america’s got talent

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...

Emily Bland has some voice, but it’s not all that it seems. By auditioning on America’s Got Talent Tuesday night (Aug. 2) she came to the right place. The 29-year-old Arkansas native showed sneaky comedy talents early on, opening up with anecdotes from her other job, as a hotel worker. But it’s singing that is the dream that drives her. Or so she explains. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news A Garth Brooks fan, she’s confident she can go all the way with her pipes. “I sure hope so, I’m here. I got here.” And then, she sang, with a deep baritone which had everyone in the room confused. Bewildered even. When her husband strolled onto the stage to the strains of  Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” no one was any the wiser. Howie Mandel wr...

Fans of America’s Got Talent will know that, when Simon Cowell demands a singer hit a song twice, it’s only when they’re holding back something special. Camille K is a case in point. The 16-year-old New Jersey native stepped on the AGT stage with a guitar and smile that meant business. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news When asked what she has that stands out above the thousands of other hopefuls, the youngster remarked, “I want to spread love and joy through my music. And tell my story.” Cowell killed the number early. “That was ok. You have a nice voice, my only issue is you have to do something more stand-out.” An original perhaps. Camille obliged with “Still in Love,” a song about suffering with heartbreak, and still feeling love for t...

Michigan has a generations-long reputation for pumping out automobiles, winning sports teams, and top-notch artists. Ava Swiss is hopeful to be remembered as one of the state’s finest singers. The 18-year-old from Oxford, about 30 miles north of Detroit, gave it her best when she stopped by the America’s Got Talent. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news For her audition, the teen chose something for everyone to remember her by – a cover of Lauren Daigle’s “Remember.” And a horror story. The song has a deeper meaning for the youngster. Last November, Swiss and her brother were among the student body when a mass shooting occurred at Oxford High School. Four students lost their lives that day, seven others were injured. “It’s been hard,” she exp...

ABBA is everywhere right now. With a virtual residency in London, and a best-selling new album release in 2021, Voyage, the Swedish pop superstars made a mighty comeback, without ever leaving us. On Tuesday night (July 26), Debbii Dawson brought a touch of ABBA-mania to America’s Got Dancing, with a reimagined cover of the classic “Dancing Queen”. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Dawson can trace-back music deep into her Indian roots, and it was the piano that brother her mom and dad together. “The dream is for this not to be a dream,” she explained, “and for this to be my reality.” Then, the dream run. Dawson rearranged the song as a folk number, accompanied with arpeggios on the acoustic guitar. “Too bad your mom and dad weren’t here,”...

For New Orleans trio Chapel Hart, home is where the Hart is. The family act is raised in Mississippi, specifically in the small community of Harts Chapel, which takes its named after the sprawling Hart family. Chapel Hart, comprising sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and cousin Trea Swindle, stopped by America’s Got Talent Tuesday night (July 19) for an audition that was glittering with the golden stuff. The singers are country fans, their idol Dolly Parton. So given the chance to blow back the hair of AGT’s judges and millions of viewers back home, the trio hit an original, an ode to Dolly. Their song, “You Can Have Him Jolene,” is chapter two of Parton’s classic plea from 1974, reenergized and updated for 2022. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and...

America’s got talent, yes. So does Japan. On Tuesday night (July 12), America’s Got Talent fans got a sparkly glimpse at Travis Japan, an all-singing, all-dancing, all-energy J-Pop group. Five years into their career, Travis Japan are synchronized like an expensive watch, and with their performance of “My Dreamy Hollywood,” showcased an impressive collective set of lungs. The crowd loved the audition, so did the judges. “It felt like Vegas,” enthused Sofia Vergara. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Even though I didn’t love the song,” remarked Simon Cowell, “I have the feeling people are going to talk about you. The energy was through the roof.” It was an energetic yes from everyone in the place. Watch below. [embedded content] [flexi-co...

The waterworks were cranking Tuesday night (July 12) when Wyn Starks auditioned on America’s Got Talent. The Nashville-based, Minnesota native shrugged off nerves before tugging at everyone’s heartstring. Starks performed an original song, “Who I Am,” a tale about his personal journey. It was also a favorite song of his twin brother, he told the room. Sadly, his twin passed away. “It’s been really hard, and he was one of my biggest supporters,” he said, holding back tears. Starks lost his job in hospitality due to the pandemic, so to hit the AGT stage “means everything to me,” Starks explained. “I’m doing this for him. I just want to do this and honor him.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Starks’ sibling would have been thrilled with a ...

Britney Spears has suggested her own music career is behind her. If that is the case, it’s a good thing we have the Dremeka Choir. Hailing from Montreal, Canada, and founded by Pierre-Luc Senécal, the “Dream Machine” delivered a dramatic – and very metal – performance of “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana. If that wasn’t a surprise, the finish sure was as the vocal group wrapped up their audition with Brit’s “Toxic”. Claiming to be the world’s first “metal choir,” the Dremeka Choir look the part, its members clad in black with red ties, and one singer boasting skin so pale it can only be achieved by hiding from the sun. “I love it,” Sofia Vergara enthused at the close. The audience did too, as many stood to applaud something dark, wild and totally unexpected. Three of the four judges got out ...

Why focus on one instrument when you can play them all, simultaneously. Somewhere along the way, Mia Morris had that realization. The teenage student showed off her substantial musical talents when she stopped by America’s Got Talent on Tuesday night (June 28). Hailing from Nashville, TN, music is in Morris’ DNA. Performing an original song, “Gone My Way”, the 17-year-old didn’t need support from a backing band, instead, she worked her way through several instruments and used a loop pedal to make the magic happen. “My dream is to share my music and my writing with the world,” she enthused. AGT is, of course, the place where dreams come true. She came to the right place. “I think you’re one of the coolest girls that’s been standing on that stage,” Sofia Vergara remarked. “It was at times a ...

Golden buzzers are the stuff dreams are made of. Or daydreams, as is the case for Lily Meola. The 27-year-old singer and songwriter performed an original song on America’s Got Talent, a number that would draw tears from a stone. “Daydreams” has evolved over the years, Meola explained at the top, a song written at a time when things were going great, when a music industry path lay out in front of her. “Then my life flipped upside down,” she recounted. Her mom was diagnosed with cancer, Meola became her fulltime caregiver, and lost her label deal during that difficult time. Sadly, her mom didn’t make it, though Meola is grateful for the extra time she had. “I’m just trying to make her proud, and continue to live my daydream,” she explained. In that moment, everyone in the room was living her...