225: Sarah Hardwig KNOWS America’s Got Talent, Country Music, Courage, Emotional Intelligence, and How to Be a Visionary

Country singer-songwriter Sarah Hardwig has the distinction of being the first blind guest to join Randall Kenneth Jones on ON THE KNOWS. What follows is an honest, funny and deeply moving conversation about America’s Got Talent, music, self-doubt, courage, advocacy and discovering the unique ways we experience the world.

At just 23, Sarah Hardwig has already stepped onto one of television’s biggest stages—and captured the attention of millions with her country music, powerful voice and unforgettable story.

A singer-songwriter originally from Naples, Florida, who now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, Sarah recently appeared on America’s Got Talent, where she performed in front of the judges and a massive television audience. But for Sarah, the experience is about much more than a singing competition.

In this conversation, Sarah talks candidly about what it felt like to walk onto the America’s Got Talent stage with her father, the nerves and overwhelming emotion she experienced before performing, and the incredible love she felt from the audience.

She also discusses her advocacy for people who are blind and challenges some of the assumptions people may have about blindness. Sarah explains how missing visual social cues—like eye contact, facial expressions and body language—can sometimes create feelings of isolation, while emphasizing that being blind does not mean being unable to understand the world or the people around you.

And then there is Sarah’s superpower: hearing.

Her extraordinary ability to listen, absorb music and recognize even the smallest imperfections has helped shape her artistry. Sarah explains why hearing can sometimes feel like both a blessing and a curse—and why listening may be just as important as hearing.

She also reveals a surprising talent that even America’s Got Talent judge Sofia Vergara apparently doesn't know about: Sarah can impersonate voices.

The conversation takes an especially personal turn when Randall and Sarah discuss her 2022 song “Who I Am,” a song about self-doubt, self-criticism and the inner voice that tells us we don't deserve the things we accomplish. Sarah explains how that inner critic remains part of her life—and why she ultimately believes it has helped make her who she is.

Sarah describes herself as courageous and emotional, explaining that she feels things deeply and brings that emotion into every performance. Randall offers another word to describe her: visionary—a word that takes on special meaning d