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Chase Varnes had a rough start on Tuesday night’s episode of America’s Got Talent, but the 13-year-old singer from Vancouver Island ended up delivering one of the most memorable performances of the season so far — thanks to a little help from Ed Sheeran.
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Varnes began his audition with an original song on acoustic guitar, but was quickly interrupted by judge Simon Cowell. “I hate to do this,” Cowell said. “I didn’t love the song; however, I like you. Have you got another song?”
Without missing a beat, Varnes launched into a cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Life Goes On,” originally featuring Luke Combs, and instantly won over the crowd and most of the judges.
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“You know, you remind me of a young Justin Bieber,” said Howie Mandel, referencing Varnes’ Canadian roots and early busking background. The compliment made the teen visibly light up on stage.
Sofía Vergara also applauded the performance, saying, “I know it’s nerve-racking to be on this stage, but I thought it was better the second song. Simon always knows how to stop it and make it better. I think the girls are gonna go crazy for you.”
Mel B, however, had a more measured response. “You were great. You were a diamond in the rough with so much potential,” she said. “But I can see your nervousness. You’re not quite there yet for me.”
While Mel B gave him a “no,” both Mandel and Vergara offered their yeses. That left Cowell to cast the deciding vote.
“Sometimes we have on people your age, and I’m like, ‘Okay, I’ll be sort of nicer because you’re young,’” Cowell said. “You, I actually do believe, that you have something… You’ve got everything going for you. The audience loved you, which is why you’re gonna get three yeses.”
Varnes’ cover of “Life Goes On” was a breakout moment on the night’s episode, trending online alongside a series of cat-themed novelty acts — including a rapper named Moshow and a group called Loco Pop Familia, who performed dressed entirely as cats.
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
Benjamin Hightower has channeled Chappell Roan for his America’s Got Talent audition, going from Tennessee to Los Angeles to receive a standing ovation from judges for his performance of “Pink Pony Club.”
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Appearing on Tuesday (June 10) night’s episode of America’s Got Talent, Hightower told judges how he ended seven years of active duty in the Air Force to pursue his dreams of stardom. “I made the really scary choice to get out of the military and take a chance on myself because I believe in my ability to be a performer,” he explained.
Dressed in a white shirt and ripped jeans, the unassuming musician sat behind a keyboard as he launched into a triumphant rendition of Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.” Originally released in 2020, the single gained renewed attention following Roan’s 2025 Grammy Awards performance, and hit No. 4 on the Hot 100, tying with “Good Luck, Babe!” as her highest-charting single to date.
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Receiving a rapturous reception from the audience (which included his own mother), Hightower explained that it was a more than fitting track given his roots in Tennessee. Though Roan grew up in Missouri, the lyrics to “Pink Pony Club” describe the singer’s desire to leave Tennessee in hopes of acceptance on the west coast.
“That song is great, but I think that also could be a hit; your rendition of her song,” enthused judge Howie Mandel. “It was beautiful, it was great.”
“The perfect audition, this is what you’re supposed to be doing,” added Sofia Vergara. “I think America’s going to love you.”
The biggest response, however, came from Simon Cowell, who expressed his certainty that Hightower’s performance could become a viral hit. “I really like you. I really do,” he told the singer.
“When I saw the keyboard I thought, ‘Oh God, it’s going to be something like “Stand By Me,” or something we’ve heard a billion times.’ And it wasn’t,” he added. “When you do somebody else’s song and you make it your version, that’s smart. I love that song, I love your version, and I don’t know, there’s something about you I really like.”
Hightower’s overwhelmingly positive reception was echoed in his own response to the acclaim, with the visibly emotional performer telling host Terry Crews that the moment has been a long time coming.
“If the little kid who grew up in Tennessee could see me now, he would be so proud,” he explained.
Watch Hightower’s full performance below:
Indian hard rock outfit Girish and the Chronicles turned up the heat on America’s Got Talent this week with a thunderous, riff-heavy cover of Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain,” earning a standing ovation and four yeses from the judges during Tuesday night’s (June 3) episode.
