Thirteen-year-old Chase Varnes thought his America’s Got Talent audition might be over when Simon Cowell abruptly stopped his original song and admitted he wasn’t impressed. But instead of sending the young singer home, Cowell gave him one more chance—and Chase seized the moment with a heartfelt cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Life Goes On” that transformed the atmosphere in the room.
The young farm boy from Vancouver Island, Canada, looked devastated when Cowell interrupted his first performance.
“I hate to do this. I didn’t love the song,” the judge told him.
But Cowell wasn’t ready to give up on Chase just yet. Despite his criticism, he made it clear that there was something about the teenager he liked.
“However, I like you,” he added, inviting Chase to try another song.
Ed Sheeran’s “Life Goes On” turns the audition around
Chase chose Ed Sheeran’s “Life Goes On,” picked up his acoustic guitar and began again.
This time, the response was dramatically different.
His confident guitar playing, warm vocals and country-inspired delivery gave the pop song a personality of its own. As he settled into the performance, the audience grew increasingly enthusiastic, with people getting to their feet and clapping along.
The teenager who had appeared close to tears moments earlier was suddenly winning over the room.
His June 18, 2025, audition attracted significant online attention, reportedly reaching 1.1 million views in just four days.
Watch Chase’s performance below.
The judges have very different reactions
The second performance quickly changed the judges’ assessment of Chase’s potential.
Howie Mandel compared the young singer to a “young Justin Bieber,” while Heidi Klum praised the improvement and predicted that his performance would make him popular with young female viewers.
Mel B, however, remained unconvinced.
“I can see your nervousness and you’re not quite there for me yet,” she told him.
The audience responded with boos, making it clear that many people in the room disagreed with her assessment.
Cowell then explained why he had decided to give Chase another opportunity.
“I do believe that you have something,” he said, acknowledging the teenager’s passion for music and the enthusiastic response from the crowd.
His message was clear: the first song had not worked for him, but the second performance revealed qualities worth watching.
Chase leaves with three yes votes
Despite Mel B’s reservations, Chase secured three yes votes and advanced beyond his audition.
The result was a memorable moment for the young musician, who had to overcome an unexpectedly difficult start in front of millions of potential viewers.
Rather than allowing the initial rejection to derail him, he responded to the opportunity to perform again with a song that better showcased his voice, guitar skills and musical personality.
Cowell’s decision to let Chase continue became the defining moment of the audition, demonstrating how quickly a performance can change when a contestant finds the right song.
Chase isn’t the only young singer to impress AGT viewers
Chase’s audition also recalls another young performer who captured attention on the America’s Got Talent stage.
In 2024, Mia Soleil Sanchez delivered a powerful rendition of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever,” showcasing her vocal ability with a performance that stood out among that season’s auditions.
Watch Mia’s performance below.
Both performances demonstrated how young contestants can use familiar songs to showcase their individual styles and connect with an audience.
Viewers praise Chase’s second chance
Chase’s audition also drew enthusiastic reactions from viewers watching at home.
One fan praised Cowell’s ability to recognize potential, writing: “Simon has a talent for spotting amazing people. He does the hard thing of calling them out to bring out that person’s full potential. Amazing young man.”
Another viewer focused on the difference between Chase’s two performances, commenting: “When he did the second song for me that showed that he can take a song and make it his own. He has got this charm to him that I absolutely love. Definitely think this kid could be going places in a few years.”
For many fans, the appeal of Chase’s audition was not simply his cover of an Ed Sheeran hit. It was the way he responded to criticism, recovered his confidence and showed the judges what he could do when given another opportunity.
His journey began with an uncomfortable interruption, but the second song changed the mood completely—and gave the young Vancouver Island musician a chance to prove that he deserved to be heard.
