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Suffern Girl Shines On 'America's Got Talent'

ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- A 12-year-old Suffern girl wowed the judges of NBC-TV's "America's Got Talent" and got perhaps the biggest compliment from the show's most well-known critic. 

Grace VanderWaal performing on NBC's "America's Got Talent" Tuesday night.

Photo Credit: America's Got Talent

Grace VanderWaal was given the golden buzzer by judge Howie Mandel after performing her own song, "I Don't Know My Name" on the popular prime-tive show on Tuesday night. 

Simon Cowell, who has been a judge on "American Idol" and "The X Factor," and is known for his blunt criticism, even compared VanderWaal to Taylor Swift.

As a result she will move on to the live performance round of the talent show.

VanderWaal walked onto the stage with her ukulele and was asked by the four judges what song she would perform. She informed them it was an original song about her.

Cowelll then asked if VanderWaal thought she could win. 

“Well, I mean, miracles can happen so possibly,” VanderWaal said. 

After the performance, Mandel called VanderWaal a "living, beautiful, walking miracle. 

“You’re original but people not knowing your name is so right and so wrong because I think the world is gonna know your name,” Mandel said before emphatically pressing the golden buzzer. The gesture brought tears to VanderWaal and Mandel then joined the family on stage to give her a hug.

But the biggest compliment was to follow. 

“Grace, you know what I predict for you?" Cowell asked. "I think you are the next Taylor Swift.”

The video of VanderWaal's performance has already been viewed over 300,000 times. The episode was taped in March in Pasadena, California and aired on June 7. 

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