MANHATTAN N.Y. Baldwinsville native Julia Goodwin is trying to keep her nerves in check as she prepares for her third performance tonight on NBC's America's Got Talent.
She just turned 16 in May but she's already being recognized on the street.
It's shocking when people recognize me from TV like 'You really know who I am ' said Julia as she walked to Radio City Music Hall on Tuesday July 29.
But even at her young age it's clear Julia Goodwin is a grounded young woman. She'll be right back at C.W. Baker High School next fall and she wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
I definitely want that experience to be with my friends and go to prom and all that she said.
Before leaving for a big day of preparing to wow the judges (and America) about 15 family members friends and Baldwinsville neighbors surround her in the Hilton Midtown Hotel lobby. They hug her take photos of her and tell her she'll be great.
Later Julia repeats over and over what a great support system she has.
View full sizeBaldwinsville singer Julia Goodwin will appear on Tuesday's episode of America's Got Talent on NBC.Adam Taylor/NBCIt's an atypical summer for the Baldwinsville 16 year old. She's about to take the America's Got Talent stage for the third time as one of 47 contestants left on the NBC hit show competing for the $1 million grand prize.
Julia isn't allowed to say what she's singing tonight but she can say it's nothing you've seen her perform before say at the MT Jazz Fest last July.
It's a new song I've never done before Julia said. You might not recognize it at first but once you hear the words you'll totally know what it is.
Julia's been singing since she was 9 years old so she's used to receiving advice about her singing career. But now that she's on a national stage Julia's been getting feedback from celebrities and total strangers on top of the voices from her family and friends.
View full sizeJulia Goodwin and her parents John and Carrie talk in the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel before leaving for Radio City Music Hall.Katrina Tulloch ktulloch syracuse.comThe most important thing is to have fun Julia said. That's why I'm here in the first place. I love doing what I do so just having this opportunity is amazing. I'm just ready to have a good time.
Seize the moment right her father John Goodwin gently chimed in.
Right Julia replied.
For the rest of the day Julia must stay at Radio City Music Hall updating her social media sites (yes that's actually her on Twitter) rehearsing when she can and participating in promotional tapings. From 5 7 p.m. she'll walk the AGT red carpet with other contestants and judges Heidi Klum Howard Stern Howie Mandel and Mel B.
The Goodwins have been following the four America's Got Talent judges in different capacities long before appearing on the show.
Julia grew up watching Mel B sing with the Spice Girls. She watched Howie Mandel host Deal or No Deal and Heidi Klum judge contestants Project Runway. Even her dad John is a huge fan of Howard Stern.
You see them on TV and all of a sudden they're saying your name back to you and I'm like 'You know who I am ' Julia said. That's pretty cool.
The judges think Julia's pretty cool too. For her first performance on America's Got Talent she sang Billy Joel's New York State of Mind and received four enthusiastic yeses to move on to the second round.
Howard Stern called Julia fabulous and said You have the sophistication of a much older person. John remembers that moment as surreal.
But Julia isn't letting the judges' star power or the 14 million viewers nationwide overwhelm her.
An audience at the end of the day is an audience no matter if it's at OCC (where Syracuse Jazz Fest took place) or here she said. I just have to entertain.
See Julia Goodwin perform live on America's Got Talent at 9 p.m. on NBC Channel 3. Tonight is the first quarterfinal round of the show with performances from 12 of the 47 contestants. Results will be announced on the show tomorrow night.
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