Who is Victory Brinker? 'America's Got Talent' star is being compared to Carrie Underwood

The aspiring opera singer has been been praised by judge Simon Cowell, who called her 'a unique, special talent'

Contestant singer Victory Brinker is fast becoming a favourite to win 'America's Got Talent.' AFP

Reality show America’s Got Talent still has a knack for transforming contestants into viral sensations.

Fresh from making the world notice Abu Dhabi youngster Peter Rosalita in the opening rounds and the quarter finals, the 16th season has also shone a light on fellow favourite and semi-finalist Victory Brinker.

One year Rosalita's junior, the African-American opera singer, 9, has been stunning judges and a global audience throughout the competition with stripped down performances of genre standards.

On July 6, she made America’s Got Talent history by being the first contestant to receive the golden buzzer – resulting in direct qualification to the next round – from all four judges (music executive Simon Cowell, TV personality Howie Mandel, actor Sofia Vergara and model Heidi Klum) and host Terry Crews.

For her quarter-final round on Tuesday, Brinker delivered a pitch-perfect take on Casta Diva by American-Greek soprano Maria Callas.

Notoriously brusque judge Cowell was so moved by her performance that he declared Brinker a star in waiting.

Cowell, who steered the careers of countless young stars including One Direction, compared the youngster to US singer-songwriter and 2005 American Idol winner Carrie Underwood.

"I do remember many years ago, on another show, an artist called Carrie Underwood came on and auditioned for me, and I said, 'You're going to sell millions and millions of records.' And I was right," Cowell said, recalling his earlier stint as an American Idol judge.

"I'm going to make a prediction: You're going to be one of the biggest stars to emerge from one of these shows. Because you have a unique, special talent, and I think you are incredible."

Brinker was one of five acts to qualify for the semi-final round, with one more act to be decided by public vote.

She joins Rosalita, who also qualified after his quarter-final performance, which was broadcast on August 11.

Who is Victory Brinker?

Hailing from the US “City of Bridges” Pittsburgh, Brinker began singing from the age of 2, before focusing on classical music four years later.

According to her official website, Brinker has performed at New York City's Carnegie Hall and The Apollo, in addition to acting as part of the Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

Her repertoire of arias span seven languages.

Brinker will next appear in one of the two America’s Got Talent semi-final episodes, which begin broadcasting on Tuesday, August 31. Should she qualify, she will deliver her final televised performance on Tuesday, September 14, with the winner being announced in the season’s final episode the next day.