Eight years after winning “America’s Got Talent” at the age of 12, Grace VanderWaal is blowing people away yet again.
In honor of her role in Francis Ford Coppola’s film “Megalopolis,” the performer took the stage at the 47th Kennedy Center Honors where she sang, “The Impossible Dream.”Coppola is one of the four honorees to be recognized for their artistic achievements.
While performing for the longtime director, fans on TikTok were stunned by how much VanderWaal has grown over the last eight years. “I was just thinking about her,” one comment revealed. “Her vocal technique has grown so much. She has such a beautiful alto voice.”
“She’s about to have the biggest comeback,” another comment read. “And she deserves it all.”Related: Stars’ First Grammy Appearances VanderWaal became a household name when she took center stage during the 11th season of “America’s Got Talent” with her ukulele in hand and sang an original song titled “I Don’t Know My Name.”
The audition resulted in Howie Mandel hitting the Golden Buzzer. She would go on to win the competition. In September, VanderWaal opened up about the public’s reaction to her no longer being the 12-year-old girl they were first introduced to nearly a decade ago.
“I had the weirdest experience recently,” she told Variety, reminiscing about a moment she ran into a fan walking out of a public bathroom. “She was like, ‘You’re a woman! You’re a grown-up!’ I was like literally gentle-parenting her through this, but she wouldn’t get over it. She couldn’t handle it.”
It’s something that VanderWaal has grown concerned about. “I’ve been so afraid to shatter that dream for people,” she told Variety. “But like, I want you to ask yourself, why do you feel personally affected? It is really sad, but it’s been very liberating to reclaim that for myself.”
The following month, after performing on the Today Show, VanderWaal admitted that she is over seeing the footage of her 12-year-old self standing on the “AGT” stages, wondering if she’ll ever be recognized for something else.
While talking with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, VanderWaal discussed about her experience on the set of “Megalopolis,” where she plays a pop star, revealing that it was “a lot” and admitting she doesn’t “belong in that world.”
“You want to continue doing music?” Hager asked. “Oh, yes,” VanderWaal replied. The now 20-year-old is expected to release her second studio album in 2025.
Automotive manufacturers got the chance to reveal new models, concepts and vehicle series at CES 2024. Autovista24 journalist, Tom Hooker, looks at this year’s showstoppers.
While a major automotive theme of CES 2024 was artificial intelligence (AI), there were still plenty of exciting vehicle reveals. The likes of Honda, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen (VW) used the show to unveil brand-new concept cars or updates to existing models.
Honda unveiled the ‘0 Series’ by throwing the covers off two new concepts, the Saloon and the Space-Hub. Both are due for a global launch in 2026. The brand also premiered its new H mark logo which will feature on the next-generation of electric vehicles (EVs). Three principles detail Honda’s 0 Series approach to EV development: thin, light, and wise. This means designing lower models based on a dedicated ‘thin’ EV platform to create more aerodynamic performance.
The models will advance Honda’s ‘man maximum, machine minimum’ philosophy. This means maximising the space available to the driver and passengers while minimising the space taken up by mechanical components.
As well as this, advanced driver-assistant system (ADAS) technology will also be available at launch. Automated driving (AD) will be offered at a later date, featuring improved AI, sensing, decision-making, and driver monitoring technologies to make more human-like and accurate risk predictions. Efficiency will also be enhanced, with increased power conversion from a new e-Axle system. The Saloon and Space-Hub will benefit from connected technologies, capable of learning user preferences and driving behaviours.
