She may not have come away with the Vegas contract and the $1 million prize, but Victory Brinker is a winner by any standard.
When the votes were counted on the Wednesday’s season finale of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” the 9-year-old opera singer from Unity came up short.
Magician Dustin Tavella was crowned Season 16 champion, in what host Terry Crews said was the closest vote in the show’s history.
“This competition is tough,” Crews said, when the top five vote-getters were announced and Victory was not among them.
But, along the way, she garnered standing ovations and high praise from the judges, all the while exhibiting amazing vocal prowess and poise.
The Princess in an @AGT Fairytale! Thankful for all who have loved, encouraged and voted for me! #agt pic.twitter.com/77SCoxlJ8F
— Victory Brinker (@brinker_victory) September 15, 2021
In July, she breezed through her “AGT” audition, becoming the first contestant ever to earn a Golden Buzzer from all four judges, thereby advancing straight to the Season 16 live shows.
After her quarterfinal performance, judge Simon Cowell told her, “I’m gonna make a prediction: You’re gonna be one of the biggest stars to emerge from one of these shows.”
But the semifinal round was more challenging, and the 9-year-old opera prodigy needed the judges’ save to advance to the finals.
On Tuesday night, she gave it her all on “O mio babbino caro” (“Oh my dear papa”), a soprano aria from Puccinni’s 1918 opera, “Gianni Schicchi.”
Following her performance, Cowell referred to “The X Factor,” another reality competition he created for British television.
“It’s difficult to define what (the X Factor) is, but you absolutely have it,” he said.
During the results show, each contestant was paired with a celebrity for a final showcase. Victory displayed her vocal versatility by singing a ballad with pop a capella group Pentatonix.
So, this probably won’t be the last the world hears from Victory Brinker. She has even loftier goals than a television reality competition.
In an August interview with the Tribune-Review, she said, “I want to sing in Paris, because I love France — I love the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, and I love the French language.
“I want to sing and act all over the world.”
Other contestants in the top five, and their respective places, were aerialist Aiden Bryant, second; comedian Josh Blue, third; singer Brooke Simpson, fourth; and quick-change artist Lea Kyle, fifth.
Other finalists were singer Jimmie Herrod, comedian Gina Brillon, vocal group Northwell Nurse Choir and World Taekwondo Demonstration Team.
Tavella’s winnings include a contract to headline a Las Vegas casino show and a $1 million prize, payable in a financial annuity over 40 years. He also may choose to receive the present cash value of the annuity.
