Simon Cowell pulled off a memorable switcheroo on the July 8 episode of โAmericaโs Got Talentโ when he interrupted a contestantโs audition to ask the womanโs granddaughter to sing in her place.
Gina Bellina came out onstage to sing an original song with granddaughter Lilliana accompanying her on guitar, letting the showโs judges know Lilliana secretly got her on the show.
โMy granddaughter is the reason Iโm here,โ she told the judges before she performed. โBehind my back, she signed me up.โ
โI wasnโt sure if she was going to be mad, but I just felt like if I told her beforehand, she might get psyched out and not do it. So, luckily she was excited,โ her granddaughter said.
Bellina then began singing an original song, with a band behind her, including her granddaughter strumming a guitar. Cowell, though, stopped her in the middle of the performance to ask if Lilliana sings. When Lilliana said she does, Cowell asked her to sing the song โ or another one of her choice โ in place of her grandmother.
โThatโs a lot of pressure,โ she said, as she made her way to the microphone.
With her grandmother standing a few feet to her right, Lilliana then performed the song and blew away the judges with her soulful voice, while earning a standing ovation from the audience when she finished. Her grandmother appeared to be visibly moved by the response, too.
โHonestly, Lilliana, youโve got Gina here, but weirdly, Gina got you here,โ Cowell said. โSo, because youโve got the better voice โ and youโre actually very cool and I like you and I think people are going to root for you. So, as long as Gina, youโre prepared to let Lilliana sing, this could work.โ
โItโs OK, darling,โ Bellina said to Lilliana. โItโs for you.โ
โYour granddaughter has a beautiful voice. Gorgeous voice,โ Mandel said.
Mel B was not as moved, though, and was the lone judge who didnโt vote her through to the next round.
โI think, singing-wise, I thought you sounded good, but I have to be honest, you didnโt quite get there for me,โ she said.
Sofia Vergara, however, was impressed.
โI like that Simon told you to sing because we would have never known that you had this beautiful, beautiful voice. I think people are going to love you because youโre so good,โ she said.
After advancing to the next round, Lilliana and her grandma shared a brief hug onstage before walking off together.
โI told you,โ Bellina said to her
โIโm still shaking,โ Lilliana replied.