Grace VanderWaal was simply 12 years outdated when she was named the winner of America’s Acquired Expertise Season 11 in 2016. Her distinctive voice and ukulele abilities earned her a Golden Buzzer after her audition, and he or she finally went on to take dwelling the win.
Being thrust into the highlight at such a younger age wasn’t straightforward for VanderWaal, which she has been very open about. However how has it affected her music profession? Scroll down for updates about what she’s as much as right now.
What’s Grace VanderWaal doing now?
VanderWaal remains to be working within the leisure trade, having launched her most up-to-date album, Childstar, in April 2025. The album explores VanderWaal’s life as a younger starlet and was accompanied by a tour. This was solely her second full studio album, with the primary, Simply the Starting, launched in 2017. She additionally launched her Completely Imperfect EP in 2016 and Letters Vol. 1 EP in 2019.
“I really feel what I used to be making earlier than was simply silly and trash,” VanderWaal admitted to The Hollywood Reporter earlier than Childstar’s launch.
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The younger star has additionally begun dabbling in performing. She made her debut within the 2020 movie Stargirl, then returned for its sequel, Hollywood Stargirl, in 2022. She additionally had a job in Francis Ford Coppola‘s Megalopolis in 2024.
What does Simon Cowell consider Grace VanderWaal?
AGT decide Simon Cowell credit VanderWaal with making the present “cool” for others. “Once I joined the present in 2016, I prayed we had been going to search out an awesome singer and that was the yr we met Grace,” he mentioned throughout an AGT Golden Buzzers particular in 2022.
He continued, “This is without doubt one of the causes this audition turned such a monster as a result of she didn’t sing a canopy, she did sing her personal music. And , she’s an awesome songwriter, an excellent songwriter. I might say that is the second when AGT turned cool, as a result of she was so cool.”
What occurred between Grace VanderWaal and Jacob Sartorius?
In 2017, VanderWaal received right into a little bit of a web based feud with Jacob Sartorious. It started after he posted a video with the caption, “Grateful. Only a child out right here working my butt off, so glad I’ve you guys with me. I wouldn’t be wherever with out you guys. Right here’s to 2018 being the largest yr but!!”
VanderWaal popped into the feedback part to reply, “That is all out of respect. Please let me inform you on how ladies and men have labored tougher than you or I may ever think about for 3 instances our years. No web, no Spotify, no nothing that makes it really easy to realize so many followers in such little time, simply dedication and pure arduous work, pushing and pushing to make their goals occur. Lip syncing on an app and manipulating younger women’ emotions and hearts is NOT ‘working your butt off.”
After being on the receiving finish of wrath from Satrorius’ followers, VanderWaal apologized. “I’m so sorry I used to be not anticipating or making an attempt to begin something … Simply actually assume your proficient and may keep grounded remembering and occupied with what the phrase work actually means,” she wrote. “Actually wonderful you’re taking time and saying thanks all respect to you brother.”
America’s Acquired Expertise, Season 20, Tuesdays, 8/7c, NBC