The 12-year-old, who plays the alto saxophone and piano as well as the ukulele, has been writing her own songs for a while with hopes to perform them during the America's Got Talent live show when it launches in August. "I'm more confident to show my songs," she reflects of the show's immediate effect on her. VanderWaal had originally been encouraged to try out for the show by her mother, who signed Grace up without telling her. "This entire experience has been such a confidence booster," VanderWaal says, "and now I'm posting on YouTube.