Schoolgirl singer-songwriter Grace VanderWaal was crowned the winner of America's Got Talent on Wednesday and took home the $1m top prize.
The 12-year-old ukulele player burst into tears and sank to her knees in shock as host Nick Cannon announced the result on the season 11 finale of the hit NBC talent show.
Grace, who has been compared by Simon Cowell to Taylor Swift, beat out mind-reading duo The Clairvoyants, with NFL star and magician Jon Dorenbos finishing in third place.
The winner: Grace VanderWaal after performing an original song on Wednesday during a two-hour season finale was named the winner of America's Got Talent
Howie Mandel, who championed the singer and struck his Golden Buzzer for her, bounded up onto the stage to hug the little girl as tears streamed down her face and she had to be comforted.
'These are tears of joy right?' asked Nick as the youngster sobbed at the conclusion of the live show at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
'Yes, of course,' she managed to reply as her achievement sank in.
'You sang that every person is a shining star, well you are a shooting star. You are on your way, you are so special,' Howie told her.