Jackie Evancho

Jacqueline Marie Evancho, born on April 9, 2000, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, gained widespread recognition at an early age for her vocal abilities in classical crossover music. Her parents, Lisa and Michael Evancho, first recognized her exceptional talent when she competed in a local competition just before her eighth birthday. Early in her career, she participated in various talent competitions, performed the U.S. national anthem at significant events like a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game, and released her independent debut album, “Prelude to a Dream” in November 2009. She also attracted interest through her YouTube channel, laying the groundwork for her national debut.

In 2010, at the age of ten, Evancho rose to prominence with her second-place finish in the fifth season of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Following this national exposure, she signed a record deal with SYCO Music and Columbia Records. Her first major label release, the EP “O Holy Night,” became the best-selling debut album of 2010 and made her the youngest solo artist to chart in the top 10 and go platinum in the U.S. The success continued with her first full-length album, “Dream with Me,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2011. That same year, she became the youngest person to perform a solo concert at Lincoln Center in New York City, demonstrating her rapid ascent in the music industry.

Evancho’s career has been marked by a consistent output of successful albums and extensive touring. Her albums, including “Heavenly Christmas” (2011), “Songs from the Silver Screen” (2012), “Awakening” (2014), “Someday at Christmas” (2016), “Two Hearts” (2017), and “The Debut” (2019), frequently reached No. 1 on the Billboard Classical Albums chart. In 2017, she performed the national anthem at the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, an event that drew significant media attention. More recently, in 2024, she released a new EP titled “Solla,” showcasing her songwriting and exploring pop music further, while continuing to engage with her classical roots.