OKC's Darci Lynne advances to 'AGT: Fantasy League' semifinals showing 'new side of me'

Darci Lynne rocked her first appearance on "America's Got Talent: Fantasy League" with a risk-taking performance that earned her the last spot in the spin-off series' semifinals round.

The Oklahoma City singer, songwriter and ventriloquist, who was just 12 years old when she won the 12th season of "America's Got Talent" in 2017, vowed to show off a new side of her talents with her first performance on the new "America's Got Talent" spin-off series, which aired Monday night.

"I've come back to show the new side of me. I'm now 19, and so it's like Darci 2.0," the Oklahoma native said on the show.

"I'm known for my ventriloquism, but there is more to me than just a ventriloquist. America choosing me as one of their favorite acts to come back was a really big honor. I think it is a little pressuring, though. I feel like I have to live up to what I did when I was 12, but I just don't want to be put into a box."

What did Darci Lynne do for her first 'America's Got Talent: Fantasy League' performance?

"AGT: Fantasy League" judge Heidi Klum selected Darci Lynne — whose full name is Darci Lynne Farmer — for her Team Heidi in the spin-off's draft. But the multi-talented Oklahoman refused to reveal the details of her first performance ahead of time, even to her famous mentor.

"There's a twist, and I don't think anyone was expecting it. So, I was really nervous," Darci Lynne told The Oklahoman by Zoom last week before her first "AGT: Fantasy League" appearance aired.

"It was nerve-racking, because I'm just doing something different. That's all I can say."

Although the 2023 Deer Creek High School graduate again took the "AGT" stage with her puppet Petunia in her "Fantasy League" debut, the divaesque bunny character was perched in her own plush chair rather than on Darci Lynne's arm.

As she launched into a cover of the Kiki Dee Band's upbeat anthem "I've Got the Music in Me," Darci Lynne started out swapping verses with Petunia and clearly controlling the puppet before picking up an electric guitar, leaving the puppet behind and strutting across the stage to an increasingly rollicking rendition of the 1970s hit.

"This is the future, Petunia," Darci Lynne declared as the puppet danced on its own but the performer continued to alternate between singing and voicing the puppet.

What did the 'AGT: Fantasy League' judges think of Darci Lynne's first performance?

The studio audience gave Darci 2.0 an enthusiastic standing ovation, and her Team Heidi mentor praised the performance.

"I think that you are absolutely fantastic. I'm glad you didn't abandon Petunia all the way because this is how we fell in love with you. I'm so happy also that you're back here on our stage," Klum said.

Fellow "AGT: Fantasy League" judges Mel B and Simon Cowell seemed to have trouble of letting go of Darci 1.0. Mel B said that it was Darci Lynne's tight-knit performances with Petunia that "captured America's hearts."

"I almost love the simplicity of what you were doing back then, and I just feel like the music and everything else overshadowed what you're so good at," the former Spice Girl said.

As members of the studio audience booed Mel B's comments, host Terry Crews told the camera, "I do not agree; I do not agree."

Cowell echoed Mel B's criticisms of Darci Lynne's updated performance style.

"There are very few people in the world who can do what you do. The singing and the ventriloquism together is your what I call USP, your unique selling point. And I think we were distracted away from what you do so brilliantly," Cowell said.

"The good news is it's not down to us. It's down to the audience."

During a huddle with the fellow judges, Howie Mandel said that "having raised teenage girls," he understood Darci Lynne's desire to show another side of her talents.

"She doesn't want to be that little girl," he said.

In conjunction with her "AGT: Fantasy League" debut, Darci Lynne announced her first single as a singer-songwriter, a country-rock tune called "Push Your Luck."

Which competitors advanced to the 'AGT: Fantasy League' semifinals with Darci Lynne?

In Monday's fourth and final qualifying "AGT: Fantasy League" episode, the studio audience threw its support behind Darci 2.0. At the end of the episode, Crews revealed that the Oklahoman had secured the last spot in the semifinals.

Also voted through to the semifinals on Monday's episode:

• Aerialist Aidan Bryant

• Magician Anna DeGuzman

• Dance group Ghetto Kids

• Solo dancer Musa Motha

Cowell controlled the Golden Buzzer for the episode and opted to send his team's North Carolina-based act Sainted Trap Choir straight to the finals.

The choir joins previous Golden Buzzer recipients sibling rollerskating duo Billy & Emily, head balancers the Ramadhani Brothers and aerialist and contortionist Sofie Dossi in the finals.

The 20 acts advancing to the "AGT: Fantasy League" semifinals after the four audition rounds are:

• Darci Lynne

• Adrian Stoica & Hurricane

• Aidan Bryant

• Anna DeGuzman

• Chapel Hart

• Grace Good

• Enke-Erdene

• Ghetto Kids

• Kodi Lee

• Kristy Sellars

• Kseniya Simonova

• Loren Allred

• Musa Motha

• Preacher Lawson

• Shadow Ace

• Sheldon Riley

• The Pack Drumline

• Vardanyan Brothers

• V. Unbeatable

• Yu Hojin

"America's Got Talent: Fantasy League," which premiered on New Year's Day, airs at 7 p.m. Mondays on NBC, with episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.

For the first time in "AGT" history, the judges are competing alongside the contestants, guiding the acts throughout the competition with the hopes of earning bragging rights and seeing an act from their team crowned the champion of “AGT: Fantasy League.”

On "AGT: Fantasy League," the studio audience votes each week to determine which acts will advance to the semifinal and then final rounds. The winning act will receive a grand prize of $250,000. 

'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT: FANTASY LEAGUE'

"America's Got Talent: Fantasy League" airs at 7 p.m. Mondays on NBC, with episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC ventriloquist Darci Lynne shows 'new side' on America’s Got Talent