AGT

Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” ran a chart race this year quite like nothing we’ve seen before. Don’t bet on seeing the likes of it again. A 37-year-old blast from the past, “Running” found fresh legs thanks to its appearance in critical scenes of Stranger Things, season four. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Then the strange things really happened. The song blasted to No. 1 in the U.K., breaking three records and staying there for three weeks; it also led the Australian chart for the first time, reigned over both Billboard Global charts, cracked the top 5 on the Hot 100 survey; and Kate Bush ruled the Hot 100 Songwriters Chart for the very first time. If there’s real magic in that song, Sara James wanted some. For her gran...

After several months of tears and cheers, we’ve reached the final stage of America’s Got Talent 2022 and learned the ten survivors who’ll compete for the big prize. The finalists were locked-in as the live shows came to a conclusion this week. This year, 55 contestants were split into competing groups over five nights, with two going through on each occasion. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The penultimate night of performances opened with a recap of the 11 contestants from Tuesday night, and a few choice words from judge Simon Cowell. “We are nothing without these contestants and for some reason this year, you are seeing some of the most astonishing live performances you have ever seen,” he explained. “We’ll see what happens tonight, but I hav...

Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus’ “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” is the type of song that needs a special, work-hardened voice, one that can hit high notes. It’s also the type of song that can go horribly wrong. Kristen Cruz has that special voice, which she showcased in a performance Tuesday night (Sept. 6) on America’s Got Talent. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The 19-year-old found her groove with confidence, blending blues rock with country tones, hitting an assortment of high notes (though the very last moment might cause her to miss some sleep). The teen singer has no trouble proving her talent. She’s a TikTok phenom with more than 4.5 million followers and and her clips, many of which capture her singing while mixing drinks, and have notched ...

Season 17 of America’s Got Talent is inching closer to its climax, with eight talents now selected to duke it out in the grand final. Night four of the live shows was another busy affair, with 11 acts hitting the stage on Wednesday night (Aug. 31). America — along with judges Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel – decided, and just two progressed, including artificial intelligence act Metaphysics, which had impressed with their deep-fake performance of “Nessun Dorma.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news That means, eight spots are taken for the finale. All of whom will compete for the $1 million and a chance to headline America’s Got Talent Las Vegas LIVE at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. They include saxophonist ...

Luciano Pavarotti’s rendition of “Nessun Dorma” popularized the aria, and shook us to the bones. Aretha Franklin blew our minds with her soul-meets-operatic recital, Paul Potts surprised everyone when he showed us his version on Britain’s Got Talent. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news During the semifinals of America’s Got Talent on Tuesday (Aug. 30), an altogether different performance of the classical work unfolded. Metaphysic, a multimedia act that uses artificial intelligence in its performances, strolled onto the stage and, through the wonders of deep-fake technology, formed a chorus of Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel and Terry Crews to “sing” the famous piece from Puccini’s “Turandot.” It’s all AI-powered, it’s slightly creepy, and it’s totally e...

There’s only one Rocket Man. Sure. Sara James is as close as we’ve got to Rocket Girl. The 14-year-old Polish native stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage Tuesday night (Aug. 23) after impressing Simon Cowell so much during the audition round, she clinched the golden buzzer. There’s no second chances at this stage, so James fired-up her rocket launchers for a silky update on Elton John’s signature song. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The youngster showcased her sky-high ceiling with a Billie Eilish-inspired reinvention — and won many new fans along the ride (the video on YouTube went viral in the hours after NBC uploaded it). Earlier in the 2022 contest, Cowell enthused. “We’ve heard a lot of singers over the years, but wow.” James’ firs...

Remember XOMG POP? How could you not? The all-singing, all-dancing troupe bounced into America’s Got Talent auditions with all the energy of a bunch of kids hyped on soda at a party. Which is fair, because they are kids. Jessalynn and JoJo Siwa‘s girl group made it all the way to the semifinals of AGT, and, for their big shot for the final stage, performed an infectious original song, “Merry Go Round.” If they weren’t already feeling the buzz, the youngsters had Jess and JoJo cheering them on from the audience. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The pop group’s audition won-over all four judges. “What’s there to not like about you,” Simon Cowell said at the time. “Your energy, your enthusiasm. It was like a mini explosion.” They’ve lost none of th...

Chapel Hart made many fans with their unexpected audition on America’s Got Talent — Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Darius Rucker among them. The Mississippi-raised family trio slipped under the radar, and delivered an update on Dolly’s classic “Jolene,” originally a hit back in 1974.  Chapel Hart includes sisters Danica and Devynn Hart, with their cousin Trea Swindle, earned the “Golden Buzzer” for their performance of “You Can Have Him Jolene,” as millions watching on at home tuned-in and shared the love on social media. Parton was one. “What a fun new take on my song, Chapel Hart,” she wrote. “Carl’s birthday is today so I think I’ll hang on to him, and I’m not notifying Jolene that today is his birthday.” Chapel Hart can no longer fly under the radar. On Tuesday night (Aug. 16), th...

Maddie wasn’t even born when Steve Winwood released “Higher Love,” a late ’80s solo hit for the former Spencer Davis Group. Not a biggie. The teenager won Howie’ Mandel’s golden buzzer during the auditions of America’s Got Talent, and on Tuesday (Aug. 16), turned to a golden oldie for her semifinals performance. Maddie, or Madison Taylor Baez to her friends and family, melted hearts during the auditions phase when, aged 11, she nailed “Amazing Grace.” When we heard her backstory, her dad’s fight with cancer, and how she trained her vocal talents by singing to him in hospital, it was Niagara Falls all over the country. On Tuesday (Aug. 16), Maddie stepped onto the big stage with all the regalia, pomp and confidence of an artist who’d earned a spot in the final stages of the talent quest. Ex...