Canada’s Got Talent’s current season boasts the biggest cash prize in the history of Canadian television — $1,000,000 set to change the life of the season’s final winner and cement their place in TV history. So when the shy 15-year-old singer Jade Mathieu took to the stage before the star judges, the stakes were nerve-wrackingly high. But she attacked her performance like a pro, earning hearts, a standing ovation, and a Golden Buzzer from Howie Mandel!
Her fourth season audition was stellar, but her song choice could have easily led to disaster. Taking on Christina Aguilera’s 2020 single “Reflection” from the Disney movie “Mulan,” Jade conquered the song’s maze of melodies, serving the immersive, emotional experience of musical theatre with her own unique flair.
Her runs were exceptional, her voice dynamic with both grit and inspiring, angelic tones, hitting high notes flawlessly and making Howie smile like a giddy child. There was certainly room for growth and finesse, but for a singer who had only just turned 15, Jade held the captivating potential that makes talent shows so addictive to watch, and the judges saw it in an instant.
Born in Longueuil, Quebec, Jade admitted in her pre-performance interview with judges Howie, Lilly Singh, Trish Stratus and Kardinal Offishall that she was more nervous about the talking than the singing. Jade revealed she’d been diagnosed with autism a few years before applying for Canada’s Got Talent, adding, “Talking has always been hard for me. That’s why I’m singing, I can just express myself.”
But despite her nerves, Jade was set on winning the grand prize, her confidence moving her mother to tears as she watched on from the sidelines of the stage.
