Four Years After ‘America’s Got Talent’ Exit, Lindsey Stirling Returns

In 2010, dubstep violinist Lindsey Stirling was a quarter-finalist on America’s Got Talent, but was booted off the show after failing to impress its judges. Four years later, Stirling’s YouTube channel has made her an international sensation, and her success has given her the chance to return to America’s Got Talent, this time as a featured performer.

When she appeared on America’s Got Talent, Piers Morgan called her “not good enough.” This defeat led Stirling to YouTube, where she has racked up millions of subscribers. Her popularity has led her to release two albums; her latest effort, Shatter Me, reached #2 on the Billboard album charts. Meanwhile, as her star has grown, a video of her America’s Got Talent performance has gone viral, receiving more than four million views to date.

Stirling’s America’s Got Talent failure has become an integral part of her personal story and has made her a poster child for the power of YouTube. Stirling is a prime example of a creator who, after being considered too weird and offbeat for traditional media success, found an accepting community online. Her story shows YouTube’s ability to ignore gatekeepers and make a star out of anyone with enough charm and talent to draw an audience.

In returning to the show that once pushed her away, Stirling comes full circle. Her performance will add a satisfying chapter to her story, and we hope she turns to Piers Morgan and tells him “I told you so.” You can check out her performance on NBC at 9 PM EST on August 7th.