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The audition marked the group’s AGT debut and quickly stood out as one of the most explosive performances of the night. Stepping onto the stage with long hair, leather jackets, and confidence to spare, Girish and the Chronicles proved that rock is alive and well — and ready for primetime.
Hailing from Gangtok, Sikkim, and now based in Bengaluru, India, the band gave the pop ballad a dramatic makeover, transforming Adele’s chart-topping hit into a full-fledged rock spectacle complete with wailing guitar solos, gritty vocals, and thunderous drums. With frontman Girish Pradhan commanding the stage, the band’s charisma and precision lit up the room and earned them a unanimous four yeses from the judges — Sofia Vergara, Simon Cowell, Mel B, and Howie Mandel.
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Formed in 2009, Girish and the Chronicles (often abbreviated as GATC) have become one of India’s leading hard rock exports. They’ve previously opened for artists like Poets of the Fall and Destruction, and they’ve toured internationally in places like Nepal and the U.S.
“Set Fire to the Rain” became Adele’s third consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012, spending two weeks at the top. The track also surpassed 2 billion streams on Spotify and won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance.
Elsewhere in the June 3 episode, AGT featured a wide mix of acts vying for a coveted spot in the next round. Ethiopian acrobatic troupe TT Boys wowed with a gravity-defying display of flips and balance work that earned a standing ovation. Dance group Kid Clippers, known for their work with the LA Clippers, delivered an energetic hip-hop routine full of charisma and synchronized choreography.
Phobias, a silent clown duo with a horror twist, brought eerie theatrics to the stage — complete with balloon popping and unsettling surprises — and successfully freaked out the judges (especially Howie Mandel). Meanwhile, the Messoudi Brothers stunned with a shirtless knife juggling act that had the judges on edge.
Also on the docket: Citilimitz, a trio of singing brothers who brought a nostalgic boy-band vibe; Amanda Badertscher, a gym teacher who nailed a trick football-throwing stunt; and Cole Swensen and his mother, who delivered a sweet family rendition of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida.”
23-year-old street performer Jourdan Blue has found himself an instant national fanbase with his emotional audition for the season 20 premiere of NBC’s America’s Got Talent on Tuesday (May 27).
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Blue’s performance of The Script‘s “Breakeven” was one filled with tears and triumph, with the young father’s story of overcoming adversity and terror adding to the euphoria that accompanied his Golden Buzzer-worthy performance.
Per Blue’s own account, he’s a street performer from New Orleans who spends most of his nights performing into the wee small hours in order to support his girlfriend and young son, Jax.
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“Growing up, my mom was a cop, my dad was a lawyer, so naturally I was a rebel,” he explained to the judges ahead of his performance. “I kind of got myself into some trouble and ended up living with my grandpa and he’s a big music listener and that inspired me to get into it.
“I started street performing in New Orleans because I really wanted to just fully dive into it. As you might remember, at the beginning of the year, there was an attack on New Orleans, right on the exact block where I perform.
“It made me realize that there’s so much more to live for,” he added. “That’s what made me choose AGT. I feel like this is the best way to level up.”
Immediately leveling up with the crowd as he dove into his performance of The Script’s 2008 hit, Blue’s unique voice instantly won over the crowd as it became clear that even the judges were immensely impressed by his rendition.
“I think you are somebody [who] maybe lost their way a little bit, but like you said, through music [you have] now found your way,” explained judge Simon Cowell. “You have such a distinctive voice, you are so cool, and you feed off the audience. They love you and how you made me feel just then was actually amazing.”
“This is season 20,” added fellow judge Howie Mandel. “I’ve seen dreams come true, and I’ve seen lives change right where you’re standing. And that stage and that moment can take you anywhere, and this is just the beginning of where you can go.
“I think you’re a star,” Mandel told Blue after hitting the Golden Buzzer. “I think your name is gonna be on the lips of everybody watching this across the globe.”
Blue was one of two acts to receive the Golden Buzzer on the May 27 episode, with Brazilian dance group Light Wire also receiving the same honor from Cowell.
