The 29-year-old performed an original song, “Release Me,” on the last show before finals, again wowing judges who compared her to English singer-songwriter and 15 Grammy Award-winner, Adele.
“The vocal, the song, the delivery, the performance is about as good as I have seen on one of these shows,” said judge Simon Cowell. “It was breathtaking. It reminds me of the first time I saw Adele. I thought, ‘This girl is going to be a star.’”
Mandy also used sign language during her performance, telling host Tyra Banks that she was honored to be the first on the AGT stage to sign.
“It was so important for me to have some way to be connected to the music,” she said.
Mandy lost her hearing about 10 years ago due to degenerative ear disease, according to her website. Yet Mandy proves again and again that her hearing loss is not a barrier to her dreams.
The singer says she relies on muscle memory, using visual tuners, and has learned to trust her pitch in order to compensate for the loss.
“You transcend hearing,” judge Howie Mandel said. “We feel you. You move us emotionally. That is more powerful than hearing a great tune.”
The 11 remaining artists – Angelica Hale, Celine Tam, Christian Guardino, Colin Cloud, Diavolo, In the Stairwell, Kechi, Light Balance, Mandy Harvey, Merrick Hanna and the Pompeyo Family – are competing for five remaining spots in the finale.
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