Meet the ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 16 Golden Buzzer Acts
Trae Patton/NBC Reading Time: 5 minutes
As America’s Got Talent Season 16 wraps up its auditions, it’s time to take a look back at some of the best acts we’ve seen on the show this year. There were a whopping six Golden Buzzers in this round of the competition, including one pretty historic one.
‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 16 Golden Buzzer Acts
Each judge hit the Golden Buzzer for an act they loved, as well as host Terry Crews. Then, for the first time in the show’s history, one act received a group Golden Buzzer — hit by all the judges and the host at once. These acts will go straight to the live shows.
Howie: Northwell Health Nurse Choir
The first Golden Buzzer of the season came from Howie Mandel, who hit it for Northwell Health Nurse Choir, a group of 18 healthcare workers who performed a mash-up of “Lean on Me” and “Stand by Me” for their audition. The group members opened up about the difficulties of working through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of the choir include Danielle Filippone, who uses songs to communicate with her autistic son, as well as former firefighter Sydney Daniel. Mandel called the group “heroic.” Before hitting the Golden Buzzer, he declared, “I wanna stand by you!”
SEE ALSO: SIMON COWELL BLASTS HOWIE MANDEL FOR BEING MEAN TO ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’ CONTESTANTS
Simon: Nightbirde
Judge Simon Cowell hit the Golden Buzzer for this talented singer, who shared that she was fighting cancer in her lungs, spine, and liver. The 30-year-old performed an original song called “It’s OK.” As she told the judges, “I’m so much more than the bad things that happened to me.”
Cowell was visibly emotional after the singer’s audition, calling it “absolutely stunning.” He faked her out by saying he wouldn’t give her a yes, instead giving her the Golden Buzzer and sending her straight to the live shows. He then gave the singer a big hug.
Nightbirde, whose real name is Jane Marczewski, recently shared on Instagram that she was “feeling really awesome,” adding, “The cancer is still not all the way gone but it’s about to be probably some time soon but we’re still working on that.”
Terry: World Taekwondo Demonstration Team
America’s Got Talent host Terry Crews hit the Golden Buzzer for this incredible act. The group included members from South Korea and the United States. They had been invited to perform at the Olympics, but COVID-19 affected their plans, so they ended up trying out for AGT.
They went on to show off some incredible moves, jumping through the air and breaking boards. The team also displayed great synchronized choreography, and they finished the performance with a team member seeming to defy gravity to kick several boards into pieces.
“I have never seen anything like that in my life!” Crews shouted from backstage. Before the judges could vote, he stepped out to hit the Golden Buzzer, saying it was an alternative to a gold medal. After two singing acts received the honor, it was nice to see something so unique go straight to the live shows.
Sofia: Jimmie Herrod
When this singer told Cowell that he would be singing “Tomorrow” from Annie, the judge told him he hated the song and asked him to change it. Herrod said he didn’t have anything else prepared, and went on with his first choice. He ended up proving Cowell completely wrong.
The 30-year-old performer used to sing at rehab centers during high school. He went on to study music in college and has performed with a band called Pink Martini. He’s also performed in stage productions, often playing female characters.
The America’s Got Talent judges were blown away by Herrod’s audition. Sofia Vergara was so wowed, she hit the Golden Buzzer for him — but not before faking him out by saying she didn’t like it. We can’t wait to see what Herrod sings in the live shows.
Heidi: Léa Kyle
Heidi Klum gave her Season 16 Golden Buzzer to this quick-change artist from France. During her audition, Kyle seemed to magically change outfits in front of the judges’ very eyes. At one point, a dress literally flew off the hanger and onto her body.
Before her audition, Kyle said she wanted to combine her love of fashion with her passion for performing, and this was the perfect act to do just that. It also happened to appeal to Klum’s own love of fashion, which is why it was so appropriate that she hit the Golden Buzzer for Kyle’s act.
“You know how much I love fashion,” Klum said. “And I feel like we’ve never really had anyone that is as good as you, so I feel like you should go straight to the live shows. What do you think?”
‘America’s Got Talent’ Group Golden Buzzer Goes to Victory Brinker
America’s Got Talent made history this season by having a group Golden Buzzer. The honor went to 9-year-old opera singer Victory Brinker, who blew everyone away with her voice. Cowell suggested that all four judges, plus host Terry Crews, should hit the Golden Buzzer for Victory together.
Victory has been singing since she was just 2 years old, and she’s performed around the country, including at Carnegie Hall. She’s also performed at the Apollo and has sung the National Anthem at various sporting events. Victory has the support of her parents and 10 siblings.
SEE ALSO: SIMON COWELL SAYS HE’S JUST LIKE HEIDI KLUM THIS YEAR ON ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’
Is Victory on her way to victory as the winner of this year’s competition? We’ll have to wait and see about that, but she’s going straight to the live shows thanks to all of the judges.
Who is your favorite Golden Buzzer act from Season 16 of the show? Do you wish there was a wider variety of talents represented, or are you fine with so many singing acts being chosen for the honor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
