America’s Got Talent Season 15 winner Brandon Leake has released a new album of spoken-word poetry titled Intimacy. The project incudes a track called “Fear,” which is about his 6-year-old daughter’s troubling health diagnosis.
Brandon Leake Releases New Poetry Album
On Friday, Brandon Leake released a new album of poetry titled Intimacy. The project includes 11 tracks, several of which feature music and vocal contributions from artists such as Obbie West and Emily Grace Lucas.
One track on the album was inspired by Leake’s daughter Aaliyah, who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called juvenile dermatomyositis in 2023. Leake told People that Aaliyah “lost her ability to walk for an extended period of time” but is now doing better.
“I wrote a poem called ‘Fear’ on the album which talks very explicitly about what happened with me and my daughter,” Leake told People. “It took me a lot of time, a lot of tears, a lot of frustration, and honesty to come to the poem that came out on the album.”
Leake also shared that, at his wife Anna’s suggestion, he asked Aaliyah for her permission to include “Fear” on the album. He shared, “I remember her asking, ‘Do I have to go up there with you, Daddy? And I said, ‘No’ and she was like, ‘Then yeah, it’s okay.'”
SHOP TALENT RECAP MERCH:
Leake Is the Only Poet to Win AGT
Brandon Leake auditioned for Season 15 of America’s Got Talent in 2020. He recited a poem he wrote about his late sister, who passed away when she was a baby. Judge Howie Mandel pressed the Golden Buzzer for Leake, sending him straight into the live shows.
In the finale, Brandon Leake was crowned the winner thanks to votes from viewers at home. He is the first and only spoken-word poet to win the $1 million grand prize. Leake later returned to compete on AGT: All-Stars in 2023, but he was eliminated in the first round.
SHOP TALENT RECAP MERCH:
Have you listened to Brandon Leake’s new poetry album Intimacy yet? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
