When the backing track went awry, what should have been a routine audition quickly descended into mayhem, and the contestant was just twelve years old. She was obviously anxious when she took the stage, but she was prepared to sing. However, the music let her down at the most inconvenient time. For a brief moment, it appeared as though the entire concert may end before it had truly started.
At that point, Simon Cowell did something unexpected for the audience. Rather than allowing the situation to worsen, he intervened, soothed her, and even gave her water so she could start over. The audience began to support her, the pressure began to lessen, and all of a sudden the audition was about more than simply singing; it was about her ability to bounce back from setbacks.
And she made the most of her second chance when it did come. Both the courage and the anxiety persisted. She persevered through the unsteady beginning and made the kind of return that wins a room over right away. What started out as a near-catastrophe became one of those talent show moments that people remember—not just for the voice, but also for the perseverance.
