“America Does Not Have Talent” Simon Cowell Declares During ‘AGT’ Live Show
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On Tuesday night, America’s Got Talent Season 16 returned for the first night of live shows. Twelve acts performed for a spot in the Semifinals, and now it’s time for viewers to vote for their favorites.
Tonight’s first Quarterfinals episode had us feeling all kinds of emotions. At one point, we were on the edge of our seats over a danger act, followed by a singing performance that gave us goosebumps.
Voting is open until Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. ET. We’ll find out tomorrow night during the results show which seven acts will be moving on to the next round, and which five will be eliminated from the competition.
‘America’s Got Talent’ Group 1aChord Gets Simon Cowell’s Approval
A trio of singers named 1aChord returned to the stage Tuesday night to deliver a powerful performance. The singers, who attend the same college, met only recently, but you’d think they’ve been performing together for years. They sang “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.
The group wore matching white outfits as they showed off their soulful voices, bringing a new kind of emotion to the well-known track. Their harmonies and impressive vocal range were lovely to listen to, and the judges enjoyed it so much that they gave them a standing ovation.
Sofia Vergara praised the group’s unique combination of rock and gospel, while Simon Cowell declared that they gave “the best performance of the night so far.” Heidi Klum called it “heavenly,” while Howie Mandel joked, “I’m a Jew, and I believe!”
SEE ALSO: MEET THE 36 ACTS PERFORMING DURING THE ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’ LIVE SHOWS
Sethward Confuses the Judges with His Bizarre Routine
One of the most shocking additions to this season’s live shows was Sethward. The weird performer has tried out several times over the years, and he finally got through this time. Tonight, he took the stage dressed as a peacock. Cowell hit his red buzzer almost immediately.
Things only got weirder as Sethward was surrounded by fireworks and sparklers. People came out with fire extinguishers, and he ended up transforming into a phoenix, hanging from the ceiling by wires. Vergara summed it up well when she asked, “What is going on, for God’s sake?”
Mandel complimented Sethward for being “able to make nothing out of so much.” Cowell, meanwhile, called it “absolutely bloody awful,” saying the show should be called America Does Not Have Talent. It might be fun as a one-time gimmick, but hopefully America puts the kibosh on Sethward going forward.
Matt Johnson Narrowly Escapes Death by Chainsaw
Escape artist Matt Johnson was back, and he described his latest act as putting him “at death’s door.” He was literally chained to a door in several places, and he had to pick the locks open before a chainsaw split his skull in half. The routine had us biting our nails as Matt narrowly escaped.
During the act, Matt loudly expressed his fear, which Cowell took issue with. He said the noises Matt made were “over the top” and “hammy.” Vergara, meanwhile, called the act “horrific.” Whether Matt was putting on his performance or was genuinely scared, it definitely added to the tension.
‘America’s Got Talent’ Golden Buzzer Jimmie Herrod Delivers Stunning Performance
The show saved this week’s Golden Buzzer act for last. During the auditions, Vergara gave the honor to Jimmie Herrod, a singer who proved Cowell wrong with his rendition of “Tomorrow” from Annie. This week, he took on “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
SEE ALSO: ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’ WILDCARD SPECIAL: 5 ACTS PERFORM FOR THE FINAL SPOT
From the first note, Jimmie’s performance gave us goosebumps. The high pitch of his voice brought something totally new to the classic song. The audience went wild for Jimmie, and the judges gave him a well-deserved standing ovation.
Vergara called it “spectacular,” and said she was thankful that her sleeves covered her goosebumps. Cowell told Jimmie he’s “headed straight for Broadway,” while Klum called him “the million-dollar act.” Mandel agreed, calling Jimmie “the singer to beat.”
