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Home / Arts / Toronto 10-year-old singer Roberta Battaglia wows America’s Got Talent judges

Toronto 10-year-old singer Roberta Battaglia wows America’s Got Talent judges

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TORONTO, ON., June 4, 2020 — 10-year old Roberta Battaglia who is actually from Brampton, told America’s Got Talent Host Terry Crews of Brooklyn Nine-Nine fame, that her dream was to perform on AGT. Well, now she is living it as she delivered a riveting performance on her Season 15 audition Tuesday night that shook both the audience and the judges.

America’s Got Talent host, Terry Crews interviews Toronto singer Roberta Battaglia and her mom before the 10-year-old performer takes to the stage.

Battaglia’s soulful interpretation of the Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper Oscar-winning duet, “Shallow” from the film A Star Is Born not only yielded a standing ovation, but received the Golden Buzzer from “Modern Family” star Sophia Vergara. The buzzer, which sends the contestant straight to the semi-finals can only be pressed by each judge once, per season.

When young Roberta got on stage and told the judges she was from Toronto, Canada, fellow Canadian and judge Howie Mandel stood up and enthusiastically yelled “woooo” with his arms spread wide.

Sophia Vergara asks Toronto-born singer, Roberta Battaglia how old she is and where she is from, on auditions for Season 15 of America’s Got Talent. photo YouTube/NBC

Battaglia broke down crying when she said hello to the judges and she told Vergara “I love you and I watch you on Modern Family. I just adore you.”

When asked what she would do if she won the million dollars, Battaglia said she would get her dog, Happy a girlfriend. Simon Cowell liked the name and asked her what sort of dog she has and Battaglia said he is a Maltese Yorkie, “a Morkie.”

Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sophia Vergara and Simon Cowell look on as 10-year-old Roberta Battaglia is about to audition for Season 15 of America’s Got Talent. photo YouTube/NBC

Once Battaglia began to sing, judges Simon Cowell, Sophia Vergara, Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum watched in amazement as such a mature sounding voice was emanating from such a young person, Cowell, known fot being blunt and brutally honest, told the other judges to just shut their eyes and listen.

Cowell, 60 was noticeably impressed and told Battaglia she was “so likeable” and “so humble.”

The young Toronto singer said her father was her inspiration and she began performing on stage when she was just 3 1/2 years old. “My dad was an engineer at a local radio station and he would sing at restaurants and I would sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ when he would leave the microphone on the floor,” said Battaglia. “From then on I just loved singing and learned more songs.”

Toronto singer was so overjoyed to be living her dream, performing for so many people at her America’s Got Talent Season 15 audition. photo YouTube/NBC

“I feel like I’m just dreaming but it’s actually real life. And I just, I can’t believe it,” said Roberta Battaglia. “I might only be 10-years-old but I have big dreams,” said Battaglia.

The young singer told the judges that sometimes she gets bullied. To which, Simon Cowell responded with frowning eyebrows and a grin, “There’s one way you win over bullies. It’s by being happy and successful. Bullies are always threatened by talented people, so in a weird way it’s a compliment,” said Cowell reassuringly. ““It shows your strength that you’ve come all the way from Canada to be here,” he added. “We are honoured to have you as our guest.”

“It was amazing. It was breathtaking,” added Modern Family star, Sophia Vergara. “You’re 10 years old. It’s impossible to sing like that at 10-years-old. And you know what? Let’s see who’s going to bully you after this,” she beamed as she pressed the golden buzzer sending streams of golden confetti down upon the young Toronto singer.

Receiving the Golden Buzzer on AGT means Roberta Battaglia automatically earns her place in the live semi-final rounds for Season 15.

The last episode of auditions for America’s Got Talent will air on June 23 and then the live rounds of the series begin. That’s when Roberta Battaglia gets to continue living her dream by performing live on the America’s Got Talent Stage.

Roberta Battaglia just might be following in the footsteps of another Brampton superstar, Alessia Cara. She told radio station Z103.5 that she has already recorded some songs with producer Rob Wells, who has worked with Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and the Backstreet Boys.

story by Terry Lankstead

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