Amanda Mena is the 15-year-old powerhouse singer competing on Season 13 of America’s Got Talent. For her AGT audition she dared to sing and nailed the Aretha Franklin song “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” It’s not an easy song to sing, as judge Simon Cowell pointed out. Backstage, Amanda revealed that when she arrived to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic, she was bullied for being difficult. Her mother encouraged her to pursue music. Good idea, mom!
That song made famous by Aretha Franklin was written by Carole King and Gerry Coffin. Carole King is the subject of the Broadway musical “Beautiful,” now starring Melissa Benoist, best known for her TV role Supergirl. Days before Amanda performs during the AGT Live Shows, she got to go to New York and see “Beautiful.” As Amanda described it: “So I’m sitting there watching THE BEST MUSICAL I’VE EVER SEEN…and then the SUPER star SUPER queen @melissabenoist introduces me like I’m even part of the Carole King legacy (I’m not! ?)…I can’t even!!” See adorable photos below. New episodes of America’s Got Talent air Tuesdays at 8pm on NBC, right before World of Dance.
