Jessica Sanchez wins 'America's Got Talent'; her curtain call is having a baby

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

Jessica Sanchez's journey of 20 years culminates in her win on 'America's Got Talent.'

The winner of the 20th anniversary season of America's Got Talent  is Jessica Sanchez!

“I haven’t watched anything back yet, but all I know is that I was a complete mess on stage, emotionally, just crying, and then afterwards, I’ve just been doing interviews and stuff, and I feel like the adrenaline has been crazy,” she told the Inquirer.

The 30-year old singer first competed on AGT during its debut season 20 years ago when she was just 10 years old and advanced to the Semifinals via a wildcard, but was eliminated.

Two decades later she returned to the show on the AGT's 20th season, and in an America's Got Talent first, she competed while pregnant throughout the season. She's currently 9 months along and expecting a daughter later next monthl. She and her husband plan to name the little one, Eliana.

The performance that put her over the top and earned her the $1-million top prize was her rendition of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' 2024 hit, "Die With a Smile," which she sang Tuesday.

All four judges praised her performance. Judge Simon Cowell “I felt there was an extra 10% from you, from before,” he explained. “Actually, there are two of you. So it’s like a duo.” Having Sanchez return for the 20th anniversary of AGT was “so important,” he continued, “to show that even if you don’t win the first time, you’ve got to always believe in yourself, right. And that’s what you’ve done.” The arrangement was “beautiful” and Sanchez, he remarked, “sounded amazing” and praised her for her best performance yet.

Sanchez's parents are Edita Bugay Sanchez, whose family is from Bataan,  Philippines, and Gilbert Sanchez, a Mexican American from Texas.

Sanchez's win makes her the second artist of Filipino descent to win a singing competition in the US. Sofronio Vasquez was the first Filipino to The Voice in December of 2024.

"My heart is overflowing with gratitude for all the love and kind words that have been pouring in," Sanchez wrote in an Instagram post on Sept. 14. 

"I never imagined I’d be spending these final weeks of pregnancy away from home, in the middle of such an exciting competition. I truly believe God’s plan is greater than my own," said the 30-year old Sanchez to the Inquirer. "This journey has been so unexpected, yet so beautiful, and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

“I’m about to go home and be a mom. So that is freaking crazy,” she said. “I have a drive back to Texas — because I can’t fly — so I have to drive back to Texas and just prepare for my baby girl, for our baby girl.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

• 
  

You can vote for Jessica Sanchez in 'America's Got Talent' semi-finals

Jessica Sanchez on America's Got Talent makes it to the show's Top Ten.

It may not have been Jessica Sanchez's best performance for "America's Got Talent," but it was good enough to get her into the Top Ten and a chance to win $1-million.

Sanchez had a good excuse for her l3ss-than-perfect performance; she's nine-months pregnant.

Despite her apparent discomfort she sang JVKE's "Golden Hour,"  good enough to garner enough audience votes to move on to this week's semi-finals on the competition reality show.

"I'm so proud that you are my golden buzzer. You get better and better your. It's perfection. Your voice, your little belly, your story. I mean, there's nothing I would change about you. How do you do your singing? So amazing. I'm so happy for you," judge Sofia Vergara said.

FYI: "America's Got Talent"airs new episodes on NBC on Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m Central. The show’s newest champion will be announced during the grand finale on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

"I believe in exactly what Simon said to you the last time. First of all, you look beautiful tonight. And, secondly you sound beautiful, but he said with the right song choice, you could take this all the way and be the million-dollar winner. America's going to decide whether that was the right song choice. For me, it's just the choice. And hopefully they love that song more than me," said judge Howie Mandel said.

"Well, can I just say your vocals were just magical? They really were," said former Spice Girl Mel B. "You have a range that's very similar to Mariah Carey, you can go up, down, and around the corners, and you always land on point. Now, whether that song affected everybody the way you wanted it to, I'm not sure, but I could see that that it affected you and that's the most important thing. I was beautiful."

It was expected that Judge Simon Cowell would give her a Golden Buzzer, advancing her to the Top Ten, but he decided to give the reward to another performer. The usually acerbic judge described the Filipino American singer's "Golden Hour" rendition as a “moment.” Not only is she talented, but she has “never given up over all of these years,” he remarked. And importantly, she is “very very likeable.”

After her performance, Simon Cowell acknowledged her bravery in performing while unwell, stating she was a very brave person, but ultimately did not hit his Golden Buzzer.

Rounding out the Top Ten are, Steve Ray Ladson, rapper and singer Mama Duke, singer and musician Micah Palace, and Team Recycled. impressionist Chris Turner,  acrobatic groups Light Wire and Sirca Marea, singer  Jourdan Blue, and the Leo High School Choir.

Sanchez, who originally competed on AGT 20 years ago as a 10-year old making it to the semi-finals, recently took to social media to reflect on her long journey.

"Today I officially step into my 9th month of pregnancy. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for all the love and kind words that have been pouring in. I never imagined I’d be spending these final weeks of pregnancy away from home, in the middle of such an exciting competition. I truly believe God’s plan is greater than my own. This journey has been so unexpected, yet so beautiful, and I wouldn’t have it any other way," she posted on her Instagram page earlier this mpnth.

Now Sanchez needs votes from the audience if she wants to advance to finals the next day. She hopes fortune and viewers will vote for her again. As she told AGT host Terry Crews, “I just keep telling my baby, please just stay in there another week.” 

