VIDEO: 9-Year-Old Angelica Hale Stuns Judges

There are so many talented kids out there, but only a few are courageous enough to go up on stage in front of hundreds of people.

A 9-year-old Filipina-American girl lit America’s Got Talent’s stage on fire with her standing-ovation-worthy performance!

According to Viral 4 Real, Angelica Hale always dreamed of performing on stage and becoming a superstar.

When asked what her dream was, addressing the judges, Hale said, “I want to be the next Whitney Houston. I want to be a superstar.”

The judges were surprised but they didn’t expect her performance to be the bomb! Angelica performed her own rendition of Andra Day’s hit song Rise Up and earned a standing ovation from the judging panel comprised of Mel B, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel.

“This shouldn’t happen—you’re tiny,” quipped Cowell. “You’re voice is huge. You are absolutely brilliant. I have a feeling we’re looking at a future star.”

But life wasn’t easy for Angelica Hale. At a very young age, Hale struggled with double pneumonia and also underwent a kidney transplant. But all these made her stronger. Her confidence on the stage showed just that.

The video of Hale’s audition has gone viral online, with over a million views garnered on YouTube less than 24 hours after the show’s broadcast.

“I just can’t believe this happened,” Hale posted on social media. “Thank you for believing in me and my dreams.”

According to Wikipedia, America’s Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of one million dollars.

The show debuted in June 2006 for the summer television season. From season three (2008) onwards, the prize includes the one million dollars, payable in a financial annuity over 40 years, and a chance to headline a show on the Las Vegas Strip.

Among its significant features is that it gives an opportunity to talented amateurs or unknown performers, with the results decided by an audience vote. The format is a popular one and has often been reworked for television in the United States and the United Kingdom.

This incarnation was created by Simon Cowell, and was originally due to be a 2005 British series called Paul O’Grady’s Got Talent but was postponed due to O’Grady’s acrimonious split with broadcaster ITV (later launching as Britain’s Got Talent in 2007). As such, the U.S. version became the first full series of the franchise.

The original judging panel consisted of David Hasselhoff, Brandy Norwood, and Piers Morgan. Sharon Osbourne replaced Norwood in season two (2007), and Howie Mandel replaced Hasselhoff in season five (2010). Howard Stern replaced Morgan in season seven (2012). Mel B replaced Osbourne in season eight (2013), while Heidi Klum joined as a fourth judge.

Simon Cowell replaced Stern in season eleven (2016). Regis Philbin was the original host (season one), followed by Jerry Springer for two seasons (2007–2008), followed by Nick Cannon for eight seasons (2009–2016). Supermodel and host Tyra Banks replaced Cannon for the twelfth season (2017).