Jackie Evancho, sings the "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the Pirates' home opener in April. The 10-year-old Richland resident has been competing on "America's Got Talent."
She has the face of an angel, the voice of an opera diva. Should anyone be surprised Richland's Jackie Evancho is enjoying her "Susan Boyle moment"?
Not Christopher Hahn, general director of the Pittsburgh Opera. On Tuesday, a friend texted him "young opera singer on 'America's Got Talent,' " and he made a point to watch.
Jackie, 10, drew a standing ovation from the judges when she sang a Puccini aria, "O Mio Babbino Caro," on the NBC talent show. The winner receives $1 million and a contract to perform in Las Vegas, but perhaps as notable was the girl's ability to give former JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater a run for the money as most-Googled Wednesday morning.
Spotlit and wearing a pink dress -- a fog-machine pouring mist around her feet -- Jackie sang the opening notes of her operatic choice to the stunned silence of a live audience.
If anyone was expecting Andrea McArdle belting "Tomorrow," this wasn't it. Jackie's interpretation was carefully measured, stunning for its tone. It also was age-appropriate: the song is about a young girl pleading with her father.
On the web
See the YouTube video of Jackie Evancho www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPITHzdUUDk
YouTube viewers voted Jackie onto the show.
Her performance also evoked comparison to the moment in "Singin' in the Rain," when Debbie Reynolds' homespun Kathy is revealed to be singing for the lip-synching star, Lina Lamont.
"America's Got Talent" host Nick Cannon agreed: "Wow, I'm waiting for the lady to come out who was really singing that," he said, after Jackie finished to thunderous applause.
Indeed, there were a few doubters on the Internet chat boards, but they were far outnumbered by Jackie's admirers. "There is often a disconnect between image and sound," Mr. Hahn said, explaining how the movement of her lips didn't always match the sound of her voice.
"I thought she was just lovely, sweetly compelling, and I think it was smart that she sang one of the most famous arias -- people adore that.
"She's so tiny, she looked adorable," he added, praising the warmth of her tone. "You expect a light, piping, Charlotte Church-y type of voice."
Watching the show, Joyce Loncaric felt a sense of deja vu. A retired bookkeeper from West Deer, Mrs. Locanic heard Jackie sing last winter in a Hampton banquet hall.
"She just looked like this sweet little girl. She got on stage, just stood there. But then she opened her mouth and we were all aghast."
Tuesday's performance sparked comparisons to the "Britain's Got Talent" debut of Ms. Boyle, when the frumpy singer shocked everyone with her rendition "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables."
One of the judges that day was Piers Morgan, who is also a judge on the American version of the show. He had nothing but praise for Jackie.
"One of the most extraordinary performances I've ever seen on 'America's Got Talent,' " said Mr. Morgan, adding that Jackie's singing gave him goosebumps.
Jackie has come a long way since "Mister Roger's Neighborhood." Or more accurately, since she filmed a show of patriotic music in the WQED studios in October.
"It's my first time on TV and I'm really excited," she said at the time.
Since then, she has sung the national anthem at the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener in April, and released a CD of 14 songs, including the Puccini aria. Working around school and family commitments, the Pine-Richland School District fifth-grader has a busy time ahead of her. In December, she is scheduled to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City, where composer Tim Janis will direct a holiday program.
If Jackie was one of the four top vote-getters Wednesday night, she likely will next appear on Aug. 24 or 31.
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