America’s Got Talent is officially in full swing for Season 21. Among the standout acts of the season is 25-year-old Mackenzie Sol, who previously auditioned for Simon Cowell at only four years old. The singer, who’s set to return to the stage in the Live Shows, dreamt about auditioning for Cowell again since his moment on The X Factor UK.
Mackenzie Sol Calls America’s Got Talent a “Full Circle Moment.”
Mackenzie Sol first rose to fame in 2005, when he appeared as singer Kenz during The X Factor UK season 2. In his viral audition, at only four years old, he told the judges confidently that he “wanted to get the chicks” before singing a WestLife song.
Obviously, due to age restrictions, this was not a serious audition. According to the singer, his mother’s band had been auditioning for the competition, so he tagged along due to lack of childcare. Behind the scenes, Mackenzie was singing for all the contestants in the waiting room, so producers invited him to sing for the judges.
“It was such a surreal moment at such a young age,” Mackenzie said. “I think that was the start of everything really. That’s where that’s where I realized I wanted to be on the big stage doing this.”
Although Mackenzie comes from a musical family, that moment cemented his dream. He went on to attend theater school and singing lessons. In his teenage years, his family moved to America.
American Idol Prepared Him for His Childhood Dream Moment
Mackenzie’s childhood dream of auditioning for Cowell was never put on hold. While working on his abilities, he took on American Idol in 2022. He progressed past the audition, Hollywood Week, and Hawaii Week, before getting eliminated in the Top 20.
Though Mackenzie is thankful for the Idol experience, he knew he “needed to be in front of Simon.”
“I just wanted to experience it [American Idol] and know what it would be like,” he said. “I enjoyed it, I had a great run. I just think now is my time to to just really bring it.”
Nearly 20 years after Mackenzie’s first audition for Simon Cowell, he chose to get back in front of the judge. During the third episode of America’s Got Talent Season 21, Mackenzie took the stage singing “back to friends” by sombr. Cowell even recognized him, 20 years later!
The singer’s audition earned him a Golden Buzzer, but not from Cowell himself. In a surprise turn of events, Mel B hit the Golden Buzzer for Mackenzie. Although the singer ultimately wanted Cowell’s Golden Buzzer, he’s extremely grateful Mel B hit it for him.
He Says “Genuinely Nothing About” His Golden Buzzer Audition Was Staged
Looking back on his America’s Got Talent audition day, Mackenzie admitted he felt good, until he actually was behind stage. The nerves immediately hit him, but it didn’t stop him from remembering the next time he saw Simon Cowell. Behind stage, Cowell momentarily saw Mackenzie, and was quickly guarded by producers.
“They wanted the moment to be there [on stage] so everyone could see it,” he said. “I never got to speak to him. We glimpsed at each other, I remember looking at him and him looking at me, but that was it.”
As soon as Mackenzie hit the stage he recalls completely blanking out until he was playing with the Golden Buzzer confetti on stage. After watching the moment back, the singer even wished he was able to talk to Cowell after the Golden Buzzer moment. He hopes to talk to Cowell when he returns to the Pasadena Civic Center for the Live Shows.
Mackenzie is looking forward to appearing in the Live Shows in August. As a longtime fan of the show, the singer expressed his excitement about staging for his upcoming performance.
Words by:
Corey Cesare Corey Cesare is Talent Recap's Managing Editor and featured YouTube Host. She has a love of all things pop culture and an unhealthy obsession with celebrities. Corey earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Cinema/Screen Studies from the State University of New York at Oswego in 2021. She spends her spare time shooting astro, nature, and portrait photography, and coming up with movie ideas that she hopes to make into a film someday.
