Q&A: 'America's Got Talent' winner Darci Lynne to bring ventriloquism, song & comedy show to NT

About to turn 22, performer brings ‘The Growing Pains Tour’ to West Herr Riviera Theater

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

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IG: @imjoshuamaloni

Though Darci Lynne has changed physically – as her team notes, she’s “older and taller” than when fans first saw her on TV in 2017 – she’s still the same, well, talent, live and on stage.

The Oklahoma ventriloquist, singer and comedian will bring her “The Growing Pains Tour” to the West Herr Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda on Oct. 15.

At the age of 12, Darci Lynne won season 12 of “America’s Got Talent” – her routine drawing rave reviews from both viewers and judges Howie Mandel, Mel B., Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell. The ventriloquism was on point – and so was the singing, which came via Darci Lynne’s puppets: First using rabbit Petunia to perform Ella Fitzgerald's “Summertime” and following that with The Jackson 5's “Who's Lovin’ You” courtesy of mouse Oscar, and Aretha Franklin's “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” via elderly Edna.

Darci Lynne returned two seasons later for “America’s Got Talent: The Champions,” finishing second to magician Shin Lim; and then again for “America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League,” where she focused more on singing and finished as a semifinalist.

In addition to “AGT,” Darci Lynne has toured regularly (including headlining in Las Vegas, and Nashville’s legendary Ryman and Grand Old Opry), hosted a Christmas special on NBC, was guest on Disney Junior’s “Fancy Nancy” and Cartoon Network’s “Scooby Doo and Guess Who,” and starred in films “Reagan” and “Cowgirl’s Song.”

Darci Lynne shared more in this edited Q&A.

Darci Lynne with Petunia and Oscar. (Photo courtesy of The Grable Group Inc.)

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Q: Looking at your bio, there is an interesting description about you that most women, I would say, wouldn't necessarily want to have in their bio, and that is you're “older and taller.”

Darci Lynne: (Laughs)

Q: But I think that's an important distinction in this case, because, if people are coming out to see you – and they haven't seen you in a while, or since you were on television – you're not 12 years old anymore. I think it’s important people know the show has changed – as you have changed.

Darci Lynne: Absolutely. Honestly, I feel like it's fibbing a little bit. I feel like I am not taller at all! I'm very vertically challenged: 5’ 2,” going strong.

But, no. I feel like it's definitely important because, “AGT,” I won almost nine years ago, and so a lot of life has happened for me. I feel like this whole tour, “The Growing Pains,” is a way for people to get to know me, now, as a 22-year-old. So, yeah, it's definitely important.

Q: For the people who might be seeing you for the first time in a while – like I said, if they haven't seen you since you were on “AGT” – how would you say you've gotten better as a performer?

Darci Lynne: I feel like I've gained a lot more confidence on stage. I mean, a big part of my story when I was on “AGT” was how reserved and shy I was, which is still very true for me. But, I think over the years, I've had to be out of my comfort zone and in scary situations of performing where there's just that sense of, “I don't know if I'm good enough.” I feel like I've gained a lot of confidence in myself and my ability to share my voice with others.

Just definitely more confidence, I think.

Darci Lynne and Petunia. (Photo courtesy of The Grable Group Inc.)

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Q: Now, correct me if I'm wrong: You were on three seasons of “AGT.”

Darci Lynne: Yes. So, the first show was just their regular show I was on, in season 12; that's when I won. Then they brought me back for “AGT: The Champions,” which is a spinoff of bringing back winners and past beloved contestants, and I came in second on that one. And then the most recent one I did was called “AGT: Fantasy League,” which they did a new kind of spin on it where all contestants were split up and put on teams with the judges. I was on Heidi's team.

Q: First (one) you won – that's amazing in of itself. Coming in second place to Shin Lim, I mean, no shade there – and you can't really have beef with him, either, because he could probably make you disappear.

Darci Lynne: No, seriously. … He's incredible, and also just like the nicest guy, too, when getting to meet him.

I was just honored to be a part of that experience – being considered one of the top acts that they even wanted to bring back. It was cool. I mean, obviously, I had already won my season, and so there was, honest to God, not even disappointment for Shin Lim winning, because it was just a lot of camaraderie there. It was cool.

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Q: The third time, they sort of didn't know what to do with you when you were singing – and I find that interesting.

I was listening to your music today. I was watching some of your videos. If we call those performances “country” for lack of a better description, I'm not a huge country fan, but I really like the songs. They’re catchy in the best way, not the earworm kind of way. I really enjoy the music, and I think you can do this. You didn't just wake up one day and say, “You know what, I'm bored. Let's try singing!”

But the decision to do that, obviously that was a risk – because they knew you for the ventriloquism.

Why was singing important to you? Tell me about the time and effort that you have put into it.

Darci Lynne: Music has been really important to me my whole life, obviously. I grew up in a musical family, and I think (it was) a time when my whole, entire life was changing, and some time had passed since “AGT.” I started writing music in quarantine. I didn't really have much of a high school experience, and there were just so many things I missed out on because of the way my life went – and not in a complaining way, because I'm so blessed. But I think music was a way for me to express, “My life is crazy, and I’m just trying to figure out who I am.”

