandel, who used to be a comedian, spent the day with Preacher Lawson on Hollywood’s comedy strip.
Hollywood act: Preacher Lawson met up with Howie and tried out his comedy routine at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood
Still funny: Howie performed his own stand-up routine at the Hollywood venue
‘I think you’re one of the best I’ve seen in the last decade,’ Howie told the 26-year-old comic.
‘You be you, and you’re a winner,’ he added.
Evie Clair, 13, performed an original song with British singer/songwriter James Arthur, 29.
Competition: The young girl, of Oklahoma City, vied for the winner spot, as well as for the $1 million cash prize, during Tuesday’s episode, going up against nine other finalists
James Arthur also sang hit hit Say You Won’t Let Go with 21-year-old California singer Chase Goehring.
In a humorous skit Tyra went into a derelict warehouse to rock out with some of the most cringeworthy AGT rejects of the season.
AGT also offered the first sneak peak of the new My Little Pony Movie, which features Emily Blunt, Uzo Aduba and a song by Sia.
Hit song: British singer James Arthur performed his hit song Say You Won’t Let Go with Chase Goehring
Teaming up: Darci performed a set with AGT’s season two winner Terry Fator and his dummy Winston the Turtle
Season 12 of AGT introduced Tyra as host following the departure of former host Nick Cannon.
Darci was not the first young tween to be crowned as the winner of the show; season eleven was won by 13-year-old singer and songwriter Grace VanderWaal back in September 2016.
Darci made a huge impression on judges from day one with her unique act, when she took to the stage with one of her dummies in the very first round of the show.
Gifted: The tween had been the frontrunner of the hotly-contested reality competition, after performing on Tuesday night (pictured) with two different singing dummies
The talented star stepped onstage holding a rabbit puppet, apparently slightly nervous as she chatted with the judges — but any hint of stage fright disappeared as she sang the first notes of her chosen song, Summertime.
Oklahoma City-based Darci immediately stunned the judges with her powerful voice, which seemed to rise miraculously from her apparently shut mouth.
Darci expertly moved the puppet around, as if the enchanting voice were coming from the rabbit named Petunia.
The amazing performance went so well Darci earned a standing ovation and one of the highest honors of the show when Mel B hitting her Golden Buzzer, meaning Darci sailed through to the live shows.
From there, she continued to wow week on week, introducing the audience to a new puppet character each week, from a fluffy mouse called Oscar, to Edna Doorknocker – a sassy senior citizen with an enormous crush on Simon Cowell.
Throwback: Darci first made her mark on the stage back in June when she performed with Petunia for the first time (left), before returning a few weeks later with Oscar the mouse (right)
Popular: Edna Doorknocker – a sassy senior citizen with a crush on Simon Cowell – was the final dummy to make an appearance before the final
Where it all began: Darci received the Golden Buzzer from Mel B for her first appearance on the show, the very highest honor a competitor can receive
For the final round of the show, Darci brought back her first to favorites, Petunia and Oscar, who proceeded to sing a stunning ‘duet’ to the tune of The Beatles’ iconic hit.
The sensational performance earned yet another standing ovation from the judges and the audience, with viewers of the show quickly naming her as the likely winner of the competition – a prediction which turned out to be spot on.
Indeed, Darci’s only main competition, according to viewers, came in the form of another tween competitor, Angelica Hale, a 10-year-old singer with a powerful voice to rival talented singers decades older than her.
Confetti storm: The 12-year-old ventriloquist was lost among a flurry of confetti after winning season 12
So it was no surprise that as the final five were slowly eliminated, it was Darci and Angelica who remained on the stage – the final two competitors in the entire show, despite also being among the youngest.
Standing alongside Tyra Banks nervously before the results were read out, both girls looked less than confident, with each of them trembling with anticipation ahead of the big reveal.
But while Angelica finished alongside her rival in the top two, her finals performance of Clean Bandit’s Symphony was not enough to earn her the top spot – despite it also earning a standing ovation from the judges and the audience.
Indeed, Angelica hit such phenomenally high notes during her song, that even the often-frosty Simon couldn’t help but admit he was ‘gobsmacked’ by her talent.
Small but powerful: Angelica Hale, 10, was tipped as Darci’s biggest rival in the competition, having stunned judges week after week with her powerful voice
Star turn: Deaf singer Mandy Harvey also earned herself a spot in the top five
Take a bow wow: Sarah Carson and her dog Hero were also among the top five competitors
Lights, camera, action! Dance act Light Balance rounded out the top five
Meanwhile Heidi, who previously called Angelica her ‘personal favorite,’ started off the judge’s comments, before declaring: ‘Oh my gosh you are only four feet tall, but you are a giant! Unbelievable!’
She added: ‘And you know, Angelica, for me, I think you are the best singer we have in this entire competition.’
Howie chimed in, saying: ‘What a way to open this show! This is the finale and that felt like that was the finale! That was the way to close the show, let alone open it!’
Mel B was similarly blown away by Angelica’s performance, saying that she looked ‘comfortable and confident’ and without ‘one ounce of nervousness’ on the stage.
‘You took the stage and you controlled every note. That was just amazing! Absolutely amazing!’ Mel gushed.
Colorful character: Mel kept season 12 interesting with her constantly changing hair color and Armenian sayings