Twenty-one-year-old Deborah Romer from Kalamazoo, Michigan, brought a deeply moving and raw story to the America’s Got Talent (AGT) stage. Her past was marked by instability: she was put into foster care at age 15 and ran away from home at 17, never looking back. She confessed that her whole life, the only constants were her younger brother and sister, as her mother often moved and then disappeared.
Deborah revealed that during her time in foster care, music became her savior, and her biggest dream is to transition from a full-time student and waitress to a musician who can pay her bills with her passion.
Deborah performed the song “A Million Reasons” by Lady Gaga, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. Her voice was lovely, carrying a sweet, soft tone that communicated a sense of vulnerability. However, the performance was marked by a visible nervousness, which the judges immediately picked up on. Howie Mandel felt she did not “own” the performance and sensed a “fear,” suggesting he could not see her handling the pressure of a huge show in Las Vegas. His criticism focused on the lack of strength and confidence in her stage presence.
While Howie was skeptical, the other judges saw potential. Sofía Vergara strongly disagreed with Howie, finding a certain “innocence and vulnerability” in Deborah’s performance that was appealing. However, she agreed that Deborah needed to be stronger, advising her to “hold your head up, smile, own it.” Despite the mixed feedback, Deborah’s genuine talent and powerful backstory of overcoming adversity resonated with the panel. Her determination to “do it” after receiving the harsh criticism was a true testament to her strength, and her emotional audition ultimately earned her the crucial vote she needed to keep her dream alive.
