Between 2008 and 2010, Evancho entered several talent competitions. She made singing appearances, mostly in Pennsylvania. She also attracted interest on YouTube. In 2010, at age ten, she gained wider popularity with her performances in the fifth season of the "America's Got Talent" competition. She finished in second place behind Michael Grimm. Evancho starred in the 2012 movie "The Company You Keep" with Robert Redford.