“Fantasy League,” when I did that show and sang on it, I mean, that was a time when I was graduating high school. All my friends knew where they were going. They were going to college, and I was still like, “I don't know what I'm doing.” And so, very much a self-discovery season of life for me through music.

Honestly, I wouldn't consider myself a country artist. I think that was just me exploring that at the time, but I don't regret it. It was very important for me at the time; and music is still very much a part of my career – and I still have a goal of expanding that.

At the time I was like, "This is what I'm doing, and no one's gonna stop me! (laughs)”

Darci Lynne with Oscar. (Photo courtesy of The Grable Group Inc.)

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Q: It wasn't, like, a complete left turn, because you sang as a ventriloquist, too; so, it's not like we didn't know you could sing. But, kudos, again, for trying that, because I thought that was really a bold move on your part. I applaud you for having the courage to go out and try that.

Darci Lynne: Well, thank you.

It was definitely interesting. I feel like Simon wasn't too happy about it, but you know (laughs) I think he would probably support me either way. But yeah, it was definitely interesting.

Q: He, probably, is looking at it from more of a business standpoint.

Darci Lynne: Oh, for sure; yeah, yeah, yeah.

Q: If we look at what you're doing today, with still doing the ventriloquism, from a business standpoint, that makes perfect sense. You should do that, because you're great at it; because you've got an audience for that – you should absolutely be doing that from a business standpoint.

But performers your age, sometimes they decide that they sort of want to burn the ships down, and just try something else – like become a punk rocker or whatever.

Darci Lynne: For sure. It was a part of my story that needed to happen, in my opinion.

Q: I'm sure you're combining the singing and the ventriloquism into this show that we're going to see, so you cover each of those areas.

But the ventriloquism, as I said, from a business standpoint – absolutely genius. But from a creative standpoint, from a personal enjoyment standpoint, what is it about that form of expression and that form of performing that you still find appealing?

Darci Lynne: What I love about ventriloquism is the magic of it all. When I first discovered it, it was like magic to me. And as a kid, you already have such an inventive imagination – I know at least I did. And so, especially as a kid who had a hard time expressing themselves in public – I sang all the time in my house, but as soon as I left, I was, like, mute – it was just this new thing. I was like, "Wow, this is so cool! I feel like I have to learn how to do that, how to embody a character and make it come to life.”

What I love about all my characters – and what people have told me, too, when they come to my shows – is that they all have very distinct personalities. Some of them have different fears than others, and some of them – they're like people; so, they're very relatable.

And so, being able to create a character and have the audience watch them go through all these human emotions and human flaws and make mistakes, I think it's pretty soothing and informative.

It's just like a whole kind of world building, I think I love most about ventriloquism. But then it also is a cherry on top that people think it's like cool. Like, “How do you do that?!?”

Q: Tell me about how the show breaks down, and what we can expect when we see you up on stage.

Darci Lynne: What I love about this show is that I’m in my early 20s. I feel like it's the “panic years” because I'm just like, “What am I doing with my life?!?” And also learning how to be an adult. Like, I pay rent now, and taxes. It's insane. And so, it's basically just kind of about how I've grown up, and trying to survive as an early adult; and also, how my characters have evolved over the years, and how they handle change. That's why it's called “The Growing Pains Tour.”

But, obviously, there's a lot of music involved; and I feel when I choose my music, I try to choose music that will kind of fit the mold and the theme of the show, and also tell a story. So, kind of like musical theater, in a way.

It's a fun time.

Darci Lynne and Edna. (Photo courtesy of The Grable Group Inc.)

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Q: Your show is family-friendly, which, again, not everybody that's your age and has your level of success or fame would choose to do. I, again, applaud you for that, because I don't think there's a lot of that out there right now.

Why was it important for you to have a family-friendly show?

Darci Lynne: I think it's important because there's not a lot of it out there in the world.

I have so many things that I love to watch that aren't family-friendly, and then certain things that I love to watch that are family-friendly. But there's very few things I think you can go to with your whole family and not be afraid of something your kid might hear.

When I first started all of this, when I was basically like in middle school, all these parents would tell me like, "Thank you for being a role model to my kid.” And I think, at first, I saw it as like a burden. I was like, "Oh, gosh, that's a lot of pressure. I'm not a perfect person. I don't want to be a good role model.” But I think I'm growing into the idea that it's a cool, maybe, responsibility. Not that it is my responsibility. But just like a way for kids to find something that they can relate to, but also something that is appropriate for them at the time. And they're all going to grow into their own people and watch their own things they want to watch as an adult.

I just think it's hard to find things that you can go to with your whole family and still have the kids laughing, but also the adults laughing. I'm really proud of that. It's pretty cool.

Darci Lynne performs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. The historic Riviera Theatre is located at 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda. Call 716-692-2413 or visit https://rivieratheatre.org/.