After years of devoted service to impoverished kids, 32-year-old Las Vegas teacher Moya Angela entered the America’s Got Talent stage with a compelling goal: to finally put her own aspirations first. Moya acknowledged that she frequently battled self-doubt, questioning whether her voice was genuinely good enough for the working world, despite having loved singing since she was a small child in her church choir. As she stepped in front of the judges, her extreme nervousness was evident, but she was eager to prove herself and “stand on her own two feet.”
Moya selected the extremely challenging Celine Dion hit, “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” for her audition. Her performance, which began gently and built to a stunning, high-energy conclusion, was a masterpiece in voice control and emotional storytelling. The entire audience was in awe of her rich, soulful tone and enormous range. The crowd and judges were up by the time she finished, applauding a vocalist who obviously belonged in the spotlight rather than behind a teacher’s desk.
Simon Cowell famously said, “That’s what we call a singer!” in response to the panel’s overwhelmingly enthusiastic comments. She made the most of her two minutes on stage and gave a performance that will live on in memory for a long time, he said. Mel B was amazed by Moya’s ability to fully own such a well-known song, while Howie Mandel said she was “born to be on that stage.” Moya Angela demonstrated that it is never too late to follow your real love with four enthusiastic “Yes” votes and the unwavering support of her family.
