On Tuesday's "America's Got Talent" episode, a young musician stunned everyone.
Maya Neelakantan, a 10-year-old from India, amazed the judges with her electric guitar rendition of "Last Resort" by Papa Roach.
According to Fox News, Maya's performance began with a slower, traditional song before she transitioned into the heavy metal classic. The judges and audience gave her a standing ovation, recognizing the unexpected talent from someone so young.
Sofia Vergara, visibly impressed, questioned Maya's age, saying, "Are you sure you're 10 years old? Your energy, your confidence. A perfect audition. Amazing." The other judges echoed this sentiment, and they were equally surprised by Maya's skill and stage presence.
Howie Mandel, curious about Maya's influences, asked, "Who inspired you?" Maya responded by naming Alex Jones from Tool and Gary Holt, the guitarist from Exodus and Slayer, as her inspirations. This revelation added another layer of intrigue to her performance.
Heidi Klum praised Maya, stating, "Everyone in this room loved what you just did. You should be very proud of yourself." The young guitarist's performance clearly resonated with the judges and audience alike.
In a surprising twist earlier this month, Simon Cowell pressed the Golden Buzzer twice in one episode. This unusual occurrence led to a sudden rule change in the show.
The first Golden Buzzer was pressed for Liv Warfield, a singer from Chicago. Later, a drone light show by Sky Elements prompted Cowell to press the Golden Buzzer again, creating confusion among the production team, judges, and audience.
Producer intervention was required when Cowell pressed the Golden Buzzer the second time. The ensuing confusion led to an on-the-spot rule change, allowing each judge two opportunities to press the Golden Buzzer per season.
Simon Cowell's reaction to Maya's performance was particularly notable. "You know what I love about this audition? You just weren't expecting this. You were so shy, and you're 10! And then you turned into, like, this rock goddess," he said, capturing the surprise and admiration felt by all.
Howie Mandel, recognizing the potential impact of Maya's performance, remarked, "Well, I think you just picked yourself up a viral moment." This statement highlighted the likely widespread attention Maya's performance would garner.
Maya Neelakantan's performance on "America's Got Talent" showcased her remarkable ability to switch from a traditional song to a heavy metal classic, impressing both the judges and the audience.
The season has been notable, partly due to Simon Cowell using the Golden Buzzer twice, leading to a rule change that now allows each judge two uses per season. Judges Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all praised Maya, seeing great potential in her future.