Watch Blue’s full performance below:
On Tuesday’s (May 27) season 20 premiere of America’s Got Talent, judge Simon Cowell was blown away by a Brazilian crew that combined LED technology and dance for a simply mesmerizing show. The troupe is called Light Wire, and their show has to be seen to be believed. The movements of four dancers onstage cascade […]
Alice Tan Ridley, who competed on America’s Got Talent in 2010 after decades of performing in New York City subway stations, died on March 25 at age 72, according to an obituary from her family. Ridley — who was also the mother of Precious and American Horror Story actress Gabourey Sidibe — pursued her dreams […]
Exactly three years after the death of Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski, her music and legacy live on, with her family issuing the posthumous album Still Got Dreams on Thursday (Feb. 20).
Marczewski, who died of cancer at age 31 in 2022, rose to widespread fame in June of the previous year when she performed her original song “It’s OK” as part of the 16th season auditions for America’s Got Talent. The singer revealed during the audition that she had a 2% chance of survival from cancer that had spread to her lungs, spine and liver. The video garnered millions of views on YouTube and her performance warranted a standing ovation from all four judges.
She would exit the show just weeks later to focus on her ongoing cancer battle, with a virtual update in August seeing Judge Howie Mandel labeling her the “poster human for courage in the face of adversity.”
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Following her death in 2022, Marczewski’s family have continued to share her work, with a handful of singles arriving in recent months ahead of the release of her posthumous album, Still Got Dreams. The Geoff Duncan-produced release comprises tracks written by Marczewski, and interwoven with “nuggets of wisdom” from the late singer.
Singles such as “Gold,” the Konata Small-featuring “Empire,” and the record’s title track (which features uplifting vocals from the Mzansi Youth Choir) showcase the songwriting talent of Marczewski, while the lyrics offer a powerful insight into the singer’s enduring wisdom.
Notably, the songs featured on the album were unable to be recorded before Marczewski’s untimely death. Determined to bring her musical vision to life, the Nightbirde Estate, Nashville Unsigned and Duncan turned to the use of “ethical AI” vocal production to complete the project.
Per a press release, the team trained an AI voice model on her tone, style and emotional delivery to craft a 360-degree mapping of her voice, resulting in the late artist being given a chance to realize the music she was unable to record herself. The release also notes that only “specific pieces of AI vocal production” were utilized for the record, with the remainder of the project being “built entirely from the ground up” by Duncan.
The album also sees Marczewski’s estate positioned as the only artist estate to have used AI vocal production in a way that is legal, ethical and undertaken with full authorization.
All proceeds from the record (alongside Nightbirde’s art, books, merchandise and licensing) benefit the Nightbirde Foundation, which aims to uplift and support women battling breast cancer.
Just a man and his will to survive … and make it to next week’s America’s Got Talent finals.
On Wednesday’s semifinal episode of AGT, fan-favorite singer Richard Goodall proved just how much he wanted to stay in the competition by choosing to cover the ultimate fighting song: Survivor‘s “Eye of the Tiger,” the theme from Rocky III.
He rose to the occasion of the classic track — a six-week No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 — by squeezing every ounce of drama out of it, opting for a slowed-down a cappella intro before forging into the famous chorus with a full band behind him. Fiery graphics and pyrotechnics lit up the stage behind him as the 55-year-old singer nailed Jim Peterik’s sky-high vocal riffs for the pumped-up crowd.
And it worked: We learned on Thursday night’s (Sept. 12) episode that Goodall is one of six contestants moving forward to next week’s finals, before the season 19 AGT winner is crowned Sept. 24.
The judges were in the palm of Goodall’s hand following his Survivor cover, with Simon Cowell saying, “There’s something ironic about the fact that you’ve chosen a real underdog song, and you are like the underdog in a way, but in a really positive way. And it was like you just got to the top of the steps,” he said, referencing Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky running up the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs. “I love that!”
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Sofia Vergara added, “I love that you picked such an iconic song. The people love you. It was amazing. I’m so happy for you. Enjoy this,” while Howie Mandel praised Goodall’s warmth throughout this season: “I’m pumped but not as big as the heart this guy has. You have the biggest heart in this whole competition. We feel the love, and we love you.”
