America’s Got Talent‘s Season 19 search for a winning act continues as the auditions carry on at NBC, and with the latest installment came the introduction of Irish singer Stephanie Rainey.
The performer earned a standing ovation for her audition and a spot in the next round after receiving a yes from all of the judges (Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Heidi Klum). Vergara was moved to tears by her musical performance and wasn’t the only judge to get emotional from Rainey’s song, as Cowell took time to go onstage to tell the hopeful, “That was what I call a moment. That song is so beautiful, thank you so much for coming over.”
Moments before he went onstage, Cowell had told Rainey from his chair, “Of all the new songs I’ve heard this year, this is the best by a mile and even though it’s about something really sad, it’s real and your voice is beautiful. A lot of people are going to resonate with that song and you. I absolutely love this.” The song in question was “Please Don’t Go,” a tune which she revealed had garnered several views upon its release years earlier but her career hadn’t quite gone as planned. Below, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about this America’s Got Talent competitor who is one to watch this season.
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Introducing herself as a singer from Ireland, Rainey is from Cork, which is along the southern coast of Ireland. Cork is the third-largest city in all of Ireland next to Dublin and Belfast.
