Ellwood City Native Semifinalist On 'America's Got Talent'

The 10-year-old opera singer from Richland Township isn't the only performer with Pittsburgh roots to make it into the semifinals of "America's Got Talent."

Aerialist Ashleigh Dejon and her partner Michael Lipari received praise from the judges after the pair's Tuesday night performance.

"There's something about you two, and the chemistry you have and passion for what you do that I find infectious," said judge Piers Morgan.

"I really loved it," said judge Sharon Osbourne.

"I go to a lot of shows and I see these aerialist acts and a lot of them have those safety harnesses on, and there were no safety harness. You were just hanging above the ground, and she picked you up and I'm thinking, you could die! This is what this show is about," said judge Howie Mandel.

Michael and Ashleigh were both born in California, and went full circle back to California after moving several times around the country.

Ashleigh moved from California to Pennsylvania, when her mother moved back to her roots to care for her dying father.

According to her bio on NBC.com, while living in Ellwood City, Ashleigh landed her first role in a major motion picture, playing the daughter of James Gandolfini, and the niece of John Cusack as a 12-year-old child in "Money For Nothing."

As a hometown girl, Ashleigh was a cheerleader at Hartman Elementary and then Lincoln High School, her mom Janice told See and Be Seen. Her training paid off when her family moved to Hollywood, Fla., and Ashleigh tried out for Miami Heat's Extreme Team and made the cut.

Ashleigh eventually moved back to California where she met Michael while they were both training on the beach, the pair said on the show Tuesday.

Ashleigh's mom said the family still has relatives in Ellwood City and Erie.

Ashleigh and Michael are one of 12 acts vying for five spots left in the finals.

Watch "America's Got Talent" Wednesday night at 9 p.m. on Channel 11 to see if they make it, along with the amazing Jackie Evancho.