After Victory Brinker brought judges and audience to their feet with her Tuesday performance, she seemed a lock to make the “America’s Got Talent” semifinals.
And so she was.
On Wednesday’s results show, she was named one of seven quarterfinalists who would be moving on.
Contestants were called to the front of the stage in groups of two or three, with one act being told that they would advance. The 9-year-old opera singer from Unity was paired with aerialist Aidan Bryant.
After a moment of letting the tension build, host Terry Crews announced that both Victory and Bryant had enough votes to keep going.
The weight of the moment finally seemed to dawn on the young vocal powerhouse, who has been poised and confident in her prior appearances.
As she stood wide-eyed, Crews asked, “Victory, are you happy right now?”
“Yes … whooo!” she managed.
Also moving on from Victory’s cohort are singer Tory Vagasy, the Northwell Health Nurse Choir, psychic Peter Antoniou, comedian Josh Blue and Korean Soul pop group.
Victory’s mother, Christine Brinker, earlier told the Tribune-Review that they will return from California today to reunite with Victory’s father and 10 siblings, who have been cheering her on from home. Victory will begin to prepare for her next “AGT” round.
In July, she made “AGT” history as the first contestant to earn a Golden Buzzer from all four judges, thereby advancing from her audition to this summer’s live shows.
Her Tuesday performance featured “Casta diva,” an aria sung in Italian from the Bellini opera “Norma.”
Season 16 will wrap up in September, with the eventual winner receiving a contract to headline a Las Vegas casino show and a $1 million prize, payable in a financial annuity over 40 years. The winner also may choose to receive the present cash value of such annuity.
