Darci Lynne Farmer beats Kechi Okwuchi to emerge winner of the 12th season of America’s Got Talent, and judges agrees that the child deserves it.
The 12-year-old won the night with her incredible singing ventriloquist act, bringing her puppet, Petunia, back Wednesday for a performance of Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) with fellow ventriloquist Terry Fator, who won season 2 of America’s Got Talent.
Wednesday’s finale featured a variety of stellar performances. Contestants Angelica Hale and Kechi kicked off the night by performing Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger with Clarkson herself, and Harvey took the stage with Shania Twain in a beautiful duet of You’re Still the One.
It has been an emotional ride for Kechi who survived the Sosoliso Plane crash that claimed the lives of at least 60 students. Kechi, who is one of the two survivors, has undergone over 100 surgeries but in all of it, was kept alive by her mother’s love and the love for singing.
She blew minds away during her audition in June, where she performed Ed Sheeran’s 2014 single “Thinking Out Loud”. And in early August, she made the Judge’s Cut, moved to semi-final and finally, became a finalist.
While Kechi’s songs touched heart, so did young Darci Lynne, who stunned at each night with her skills. Darci had only began developing her act two years ago earned Mel B‘s “Golden Buzzer” this season, and continuously wowed audiences and the judges with her skills.
“This is what I think about you, Darci. When you can appeal to all ages is what you’ve done but this is what I believe,” Simon Cowell told the child last night. “The best part of doing this job is when you are there and you can say I was there at the beginning of someone’s career and I witnessed a star. Tonight, again, I’ve just witnessed a star emerge because that’s what you are. You are special, incredible, funny, talented. I think you’re going to win.”And she sure did win, walking away with $1 million prize.
Watch the final moments, when she was announced the winner of the season:
That moment when @ItsDarciLynne's dreams became a reality. #DarciLynneWins pic.twitter.com/5WOHwifl6O
— America's Got Talent (@AGT) September 21, 2017
Here’s how your favorite contestants placed:
1. Darci Lynne Farmer
2. Angelica Hale
3. Light Balance
4. Mandy Harvey
5. Sara and Hero
6. Kechi
7. Preacher Lawson
8. Diavolo
9. Evie Clair
10. Chase Goehring
