Although Gabriella Laberge’s lofty expectations for her America’s Got Talent audition nearly came crashing down at the first hurdle, the French-Canadian singer had high ambitions overall.
Laberge played a nice violin part after an uneasy first interview, but it was the same as what you’d hear from any street musician on Main Street. While Simon Cowell readied his red buzzer to fire her, Laberge was planning an ace under her sleeve.
As she performed “Goodbye My Lover” by James Blunt, her soft, soulful voice echoed through the room. In an instant, Cowell withdrew his palm from the red buzzer, and the judges began to warm up to the Montreal musician. By drawing on the folk aspects of the song, Laberge gave the vocal a slight twang and put her own stamp on the popular tune. A standing ovation ensued as she deftly moved into a violin solo during the bridge, ramped up the intensity of the outro, and continued the performance.
With “Goodbye My Lover,” Laberge—who was 28 years old during her audition—made a brilliant choice. She got to showcase her vocal and instrumental skills on this song, and her ability to connect with listeners emotionally through her authentic performance was on full display. With a resounding “go!” each of the four judges sent Laberge advancing to the next round.
As Laberge played the bridge solo, Judge Howie Mandell exclaimed, “Wow, I love this.” Fans online were also awestruck, with comments like “She’s amazing, plays the violin like a master, sings like an angel, is beautiful to the eye… she’s the entire package”) adding to the chorus of admirers. Back in 2016, Laberge blind auditioned to Coldplay’s “The Scientist” on The Voice France, and it became the fourth most popular audition on the show’s YouTube page. So, she’s no stranger to the spotlight.
Prior to taking the stage, Laberge shared some background on her path to America’s Got Talent, saying, “Growing up, I would watch America’s Got Talent every week, so I never in my life expected to be here.”. My lifelong goal has always been to perform music, and now I have the chance to make that dream a reality.
“I believe the American dream could come true and I’ve been dreaming of that moment since I can remember,” Laberge assured the judges later onstage. The judges gave her the green light for her dream audition. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it past the preliminary round of contestants since the judges eliminated her while they were deciding on the top 36.
When Laberge competed on Season 5 of The Voice France, she had more success, reaching the quarterfinals. With her entry “On cherche encore (Never Get Enough),” she also advanced to the semi-finals of Destination Eurovision 2019, the competition that selects France’s representative to the Eurovision Song Contest.