America’s Got Talent is a television series that showcases all the wonderful, unexpected, odd, and sometimes miraculous talents everyday Americans have. It gives contestants a chance to finally get under the big lights and prove to their televised audience that their skills mean they deserve a chance at fortune and fame.
In a clip that teased the July 19, 2022 episode, viewers got a glimpse of one nineteen-year-old woman from Connecticut that would stun the judges. The singer-songwriter gave one of the series’ most memorable performances, with only her guitar, her voice, and her courage.
Making her debut on Season 17 of AGT, Amanda Mammana sang an original song. In introducing herself, she explained, “As you can probably tell, I have a bit of a speech impediment.” She spoke with a stammer. “And, it was definitely something that caused me to shy away and to hide. But I found that I don’t stutter when I sing,” Amanda told the judges, touching on what drew her to music and brought her to the stage that day.
She continued, telling them and the audience about the song she was about to perform, fearlessly in front of countless viewers. “I will be singing a song that I wrote. It’s just about some hard times and if I could go back and change those things, I wouldn’t, because they made me me.” Mammana then launched into her song, passionately playing her guitar as she sang.
Both Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum, who form part of the judges’ panel, teared up watching the powerful performance. “I thought that was so authentic. Thank you for having the guts to follow your heart,” she commended.
Amanda Mammana explained how the tune was about “dreaming big. Some people might think you’ll fail. Some might think you’re not good enough. Some might try to tell what’s best. They might tell you no. What you do after, speaks volumes. Will you give up on your dreams or will you prove them wrong?”
She explained how she took refuge in music after developing her speech impediment at the age of ten. “Once an outgoing kid, I became very shy and insecure.” However, Mammana was unwilling to let her condition dampen her dreams. She found a way to overcome the challenge, utilizing the power of song. “I picked up guitar as a way to escape.” The vocals seemed to have come naturally second. Mammana found herself unexpectedly “singing a couple months later.” From that moment on, “music became my safe place.”
Mammana found the silver lining and soon embraced performing as an outlet. “I was able to take the pain and turn it into something real and beautiful. Because of the struggles I went through, I was given inspiration to write songs about the human condition,” she said, touching up on her songwriting inspirations.
Clearly a talented lyricist and composer, Mammana charmed even Howie Mandel and notoriously difficult judge Simon Cowell. “Good enough doesn’t explain what we’ve just heard,” Howie admitted. “It’s not only good, it’s great. Look how you are moving this audience. I believe you are moving millions of people, right now.”
Mammana received a standing ovation from the judges, four yeses, and will advance to the next round of AGT, where audiences will surely continue to see her shine.