America’s Got Talent (AGT) featured the honest and emotionally wrenching narrative of Deborah Romer, a 21-year-old from Kalamazoo, Michigan. She had a troubled past, having been sent into foster care at the age of 15 and then running away from home at the age of 17, never to be seen again. She came clean about how her mother’s frequent moves and subsequent disappearance made her younger brother and sister the only constants in her life.
During her time in foster care, Deborah found solace in music; now, her lifelong goal is to leave her job as a waitress and full-time student to pursue her true calling as a musician.
As Lady Gaga’s “A Million Reasons” played on the guitar, Deborah gave a solo performance of the song. Her voice was beautiful; it had a gentle, vulnerable quality that was endearing. But the judges could see that the performer was anxious, and they took note. According to Howie Mandel, she seemed to lack confidence and “own” the performance, which led him to believe that she might not be able to handle the intense pressure of a massive Las Vegas show. His main point of critique was that she lacked conviction and power when performing.
The other judges noticed promise, but Howie remained suspicious. Sofía Vergara had a significant disagreement with Howie and thought Deborah’s performance was fascinating because of the “innocence and vulnerability” she displayed. She did, however, concur that Deborah should be more resilient and encouraged her to “hold your head up, smile, own it.” Regardless of the opinions expressed, the panel was moved by Deborah’s authentic skill and inspiring story of triumphing over hardship. Her passionate audition won her the vote she needed to keep her dream alive, and her desire to “do it” despite getting the severe criticism was very inspiring.
