Young Andrew de León, who has a recognizable Gothic appearance, entered the America’s Got Talent (AGT) stage with obvious nervousness. He acknowledged that his family’s interest in sports and his passion for singing did not mesh well, and he grew up feeling abandoned and like an outsider. Singing was always a method for Andrew to unwind and feel at ease. He told the judges that this performance was the end of his days as an outsider, demonstrating his shyness and implying a desperate desire that his talent would finally be recognized.
The entire crowd fell silent as he started singing “O mio babbino caro,” an operatic tune. Given his anxious manner and somber appearance, Andrew’s enormous, powerful operatic tenor voice was a stunning surprise. The grandeur and expert quality of his singing astounded both the judges and the audience. His admission to the panel that he had never performed in front of anyone before—not even his own parents, who were present—was even more startling. He acknowledged that he solely practiced in his room and was completely self-taught.
His remarkable talent and story had a profound impact on the judges. “You got up here and blew the roof off the joint!” exclaimed Howie Mandel, who had sensed his trepidation and was shocked to hear that this was his first-ever performance. Since Andrew was “great” and a unique person, Sharon Osbourne, who was clearly upset, told him to quit stating he wasn’t excellent at anything. Andrew’s path from a quiet, alienated misfit to a recognized celebrity began with three exuberant “yeses,” demonstrating that sometimes the best skills are right in front of us.
