Arts & Entertainment

Around the Rivers: Jackie Evancho's Return to 'America's Got Talent' Brings Standing Ovation

When the Richland singing star appeared in the season finale a year ago, she was the runner-up in the 'AGT' competition.

In a triumphant return to the America’s Got Talent stage on Wednesday night, Jackie Evancho performed Nessun Dorma with the intensity and seriousness of a longtime opera star.

Then the song ended, a huge smile covered her face and she gave a little hop with the glee that befits an 11-year-old looking out to a standing ovation.

A year ago when the Richland resident was a contestant on America's Got Talent, she consistently wowed audiences who were amazed to hear such a grown-up voice come out of a little girl.

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Dressed in a cream-colored, calf-length dress similar to the one she wears on the cover of her Dream With Me CD, Jackie performed Wednesday in the final quarter hour of the season finale, before 2011 winner Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., was announced.

“This time last year, a young girl was standing on our stage with no idea what a big star she was about to become,” said AGT host Nick Cannon when he introduced her on the NBC show.

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“Last season a 10-year-old little girl captured the hearts of a nation,” Cannon continued as clips were shown of Oprah and Jay Leno introducing Jackie on their respective shows.

“She quickly became the best-selling debut artist of 2010, and her latest album, Dream With Me, went straight to No. 1 on the charts. Now she makes a return to where it all began just one year ago.”

After performing Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot, Jackie chatted briefly with Cannon.

“Jackie Evancho. Wow! Incredible. Amazing. Good to see you,” Cannon said as he gave her a hug. “You’ve had an incredible year. Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

“Um, well, I, um, I made a new CD called Dream With Me … and it’s out now, and I’m really excited about it, and I um …”

“You’ve done a lot,” Cannon exclaimed.

“Yes, I’ve done a lot,” she laughed.

But she did not forget her hometown fans.

“I just wanted to say hi to Pittsburgh as well because I miss it.”


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