But no one was more pumped up than Heidi Klum, who simply asked Goodall after the song: “Are you kidding me right now? Epic performance. I thought that you could not top what you did last time, but you topped it. America, you have to vote for Richard!”
America clearly listened, and you can catch Goodall on next week’s final performance episode, airing Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Watch Goodall’s “Eye of the Tiger” performance below:
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Pranysqa Mishra, a 10-year-old singing sensation from Tampa, Fla., delivered a jaw-dropping rendition of Miley Cyrus’ hit “Wrecking Ball” during the quarterfinals of America’s Got Talent‘s 19th season.
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Known for earning Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer earlier in the season, Mishra once again proved why she is a standout contender in her latest showstopping performance on Sept. 3.
Taking on the emotionally charged ballad, Mishra performed with grace and maturity beyond her years, drawing rave reviews from the judges. “You didn’t have a drummer or bass to hide behind. It was just you and the piano,” Heidi Klum told her. “You did it so amazingly. Congratulations.”
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Simon Cowell was also blown away by Mishra’s talent, saying, “You sounded amazing, seriously. Your potential is really exciting.”
Howie Mandel added, “You’re 10 years old, but you have the talent of someone who’s been performing for decades.”
The young singer’s journey has been remarkable. Mishra has performed the American national anthem at major sporting events, including the Miami Heat vs. Utah Jazz NBA game and the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament.
Her AGT performance, however, pushed her into new territory, taking on a Miley Cyrus anthem that was no easy feat.
The judges all stood in awe of her rendition. Sofia Vergara called it “breathtaking,” and said, “You deserve for everybody to vote tonight for you.” Mandel praised her, saying, “You could win this whole thing.”
Mishra humbly responded, “I’m so blessed to sing on this world’s biggest stage in front of the beautiful audience.”
“Wrecking Ball,” originally performed by Miley Cyrus, became a pop culture sensation when it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in 2013 and has received over a billion views on YouTube.
The pint-sized powerhouse’s journey on AGT continues, with fans eagerly watching her next steps in the competition. Check out her performance below.
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Dee Dee Simon made a lasting impression during the Quarterfinals of America’s Got Talent 2024 with her high-energy performance of “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims.
The Oakland nurse, who has been balancing her day job with her passion for music, delivered a standout performance on Aug. 27 that not only had the judges on their feet but also earned her a direct ticket to the finals thanks to Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer.
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From the start, Dee Dee brought an exciting energy to the stage as she wowed the crowd with her vocal brilliance. Halfway through the song, she kicked off her shoes, letting the moment take over as she poured her heart into the performance. The judges couldn’t help but take notice.
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“You knocked your shoes off. You knocked my shoes off,” Howie Mandel said, nodding to Dee Dee’s spontaneous decision to perform barefoot. “You made the song your own, and you were amazing.”
Simon Cowell, never one to hold back his opinion, was hugely impressed by the powerhouse performance, saying, “This is what it’s all about—someone who isn’t a full-time singer seizes the moment and shows the world who they are. Dee Dee, I think you’ve got a real shot at winning this competition.”
Sofia Vergara, clearly impressed, added, “This was your lane, and you took control of it. This performance topped your audition—you’re a star tonight.”
But it was Heidi Klum who sealed the deal. “Dee Dee, your voice has such a rich tone, and you look stunning tonight. But I felt like something was missing—like a sparkly belt, a sparkly ring, something gold,” Klum said, just before she hit the Golden Buzzer, sending the singer straight to the finals amid a shower of golden confetti.
“My stomach was talking to me, and you were the best tonight—you’re amazing!”
As the confetti fell, Dee Dee stood in disbelief, thanking the crowd and the judges. “Oh my God, thank you so much, America. I love you.”
“Lose Control,” the song Dee Dee performed, has been a major hit for Teddy Swims. The track debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023 and climbed to No. 1 in March this year. It would go on to stay on the chart for a whopping 54 weeks.
The competition may be tough, but with this performance and the Golden Buzzer, Dee Dee Simon has positioned herself as a serious contender for the AGT 2024 title.
Watch Dee Dee Simon’s Golden Buzzer performance in the America’s Got Talent Quarterfinals below.
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