Born in Kemp, Texas, a small hamlet with only one stoplight, twelve-year-old Kadie Lynn Roberson made her way to the America’s Got Talent (AGT) stage with her adoptive parents, who had taken her in when they were in their 50s. In a touching account of her childhood, she said that her parents are very supportive and that she doesn’t even consider adoption—they are just her parents. According to Kadie Lynn, singing is “who I am,” not just something she performs. The judges were instantly won over by her charming, modest, and small-town manner, but they were unprepared for the voice that would soon be heard.
Kadie Lynn gave a stirring performance of a country tune during her audition. The auditorium was filled with a big, mature, and soulful voice that was entirely unlike her appearance as soon as she started. For a 12-year-old, her vocal control and capacity to express intense emotion were astounding.
Mel B was the first to respond to her jaw-dropping performance, saying, “Oh my word! This small, adorable thing, and then you suddenly start singing with this large, strong voice! Her ability to perform a love ballad with such convincing attachment really pleased the judges.
The panel praised the young Texan without exception. Simon Cowell gave arguably the best compliment, saying, “We’re mining for talent, and you dig and you dig and you dig, and then every so often you find a little diamond, and that’s who we found today with you.” Heidi Klum was “very, very impressed” by her strength and self-assurance. In a few years, he thought, they would remember this as the day they found Kadie Lynn. She received four large, fat “yeses” with ease, proving that she was a true star.
