News  Consumer Spotlight: Fitchburg Singer Gets Golden Buzzer on NBC’s America’s Got Talent

Lavender Darcangelo of Fitchburg was showered with confetti when she received the Golden Buzzer from Heidi Klum during her audition on NBC’s America’s Got Talent (AGT) which aired Tuesday.

The 27-year-old, who is autistic and blind, told the judges she has been singing since the age of three.

Her dazzling performance of "Out Here On My Own" by Irene Cara ended with a standing ovation from the audience.

How did the judges react?

Simon Cowell: “That was sensational. Honestly, sensational. Everything about that was just magical. You have such a talent. You have such an amazing personality. We make this show because we get to meet people like you occasionally. I am so happy you have come on our show to share your talent with us because this is an audition I will never forget. It was amazing.”

Sofia Vergara: “That was spectacular. I forgot that I was judging you. I was just enjoying your voice. That was beautiful.”

Howie Mandel: “Not only is it beautiful and not only is it amazing, but when you sing, it is so exciting, and gives everybody hope that maybe we can all achieve our dreams if we just go for it. You are a dream come true, young lady.”

Heidi Klum: “I feel like I just fell in love. AGT is an amazing journey. I would love to be your cheerleader and hold your hand all the way to the finish line. What do you say?”

Klum then said, “Let’s do this,” as she hit the Golden Buzzer and confetti rained down onto the stage.

“AGT Is my favorite show because it’s about being different and, I don’t know, I am just not normal,” Lavender said. Cowell responded, “I think I am speaking for all of us because we love you just the way you are.”

When Mandel asked Lavender why she wanted to be on AGT, she responded, “I have a lot of dreams.”

One of her dreams is to build a school where classes are based off what students are naturally curious about. “A school I would have thrived in,” she added.

When host Terry Crews asked Lavender how she felt, she replied, “I don’t know if this is a dream, or if I am really awake."

With the Golden Buzzer, Lavender automatically moves onto AGT’s Live Shows.

A Breakdown of How America’s Got Talent Works

Wil and Jamie Darcangelo adopted Lavender in 2017. Lavender first met Wil as a high schooler at a rock band-slash-youth-program he started.

“Sometimes when I grew up, I didn’t know what am I here for, but now I know where I am, why I am here,”

“So we can be a family,” Wil replied.  

In 2019, Lavender stunned the crowd at First Parish Church in Fitchburg when she sang "Part of Your World" from Disney's "The Little Mermaid" for an LGBTQ+ cabaret performance.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford, who was honored at the event, posted a video of Lavender’s performance. The video received hundreds of thousands of views and Lavender was featured on Good Morning America (GMA) and in BuzzFeed News.

Lavender told Good Morning America at the time she chose to sing "Part of Your World" because she resonated with the song's meaning in many ways.

"I felt like I was lonely in my life because I have multiple disabilities in my life being blind and autistic," she said.