Stacey Leadbeatter from Yorkshire introduced herself to the judges with a nervous energy that belied her powerful talent. Her day job, she revealed, was working in a supermarket, specifically cooking chickens—a detail that immediately charmed and amused the panel. Stacey was accompanied by her excited daughter and friends, confessing she was “really nervous” as this was a huge step up from her only prior performance experience: singing in a pub. This humble background made her entry into the prestigious competition all the more compelling.
Despite her evident nerves, Stacey chose to perform the highly emotional and demanding song, “Rise Up” by Andra Day. The moment she began to sing, her voice filled the arena with raw emotion and power, captivating both the audience and the judges. Her control and passionate delivery transformed the nervous supermarket worker into a stunning vocalist. The audience was completely won over, rising to their feet and demanding a Golden Buzzer even before she finished the final note, recognizing the pure, unfiltered talent on display.
The judges were overwhelmed by the quality and emotion of the performance. They praised her for choosing a difficult song and absolutely “nailing it,” noting that the only thing she lacked was confidence. Recognizing the depth of her talent and the life-changing opportunity, one of the judges declared that if Stacey didn’t get the Golden Buzzer, no one would. The judge then decisively hit the Golden Buzzer, sending Stacey straight to the live semi-finals. Stacey, shaking with emotion, achieved a spectacular victory, proving her voice was far more suited for the biggest stages than the supermarket floor.
