Remember Grace VanderWaal, the 12-year-old girl with a ukulele who stole hearts on America’s Got Talent? Well, she’s all grown up now, and her voice is more powerful than ever! At 21 years old, Grace gave a breathtaking performance of The Impossible Dream (The Quest) at the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors. She sang in honor of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, and she completely wowed the audience. With her deep, husky vocals and raw emotion, Grace made sure everyone in the room felt the power of the song.
Grace didn’t hold back for a second. She poured her heart into every note, and when she reached the grand finale, it was pure magic. Her powerhouse vocals were incredible, leaving the audience in awe. The Impossible Dream (The Quest) comes from the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha, a song about chasing greatness against all odds. It was the perfect tribute to Coppola, a filmmaker who has changed cinema forever.
The Kennedy Center shared Grace’s performance on YouTube on December 23, 2024. Fans quickly filled the comment section with love and admiration. Many remembered her as the quirky little girl from AGT, amazed at how much she had grown. One fan wrote, “That was beautiful – the range, the power, the vocal cracks, the emotions. That was phenomenal.” Another commented, “She was so spunky and adorable on AGT all those years ago. Simon knew she was star material. Now she sings so soulfully. Nice to see her success.”
Grace first appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2016 during Season 11. She stood out by performing only her original songs while playing her ukulele—a rare and impressive feat for a 12-year-old. Her unique voice, charming personality, and songwriting talent made her an instant favorite. Millions of people watched her performances on YouTube, and she became a star overnight.
Her journey on AGT was unforgettable. Judge Howie Mandel was so impressed with her audition song, I Don’t Know My Name, that he hit the golden buzzer, sending her straight to the live shows. From there, Grace continued to shine, making it all the way to the finals and winning the entire competition!
Since then, Grace has built a successful music career. She signed with Columbia Records and released her first EP, Perfectly Imperfect, on December 2, 2016. It was a hit, reaching number nine on the Billboard 200. In 2017, she dropped her debut album, Just the Beginning, which reached number 22 in the U.S. and even charted internationally. She followed that up with another EP, Letters Vol. 1, in 2019.
But music isn’t the only thing Grace has been up to—she’s also made a name for herself in acting! Since 2020, she has appeared in three films. Her most recent role was in Megalopolis, the highly anticipated 2024 movie written and directed by none other than Francis Ford Coppola himself.
From a talented kid on America’s Got Talent to a respected singer and actress, Grace VanderWaal’s journey has been nothing short of amazing. And with her passion and talent, this is just the beginning!
