Thia Megia’s run on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” ended this week when the 14-year-old Tracy singer was eliminated from the contest.

Despite the close to her summertime stint on national television, the local eighth-grader soared through the ranks of contestants this summer, garnering glowing reviews from the show’s celebrity judges and thousands of votes from viewers.

She made it to the top 40, and narrowly missed joining the ranks of the 20 finalists.

NBC wouldn’t let her grant media interviews this early in the show’s season, and the young singer said she wasn’t ready to talk to the press this week.

But her voice has already reached the ears of tens of thousands across the nation. Her powerful singing earned high praise and a strong local following.

“Thia Megia, you really got to me-a,” remarked David Hasslehoff, one of the judges, during her performance on Wednesday. “You are a shooting star, baby.”

Fellow judge Sharon Osbourne shared Hasslehoff’s admiration for Tracy girl.

“You did not disappoint me tonight,” Osbourne said after Thia’s Wednesday rendition of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” “You delivered.”

In a TV interview before her final performance on the show, Thia said she’s overwhelmed with the attention and inspired by the opportunity to perform for a national audience.

“This is absolutely insane, it’s crazy,” she said on the show. “I mean I can’t believe I’m here… This is the biggest thing that has ever happened to me.”

Even before getting picked up by the televised talent show, Thia had a lengthy musical resume for someone her age.

At 11 and 12 years old, the former Hayward resident sang the “Star Spangled Banner” a few times at major league football games in front of 60,000 fans, according to news reports. She started singing when she was 4, and has since won awards at several local and national music competitions.

See Thia on “America’s Got Talent” or visit her YouTube channel to see some of her other performances.

•Contact a Tracy Press reporter or editor at 835-3030 or tpnews@tracypress.com.