WATCH: 9-year-old Fil-Am shines in ‘America’s Got Talent’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TddQEzW9MQM

A 9-year-old Filipino-American girl was among the hopefuls who shined in “America’s Got Talent” on Tuesday (Wednesday in the Philippines).

Angelica Hale, of Atlanta, Georgia, became an early fan favorite after flawlessly belting out Andra Day’s “Rise Up” on the show’s Tuesday episode.

“I want to be the next Whitney Houston. I want to be a superstar,” Hale earnestly told the judges before her performance.

Even Simon Cowell, who was notorious for his cruel demeanor in critiquing performances, praised Hale. “You’re tiny, your voice is huge, and I have a feeling we may be looking at a star in the future,” he said.

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However, it was Hale’s life story that pierced the show’s fans even more. Five years ago, Hale was on life support for double pneumonia, which left one of her kidneys damaged. Her Filipino mother, Eva Bolando, stepped up to donate her own kidney to her daughter, local news site WXIA-TV reported.

Hale is progressing to the next round of “America’s Got Talent.”  Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra

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