On the very first episode of the famous TV show America’s Got Talent, a 14-year-old girl named Lai Noelle walked onto the stage. She is a student from Texas who loves to sing. When she started singing a sad, powerful song called “Die On This Hill,” everyone in the room was shocked. Her voice sounded like a grown-up professional singer. One of the judges, Simon Cowell, liked her so much that he hit a giant gold button called the Golden Buzzer. This is the best prize on the show because it sends the singer straight to the big final rounds.
Lai Noelle and her family were so happy that they cried tears of joy. Millions of people watched her video online. However, it also started a big argument on the internet. Many fans started asking if she was truly the best singer on the show, or if the judges just got excited because it was only the first day of auditions.
Lai Noelle Kicks Off AGT’s FIRST-EVER 3 Golden Buzzer Night! | Auditions | AGT 2026
Just two weeks later, another teenager walked onto the exact same stage. Her name is Béty Dumitru and she is 17 years old. Béty grew up in Spain and already won a big singing contest over there when she was younger. For her American TV debut, she sang a beautiful song called “If the World Was Ending.” The coolest part of her performance was that she sang half of the song in English and the other half in Spanish. Her voice was incredibly smooth and controlled.
Even though all the judges cheered and voted to keep her on the show, Béty did not get a Golden Buzzer. This made a lot of music fans on the internet upset. People started comparing the two girls. Many fans argued that Béty’s ability to sing in two languages perfectly was just as special as Lai’s loud, powerful notes, and they felt Béty should have received the golden prize too.
17-Year-Old Singer Bety Gets Emotional After Standing Ovation | Auditions | AGT 2026
This music battle shows two different ways to be a superstar. Lai Noelle is the hometown hero from Texas who sings with pure, raw energy that makes people stop in their tracks. Béty Dumitru is the international pro from Spain who knows how to mix different languages and cultures into her art. Both teenagers are incredibly talented, and both of their videos have gone viral with thousands of views from fans all over the world.
No matter which singer you like best, these two teens are proving that young people are the real stars of the show this year. As the competition gets harder, both girls will have to sing live in front of millions of people watching at home. Now it is your turn to judge. Watch both auditions above and decide whether Lai Noelle delivered the stronger Golden Buzzer performance or whether Béty Dumitru was the teenage singer AGT should have sent directly to the live shows.