North Huntingdon’s Aubrey Burchell goes sophisticated, soulful on ‘America’s Got Talent’
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The North Huntingdon Target might be hanging out a “Help Wanted” sign soon.
That’s the verdict from “America’s Got Talent” judge Heidi Klum after Aubrey Burchell performed in Tuesday’s semifinal round.
The North Huntingdon-based singer covered “Loved by You,” a soulful ballad by singer-songwriter Kirby, whose music has been sung by Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney.
Burchell went up against 10 other acts, from singers and dancers to a rapper-magician and a pair of knife-throwers, with the top two vote-getters moving on to the Season 17 finals. Voting results will be announced at 8 p.m. tonight on NBC.
In her introductory clip, the 21-year-old confessed that she had been “terrified” in her previous round before the judges, singing her whole song with her eyes closed. But the experience made her realize her potential as a performer, leading to a new-found confidence.
Of her song choice, she said the emotionally charged tune revealed “a new, more tender side of me.”
Burchell also changed up her look, trading in her previous combat boots and body con dress for a shimmering pink, one-shoulder goddess gown.
“The Aubrey you saw is not here anymore,” she said. “I’m a whole new Aubrey.”
While Burchell earned a standing ovation from the studio audience, judges Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell were a bit dubious about her song choice. Mandel called it “a little smallish and a little more cabaret” and Cowell said a more recognizable song might have been a better bet.
Still, Cowell said it probably didn’t matter, as Burchell was “brilliant” and had “a star glow about you.”
Klum and judge Sofia Vergara supported the song choice, with Vergara saying the performance was “perfection.”
In 2018, Burchell made it to the top 70 on ABC’s “American Idol.”
She got her start in the music business as a child, singing around the area at fundraisers and other events. At about 14 years old, she started singing at the former Keynote Cafe in Jeannette.
She continues to write songs in the R&B and pop vein and perform on weekends at bars, wineries and other area venues.
She told Tuesday’s “AGT” audience that she often gets asked by Target shoppers, “Oh, my gosh, are you the Target girl on ‘AGT’?”
“I think you’re not going to be working there much longer,” Klum said.