Sara James has been one of the standout performers of AGT season 17. Her unique rendition of Elton John’s “Rocketman” during the qualifiers was nothing short of fantastic. The singer’s audition became one of the most memorable of the season and has over 18 million views on YouTube.
So, who is Sara James? If you’ve heard her sing, then you know that she’s a force to be reckoned with vocally. Here’s what you need to know about the teen singer.
1. Sara got Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer.
Sara, who was just 13 at the time, performed a gorgeous rendition of Billie Eilish’s “lonely” for her AGT audition. This was her first time performing in America. “You have a real star glow about you,” Simon Cowell told her after her performance. He wanted to make sure this was a moment she would remember “forever.” Simon gave Sara his Golden Buzzer, sending her straight to the live shows.
She returned in the third round of qualifiers and performed a stripped-down version of Elton’s “Rocketman.” She earned rave reviews from the judges. Simon called her song choice “genius.” Howie Mandel declared that it was a “winning performance.”
2. Sara was on The Voice Kids.
AGT isn’t Sara’s first time on a reality competition series. Sara competed in season 4 of the Polish version of The Voice Kids. She won the season with coaches Tomson & Baron.
3. Sara is from Poland.
Sara grew up in Ośnie Lubuskie, a small town in Poland. She comes from a musical family and learned to play piano at just 6 years old, according to her Junior Eurovision bio.
4. She looks up to Beyonce, Rihanna & more.
“I look up to so many female artists like Beyonce, Rihanna, Whitney Houston,” she said in an Instagram video. “And I also make sure to support and empower women in my private life as well.” Sara admits that women “often don’t get enough credit for our achievements, and this definitely needs to change.”
5. Sara competed in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Sara has already competed on a global stage. She represented Poland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 with the song “Somebody.” She came in second place to Armenia.