10-Year-Old Roberta Battaglia Stuns AGT With Lady Gaga’s “Shallow”
When 10-year-old Roberta Battaglia walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage, she appeared nervous and understandably overwhelmed by the moment.
Then she started singing.
Roberta chose “Shallow,” the song performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born. What began as a nervous audition quickly became a powerful vocal performance that impressed the judges and audience. Sofia Vergara was so moved by what she heard that she ultimately gave Roberta the Golden Buzzer.
Who Is Roberta Battaglia?
Roberta Battaglia was a 10-year-old singer from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, when she appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2020.
At the beginning of her audition, Roberta explained that she was there to sing and introduced her song choice: “Shallow,” originally performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
Despite her young age, Roberta was taking on a song strongly associated with Lady Gaga’s powerful vocal performance in A Star Is Born.
The pressure was visible at first. Roberta hesitated before beginning, and host Terry Crews brought her some water after Simon Cowell noticed how nervous she was.
But once she began singing, the atmosphere changed.
Roberta Battaglia Sings “Shallow”
Roberta’s audition quickly moved beyond her nervous introduction.
As she reached the major vocal sections of “Shallow,” the audience responded enthusiastically. Contemporary coverage described viewers getting to their feet as the young singer delivered the song.
The judges were also struck by the contrast between Roberta’s age and the size of her voice.
Howie Mandel called the performance “unbelievable,” while Simon Cowell jokingly wondered whether someone else had been singing because he was surprised by what he had just heard.
Roberta had arrived onstage as a nervous 10-year-old. By the end of the song, she had transformed the audition into a memorable AGT performance.
Sofia Vergara Gives Roberta the Golden Buzzer
The biggest moment of the audition came after the judges had shared their reactions.
Sofia Vergara told Roberta that her performance was “amazing” and “breathtaking,” emphasizing how remarkable it was for a 10-year-old to sing the song at that level.
Then Vergara made the decision that changed Roberta’s AGT journey.
She pressed the Golden Buzzer, sending Roberta directly through to the Live Shows. Contemporary reporting identified it as Vergara’s first Golden Buzzer on the program.
The moment was followed by a celebration onstage, with Vergara running over to embrace the young singer.
A Personal Moment Behind the Performance
Roberta’s audition also included a more personal part of her story.
During the conversation with the judges, she revealed that she had experienced bullying. Simon Cowell responded by encouraging her to focus on being happy and successful.
The exchange added another emotional dimension to the audition, but the centerpiece remained Roberta’s singing.
Her ability to move from visible nervousness to confidently performing “Shallow” became one of the defining features of the audition.
Why the Audition Became So Memorable
Several elements came together to make Roberta Battaglia’s AGT audition stand out.
First, there was the challenge of performing one of the best-known songs associated with Lady Gaga. Second, Roberta was only 10 years old. Finally, her nervous beginning made the transformation during the performance even more noticeable.
Rather than pretending she was completely confident from the start, the audition showed a young performer working through her nerves and finding her voice once the music began.
The result was strong enough for Sofia Vergara to use her Golden Buzzer.
Roberta’s Journey Continued
The Golden Buzzer meant Roberta advanced directly to the Live Shows, where she continued competing on America’s Got Talent. Inside Edition reported that the Golden Buzzer sent her directly to the final round of the competition.
Her original audition, however, remains the performance that introduced many viewers to her voice.
The combination of a 10-year-old singer, a challenging Lady Gaga song, and an unexpected Golden Buzzer created a moment that continues to attract attention online.
Final Thoughts
Roberta Battaglia’s America’s Got Talent audition is a powerful example of how quickly a nervous beginning can turn into a major television moment.
At only 10 years old, she took on Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow,” impressed the judges with her vocal performance, and ultimately received Sofia Vergara’s Golden Buzzer.
What began with a nervous young singer asking for a moment to compose herself ended with Golden Buzzer confetti and a place in the next stage of the competition.
Watch the original Roberta Battaglia AGT performance on YouTube:
