"Just The Beginning" is already living up to its name.
Only a year and a half ago, 12-year-old ukulele player, Grace Vanderwaal came on the America's Got Talent stage to audition in the show's eleventh season.
Performing her original song titled "I Don't Know My Name," she blew the judges away and earned herself a Golden Buzzer from judge Howie Mandel.
In her audition, Simon Cowell asked her if she believes she could win.
Her response, "I mean miracles could happen, so possibly."
And that miracle did happen for the young singer and songwriter after she won the show last year.
Now at 13-years-old, the New York native is ready for the release of her first album, "Just the Beginning."
"I like to think that I haven't changed too much. I am still just a normal teenager with the same friends and family around me," VanderWaal exclusively tells Us Weekly. "I just have music and a tour now, too!"
While she may consider herself a normal teenager, she has definitely evolved and transcended the comparisons that followed her performances on the show. Judge Simon Cowell first called her the "next Taylor Swift."
With her full-length release out on November 3, VanderWaal's folky twang reminds everyone of Swift's earlier projects.
"The album is just based on life experiences," she tells Us. "All of the songs are about things that have happened to me. I kind of made these experiences I've had into their own mini-movies through each song, which was really fun."
Nine of the 12 tracks were written soley by the teen, while the others she engaged her favorite song writers for.
"At the end of the day this is all new to me and this is my first album, so it was amazing to get to work with other writers and producers that have so much experience," she explains. "I've worked with some people like Ido Zmishlany and Greg Wells who have worked with my favorite artists like Shawn Mendes and Adele, so it's crazy to be in that position."
Some of her favorites including "Moonlight" and "Florets" are on this album.
VanderWaal is trying to not get too far ahead of herself.
"I love performing and I cannot wait to start my tour [in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 5], but then I also like to balance it with being at home and going to school like a normal 13-year-old," she tells Us. "I'm still learning how, but trying my best."
I think Howie was right, we do have a star on our hands! What do you think?
Source: US Weekly /