During Tuesday’s episode of America’s Got Talent, Simon Cowell hit his Golden Buzzer for 14-year-old singer Sara James from Poland.
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Simon Cowell is all about making dreams come true.
During Tuesday’s episode of America’s Got Talent, the judge and executive producer pressed his Golden Buzzer for 14-year-old singer Sara James from Poland.
James stunned the judges with her performance of Billie Eilish’s “Lovely,” and it was Cowell, 62, who ultimately sent her straight to the live shows by pressing the coveted button.
“We’ve heard a lot of singers over the years, but wow,” Cowell remarked. “You have a real star glow about you.”
The moment came after James shared it was her first time in the United States. Cowell told her he wanted to make her dreams come true before pressing the Golden Buzzer.
“This is probably where you dreamt of performing. I can remember when I came to America for the first time… that was a moment I’ll never forget,” Cowell shared. “And I want to make this a moment for you to remember forever.”
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James, who was overwhelmed with emotion and in disbelief on stage, told PEOPLE that the excitement still hasn’t quite sunk in.
“To be honest, I’m speechless. When I think about it, I’m literally shaking … I’m just so happy,” she says. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of, and it happened. It’s so crazy!”
“In America, dreams come true. It’s so amazing,” she adds. “[Simon] made this whole trip to America so lovely — and America’s actually really beautiful, to be honest. I’m in love, and I want to live here — but it was such an amazing moment, and when I think about it, I just want to cry.”
Cowell shared with PEOPLE, “I pushed my golden buzzer for Sara because she is, in my opinion, a total star. She flew across the world to audition on AGT ‘to see if dreams come true’ — that really resonated with me, as 20 years ago, I came to those thoughts as well. I just didn’t have her talent!”
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Sara James. Photo by Trae Patton/NBC.
James reveals she started singing when she was “about 3 or 4” and has been a long-time fan of America’s Got Talent, although she never imagined she’d actually audition.
“When I was little, I watched all the videos of America’s Got Talent on YouTube, and I was like, ‘Oh my god. Wow, it’s so amazing,’ but I never thought about it seriously,” she admits.
That all changed after her recent trip to America.
After her impressive performance, Cowell shared with PEOPLE, “We were all thinking the same thing about my Golden Buzzer. There were about three of us, I think, all prepared to hit that button. [Her] act’s so good.”
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Simon Cowell. Photo by Trae Patton/NBC.
Now that she’s secured a spot in the live shows, James says she’s already coming up with ideas for her next performance.
“I have a bunch of ideas,” she explains, adding that she’s most excited to get back “on stage and show everything I have to the judges.”
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Sara James. Photo by Trae Patton/NBC.
She’s also excited to be an AGT act that others will look up to and admire online, just as she did for many years.
“It’s super crazy to me that people will look up to me, both young kids and older people,” James shares. “I want them to learn to always be yourself and not let anyone control you or think for you. You are the star, and you have to focus on what you want to do. Just be yourself, surround yourself with amazing people, and never give up.”