America’s version of the new Susan Boyle

Thursday 12 August 2010 19:00 EDT

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With more than one million hits on her YouTube performance, Jackie Evancho is the latest sensation to rise from TV show America's Got Talent with the 10-year-old soprano's version of Puccini's aria "O Mio Babbino Caro" on August 10.

Last year singer Susan Boyle surprised audiences for the UK version of the show, England's Got Talent, when she sang "I Dreamed a Dream" for the television show talent contest.

Perhaps it is the unlikeness of the operatic-style voices, or what is called "classical crossover," coming from the least expected people, that in part creates the phenomenon.

Evancho got a standing ovation and high-praise from judges Sharon Osbourne, Piers Morgan and Howie Mandel. The child singer, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, started singing at age eight, inspired after seeing a stage production of the musical Phantom of the Opera.

The young talent may not be as surprised as the audience by her sudden success. She has won awards, performed on a PBS-TV show, posted her own "Just a Little Girl" YouTube channel, launched a website, and has a Twitter account.

Her 2009 album, Prelude to a Dream, has shot up to number six in Amazon's bestsellers chart in two days. It features covers of Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban songs, arias and hymns. She will also be the youngest performer to play Carnegie Hall in a December Christmas Carol concert.

Evancho got voted the audience favorite on the TV show and moves on to the semi-finals, August 23.

America's Got Talent excerpt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKhmFSV-XB0

YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/user/usedmeb4

http://jackieevancho.webplus.net/