Despite raves from the judges on “America’s Got Talent: The Champions,” Pine native Jackie Evancho will not be singing in the next round.
Ms. Evancho, 18, failed to advance after Monday night’s all-star show on NBC. She had returned after placing second in the 2010 Season 5 finals, when she was a fifth-grader singing “contemporary crossover” music.
“We do have people, you know, they come on this show as kids, and then for whatever reason, over time they lose whatever they had in the first place,” said Simon Cowell, one of the four judges. “But you have actually got better. In my definition, that is a champion.”
Instead, reigning “AGT” champion Shin Lim, a magician, moves into next week’s first part of a two-part final. Joining him is 2009 “Ukraine’s Got Talent” winner Kseniya Simonova, a sand animation artist. The winner will be revealed Feb. 18.
Two acts advanced each week from five first-round shows. Four acts, including “Britain’s Got Talent” sensation Susan Boyle, advanced directly as “Golden Buzzer” choices. The others were voted in by “superfans” representing different parts of the United States. Host Terry Crews chose Ms. Simonova as his Golden Buzzer recipient.
The show was previously recorded, hence, no “live” voting from the audience.
After her second-place finish behind singer Michael Grimm back in the day, Ms. Evancho has gone on to a successful career. She has recorded seven albums, numerous holiday collections, met Oprah Winfrey and toured the world. During her introduction, she told the judges she considered this an opportunity for redemption.
She made headlines in 2017 at least twice. In January of that year, Ms. Evancho took flak when she agreed to sing the national anthem at the president’s inauguration. Later, she and her older sister, Juliet, a transgender woman, starred in “Growing Up Evancho,” a reality special on TLC.
As she left the stage after singing, Ms. Evancho told Mr. Crews how nice it was, being back: “I didn’t understand how much I missed it, until I was on that stage again, and it’s just home.”
Maria Sciullo: msciullo@post-gazette.com or @MariaSciulloPG.
First Published: February 5, 2019, 3:15 a.m.