French-Canadian singer Gabriella Laberge had big dreams when she stepped onto the stage for her America’s Got Talent audition. She hoped to wow the judges, but her journey almost hit a snag right from the start. After a slightly awkward opening interview, Gabriella picked up her violin and began playing.
It was a nice, pleasant tune, but it wasn’t exactly something you couldn’t hear from any street performer in the city. Simon Cowell, ever the tough judge, hovered his hand over his red buzzer, ready to end her performance early. But Gabriella wasn’t done yet.
With a deep breath, Gabriella opened her mouth and let out a soft, emotional voice that immediately filled the room. She sang “Goodbye My Lover” by James Blunt. The moment her voice soared, Simon’s hand quickly pulled away from the buzzer, and the other judges sat up, clearly impressed.
Gabriella’s voice was powerful, yet tender, as she gave the song her own spin. She added a folk twist to the melody, with a little bit of twang, and took the song in a direction that felt uniquely hers.
But Gabriella wasn’t finished yet. She smoothly transitioned into an incredible violin solo during the bridge, making the song even more special. She poured all of her energy into the final notes, building up to an intense, emotional ending. The judges couldn’t help themselves—they jumped to their feet and gave her a standing ovation.
Gabriella, who was 28 years old at the time of her audition, had made a smart choice by picking “Goodbye My Lover.” The song gave her the chance to showcase both her powerful voice and her impressive violin skills.
But more importantly, it allowed her to connect emotionally with the audience through her sincere and heartfelt performance. All four judges were so impressed that they hit their buzzers, sending Gabriella through to the next round.
Howie Mandel, one of the judges, couldn’t contain his excitement. As Gabriella played the violin solo, he said, “Wow, I love this!” Fans of the show were equally impressed. Comments online flooded in, with one fan writing, “She’s amazing! Plays the violin like a master, sings like an angel, and is beautiful to watch… she’s the entire package.”
Gabriella wasn’t new to big stages. Back in 2016, she had blown everyone away with her blind audition on The Voice France, where she performed Coldplay’s “The Scientist.” Her audition became one of the most popular on the show’s YouTube channel, with millions of views.
Before stepping onto the America’s Got Talent stage, Gabriella shared a bit about her journey. “Growing up, I watched America’s Got Talent every week, so never in my life would I expect to be here,” she said. “This is the opportunity of my life to chase my biggest dream, which is to do music for the rest of my life.”
She later told the judges, “I think the American dream could come true, and I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I can remember.”
Her dream audition went perfectly. She received a clean sweep of yes votes from all the judges, sending her through to the next stage of the competition. But despite her talent, Gabriella was cut during the deliberations to select the top 36 contestants, and she didn’t progress further in the competition.
However, Gabriella found success on other stages. On The Voice France, she made it all the way to the quarter-finals in the show’s fifth season.
She also competed in Destination Eurovision 2019, where she made it to the semi-finals with her song “On cherche encore (Never Get Enough).” This contest is used to select France’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Gabriella Laberge is a talented and accomplished musician. Whether it’s her stunning voice or her skillful violin playing, she has a way of making every performance unforgettable.
With her soulful, emotional spin on James Blunt’s “Goodbye My Lover,” she left a lasting impression on everyone who watched. Keep an eye out for Gabriella’s future performances—you won’t want to miss them!
What do you think of Gabriella’s story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
