The contestants on America’s Got Talent just keep getting better and better. During Tuesday’s episode of the talent competition show, judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel were completely caught off guard when 10-year-old Maya Neelakantan took the stage and performed Papa Roach’s hit Last Resort on her electric guitar.
The young girl from India began her act by strumming a slower, more traditional song before rocking out to the heavy metal tune. In the first 20 seconds of the segment, AGT judge Sofía Vergara’s mouth dropped open—and young Maya, who has since turned eleven, had barely gotten started
.
Sofia Vergara questions Maya’s age
“Are you sure you’re 10 years old?” Vergara asked after Neelakantan received a standing ovation from the audience and all four judges. “Your energy, your confidence. A perfect audition. Amazing.”
Mandel inquires about inspirations
Mandel followed with a question. “Who inspired you??” he asked.
The judges and the audience gave the young girl a standing ovation as she revealed: “Alex Jones from Tool and Gary Holt, the guitarist from Exodus and Slayer.”
Klum praises Maya’s viral moment potential
Mandel added, “Well, I think you just picked yourself up a viral moment.” Klum added, “Everyone in this room loved what you just did. You should be very proud of yourself.”
Cowell expresses admiration for Maya’s transformation
“You know what I love about this audition?” Cowell asked. “You just weren’t expecting this. You were so shy, and you’re 10! And then you turned into, like, this rock goddess.”
Cowell commends career beginnings
Neelakantan received a standing ovation for her performance. “That is the beginning of a career, which I always say, ‘Make noise among the noise.’ And you just did that.
he added.
Cowell’s Golden Buzzer moments
This season has been full of surprises. Earlier this month, Cowell made show history by pressing the highly sought-out Golden Buzzer twice in one episode. Cowell first pressed the Golden Buzzer for Chicago-based singer Liv Warfield after she delivered a lively performance with her band.
Later in the episode, a group of six men called Sky Elements performed an impressive drone light show.
In a shocking turn of events, Cowell pressed the same buzzer for the second time, immediately prompting questions from production, his fellow judges, and the audience.
As Simon himself remarked: “I had to
“, regardless of curiosity expressed by his fellow judges like Howie Mandel on whether rules would change for season 19.
Follow Us
