Is this the best Mötley Crüe cover version ever? Hard to say since Crüe covers are as rare as sunshine in Seattle, but smart money says this may well be a contender.
Eleven-year-old Alaska-based America's Got Talent contestant Anna Graceman – who already has her own website!? - performed a cover version of the Crüe's power ballad "Home Sweet Home" Monday on the program's second night of semi-finals and absolutely rocked it.
Check it out below.
According to Blabbermouth, host Nick Cannon informed Anna that Mötley Crüe was watching the show and asked her what she thought the band was thinking. Anna replied, "I hope they're saying 'She rocked it!'"
Digital Spy reports that judge Piers Morgan raved about Anna's "incredible voice" and "amazing talent," calling it the best performance of the night. Judge Sharon Osbourne agreed saying that Mötley Crüe will find the performance "absolutely amazing" and saying that her voice suits the song. Howie Mandel offered a taciturn "Wow!"
Graceman is up against 11 other acts vying for the five available slots for the last performance that could change her life. Though apparently she is ready… did we mention she already has a website? I mean, I guess that’s savvy thinking but it seems like a pretty big commitment for a kiddo singer from Juneau Alaska.
Anyhoo, as Blabbermouth notes, "Home Sweet Home", which appears on Mötley Crüe’s 1985 album Theatre Of Pain, charted at No. 89 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song ranked No. 12 on VH1's chart of the greatest power ballads of all time.
"I remember like it was yesterday," Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil has said about writing the song, "sitting in the recording studio when Tommy [Lee, drummer] came up with the piano chords and I almost immediately started humming."
Keeners will note this isn’t the first time Mötley Crüe has been reckoned with by would-be stars: American Idol winner star Carrie Underwood performed her version of "Home Sweet Home" on the 2009 season of the hit TV show.
Fans of Mötley Crüe meanwhile should also check out the band’s newly shot live video to "Kickstart My Heart," one of their biggest hits drawn from 1989’s monster-selling Dr Feelgood disc and cut as a gift to concert-goers who made the band’s recent summer tour one of the season’s biggest draws.