Five-year-old Sophie Fatu performs Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” during her America’s Got Talent audition.Sophie Fatu was only five years old when she walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2018.
She was tiny, dressed in a pink outfit, and immediately caught the judges’ attention with her confidence and personality. She even told Simon Cowell that she had dreamed about him pressing the Golden Buzzer for her.
Then Sophie began singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”
The song was written from the perspective of someone looking back on a life already lived, making it an unusually mature choice for a five-year-old. Yet Sophie delivered it with a level of composure that made the audition one of the most memorable young-singer moments of Season 13.
Sophie Fatu Before America’s Got Talent
Sophie Fatu had already been performing before appearing on America’s Got Talent.
At just four years old, she had appeared on NBC’s Little Big Shots, and by the time she reached AGT she was already known for her interest in classic songs, particularly music associated with Frank Sinatra.
That background made her choice for the AGT audition especially fitting.
Instead of selecting a contemporary pop song aimed at someone her age, Sophie chose “My Way,” one of Sinatra’s best-known recordings.
Before she sang, Sophie also showed that her personality was nearly as memorable as her voice.
She told the judges that Simon was her favorite and revealed that she had dreamed he would press the Golden Buzzer.
The judges laughed and encouraged her.
Then it was time to sing.
What Happened on the AGT Stage?
As the music for “My Way” began, Sophie immediately looked comfortable under the bright AGT lights.
For a five-year-old facing a large television audience and four judges, her composure was striking.
She sang the Sinatra classic with a strong little voice, using facial expressions and small movements to make the performance feel like more than a simple children’s audition.
The contrast was part of the appeal.
The song carried the perspective of an adult reflecting on an entire life, while Sophie was just five.
That unusual combination gave the performance its distinctive charm.
As the song built toward its final section, Sophie opened up vocally and delivered the big refrain with confidence. Contemporary coverage noted the strong audience response, while later retrospectives have continued to highlight the performance as one of the show’s memorable young-singer auditions.
And then came the judges’ comments.
The Judges’ Reactions
Simon Cowell was one of the first judges to react.
He pointed out the unusual age difference between Sophie and the song itself, noting that “My Way” is normally associated with much older singers. He also told Sophie that she was adorable and praised what she had just done on stage.
Howie Mandel was equally enthusiastic.
He told Sophie that she had done the song “her way” and praised her as an exceptionally cute and talented young performer.
Mel B also responded positively, telling Sophie that she was cute and that she sang beautifully.
Heidi Klum praised Sophie’s confidence, particularly because many grown contestants become nervous when standing in front of the AGT judges and audience.
The result was unanimous.
Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel all voted yes.
Sophie advanced to the next round of the competition.
Why Viewers Remembered Sophie’s Audition
The appeal of Sophie’s audition went beyond simply being a five-year-old child on television.
She had a very clear sense of performance.
Her voice was surprisingly developed for her age, but just as important was the confidence she displayed while standing on one of the biggest talent-show stages in the world.
Her song choice also made the audition unusual.
“My Way” is closely associated with Frank Sinatra and carries mature themes, yet Sophie approached it without seeming overwhelmed by the material.
That contrast created a performance that was both charming and musically interesting.
Her personality played an important role, too.
From talking about her dream of seeing Simon press the Golden Buzzer to politely thanking the judges after receiving their votes, Sophie came across as confident without losing the innocence that made the audition so appealing.
There was also a sense that Sophie genuinely enjoyed performing.
That quality became even clearer later in the competition.
What Happened to Sophie Fatu After the Audition?
Sophie successfully moved from the auditions into the Judge Cuts.
During that round, she performed another Frank Sinatra classic, “New York, New York.” The performance once again earned strong reactions, with the judges and guest judge Olivia Munn giving her standing ovations.
However, Sophie was not selected to advance to the Quarterfinals.
Her run therefore ended during Judge Cuts, despite the strong attention she had received during the audition and her later performance.
Even so, her audition remained a standout moment from Season 13.
At the time of the Judge Cuts, Simon also described Sophie as the youngest contestant in the show’s history, adding to the attention surrounding her appearance.
Full-Performance Information
Performer: Sophie Fatu
Show: America’s Got Talent
Season: Season 13
Year: 2018
Audition: Auditions 3
Age: Five
Song: “My Way”
Original Artist: Frank Sinatra
Performance Type: Vocal performance
Judges: Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B, Howie Mandel
Audition Result: Four yes votes
Later Result: Eliminated during Judge Cuts after performing “New York, New York”
Watch the Full Performance
Want to see the audition for yourself?
Watch Sophie Fatu perform Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” and see why the five-year-old singer quickly became one of the most memorable young contestants from America’s Got Talent Season 13.
Watch the full performance on YouTube:
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A Five-Year-Old Who Sang It “Her Way”
Sophie Fatu arrived on the America’s Got Talent stage as a five-year-old with a big personality and an even bigger love for classic music.
Then she chose one of Frank Sinatra’s most recognizable songs.
She did not receive a Golden Buzzer, but she earned four yes votes and moved forward to Judge Cuts. More importantly, she showed that age does not necessarily determine how confidently someone can command a stage.
Her AGT journey ended before the live shows, but the audition itself remained memorable because of the combination of her age, personality, song choice and surprising vocal confidence.
At five years old, Sophie Fatu walked onto the AGT stage and did exactly what she promised — she sang it her way.
