Times may be hard, but there is still joy to be found, even after a long week. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a moment of emotional release. Welcome to Playbill's Feel Good Friday feature.
On this week's live finals of NBC's America's Got Talent, vocalist Lavender Darcangelo moved the audience and judges with her rendition of "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen. The performance finished with a standing ovation from the crowd and congratulations from the competition's four judges.
"You couldn't hear a pin drop," said Simon Cowell in response to the performance. "Which is the biggest compliment, I always say, for a singer, which meant that every person in this room was listening to every lyric. And you nailed it."
Darcangelo, who is blind and autistic, earned a Golden Buzzer from judge Heidi Klum in her first appearance on AGT with "Out Here On My Own" by Irene Cara. The Golden Buzzer sends contestants straight to the live finals round. (See that equally amazing performance here.)
After the performance, host Terry Crews asked Darcangelo about her inspiration behind choosing "You Will Be Found." She answered, "When I was in high school, I felt like I was very lost. I felt unloved. I didn't feel accepted. I have two awesome dads who love me, and a boyfriend, my boyfriend Brian loves me. And I am found. And guess what...the audience...I want to pay it forward to the viewers. You will be found too. There’s hope out there.”
Darcangelo ultimately did not win the grand prize of $1 million and a headlining spot in its Las Vegas showcase, but she far and away won viewers hearts. In her first appearance introduction, she said she dreams of opening a school that caters to students' natural curiosities, the kind of school she would have thrived in.
We can't wait to see her dreams come true.
Check out video of Darcangelo's "You Will Be Found" performance above, and check back next Friday for another feel good feature.
READ: See Hamilton's Tamar Greene Serenade His Real-Life Son With 'Wheels of a Dream' from Ragtime
