Grace VanderWaal

Grace VanderWaal was a singer/ukulelist act from Season 11 of America's Got Talent. She was the winner of the competition, claiming the $1,000,000 prize and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas.

Background
Grace VanderWaal was born on January 1, 2004 and is from Suffern, New York. She lives with her mother, father, her older brother by four years and her older sister (also her best friend) by three years Olivia, and two dogs. Grace started writing music at the age of three, making up songs with her wireless microphone. She bought her first Ukulele with her birthday money from her 11th birthday. Before her audition, she had sung with very small audiences but had never sung in front of very large crowds. Grace is also lactose intolerant.

Audition
Grace VanderWaal's audition in Episode 1102 consisted of singing her original song "I Don't Know My Name", a song about finding who you are and where you fit in, while playing the ukulele. Moved by her performance, Howie Mandel pressed his Golden Buzzer to send Grace straight to the Live Shows. Simon Cowell later commented that he thought that she could be the next Taylor Swift.

Quarterfinals
Grace VanderWaal's Week 3 Quarterfinals performance in Episode 1115 consisted of singing her original song "Beautiful Thing", a song dedicated to her sister, while playing the ukulele. Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all gave her standing ovations. Grace received enough votes to be sent to the Semifinals in Episode 1116 along with Brian Justin Crum.

Semifinals
Grace VanderWaal's Week 1 Semifinals performance in Episode 1117 consisted of singing her original song "Light The Sky" while playing the ukulele. Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all gave her standing ovations. Grace VanderWaal received enough votes to be sent to the Finals in Episode 1118 instead of Lori Mae Hernandez and Musicality.

Finals
Grace VanderWaal's Finals performance in Episode 1121 consisted of singing her original song "Clay". Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all gave her standing ovations.

Finale
For the finale in Episode 1122, Grace VanderWaal sang her original song "I Don't Know My Name". Grace received enough votes to advance to the Top 5 instead of Sofie Dossi. Grace finished in first place in the competition in front of The Clairvoyants, Jon Dorenbos, Brian Justin Crum and Sal Valentinetti, winning one million dollars and a headline show in Las Vegas.

Trivia

 * Grace is the first child act, and the first female to win since Bianca Ryan in Season 1.
 * At 12 years of age, she is the second-youngest winner of America's Got Talent.
 * She is the first singing act to win since Season 6.
 * She is the second consecutive Golden Buzzer act to win after Paul Zerdin. But she is the first winner to have received the Golden Buzzer in the auditions by one of the main judges.
 * Grace's audition video on AGT's YouTube channel is the most liked video of any AGT video.