FYI: Viewers vote for acts on America's Got Talent by registering for a free NBCUniversal Profile on the official AGT or NBC app (iOS and Android) or via the website, NBC.com/AGTVote. Once registered, viewers can cast up to 10 votes per act, per voting method (app or website) during the live show voting window, which typically runs from the start of the live show on Tuesday nights to Wednesday morning.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

• 
  

Jessica Sanchez soars on America's Got Talent

INSTAGRAM

Jessica Sanchez received the Golden Buzzer for her performance on America's Got Talent.

Filipino American singer Jessica Sanchez triumphantly returns to the America's Got Talent stage where she began her singing career 20 years ago.

On Monday, July 15, she told the panel of four judges that she made her national television debut 20 years ago on AGT's first season at the age of 9 years, she also revealed that this time round, she is also pregnant.

Then she dived into a powerful rendition of Beautiful Things by Benson Boone. The song gave her a chance to show the full range of her vocal arsenal, from the growling, shouting reprise to the soaring high notes at the end of her performance.

It got the audience going wild, standing and cheering the diminutive singer.

All the judges -- even the usually blunt Simon Powell -- were effusive in their praise of Sanchez's performance.

"I think there is something very special that happened on this stage with you. It's so amazing that we're on the 20th anniversary, the 20th season of AGT," said judge Sofia Vergara. 

"You're here again after 20 years, you're pregnant ... I mean, you're so ready to do all this. I mean, I really don't understand what happened in these 20 years, but I guess they were meant to be because this was a special moment. 

"I think that you deserve this." Vergara then pressed the Golden Buzzer, which sends Sanchez directly to the live shows, bypassing the need to get through the Judge Cuts rounds.

Watch Sanchez's audition for AGT:

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge. Now on BlueSky.

NBC president makes 1st comments about firing of Shane Gillis from SNL and Jay Leno’s dog-eating jokes

ASAM NEWS

NBC president Paul Telegdy commented on two controversial incidents Saturday involving racist remarks made about Asians and Asian Americans.
Telegdy praised Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels for moving quickly after racist comments surfaced from Shane Gillis shortly after being hired as a regular on the SNL cast.

He also said an investigation into concerns from Gabrielle Union about a toxic culture on the set of America’s Got Talent will be wrapped up soon and that its possible new procedures will be put in place.

Telegdy made both of his comments at the Television Critics Association tour in Hollywood.

“I think what happened next (after reporters googled Gillis’ name and discovered the video), serves as a learning moment for a lot of people,” Deadline reported he said. “How quickly Lorne (Michaels) acted and subsequently what happened is a testament to how we act as a company.”

PAUL TELEGDY

A You Tube video surfaced of Gillis using racial slurs commonly used against Asians, along with homophobic remarks.

“Chinatown’s f*cking nuts,” Gillis can be heard saying. Less than a minute later he says “Let the f*cking ch*nks live there.”

NBC announced the firing of Gillis four days later.

“We acted fast, Lorne did the right thing, going forward we think we will rightly be accountable,” Telegdy said.

The network president also answered questions about concerns expressed by Union shortly after she was fired as a judge from America’s Got Talent.

Union had asked human resources last November well before her firing to look into a Korean dog joke told by guest judge Jay Leno during an AGT taping. She also complained about receiving excessive notes about her appearance including being told that her hairstyles were “too Black” for the audience.

“I’m very confident that if we learn something… we will put new practices into place if necessary, and we certainly take anyone’s critique of what it means to come to work here incredibly seriously,” Variety reported Telegdy said. He declined to comment on the investigation any further.

In an annual report card issued by the Asian Pacific America Media Coalition, Of the three major networks, NBC scored the lowest in their diversity efforts with a grade of a "C" for the 2018-2019 season., the same grade it received the previous season. ABC did the best with a "B," CBS earned a "B-". Fox received an "F" because it didn't give the infor the APAMC evaluators.

During the critics' tour, Telegdy announced a straight-to-series order for a Nahnatchka Khan comedy titled Young Rock. The show, inspired by the Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson childhood, will star the Samoan American action star. Khan, who also helmed Fresh Off the Boat, co-wrote the pilot with Jeff Chiang.

TGIF Feature: Jay Leno has long record of racist jokes

NBC

Jay Leno, no laughing matter.

By Louis Chan

ASAM NEWS

Former late night talk show host Jay Leno is known for his collection of antique cars. He apparently likes antiquated  and outdated jokes too.

As we reported, Gabrielle Union of NBC’s America’s Got Talent recently called out Leno for joking during a taping that the dogs he saw in a photo looked like something you might find “on the menu of a Korean restaurant.”

AsAmNews has since learned this isn’t the first time Leno has been blasted for using a Korean dog joke. Back in 2002, he met over the phone with members of the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition and the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition after making a similar joke on the Tonight Show.

Referring to a South Korean Olympian who had been disqualified from the short track competition, Leno said in his monologue, skater Kim Dong-sung “was so mad he went home and kicked the dog, and then ate him.”

CBS reported back then that NBC defended the joke as “irreverent comedy,” and said Leno did not intend to offend the Korean community. The chair of the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition, Karen Narasaki was quoted after the meeting that Leno was gracious during the conversation and said he wouldn’t have told the joke had he known it was offensive.

It’s not known why,  if that’s the case, Leno chose to regurgitate the joke 17 years later. Efforts to reach Leno through his publicist were unsuccessful. Our inquiries were ignored.

AsAmNews also reached out to Paula Madison who in 2002 worked for NBC as President and general manager of one of its flagship local stations, KNBC in Los Angeles. Madison referred us to her recent comments on Facebook:

“When Jay Leno hosted the Tonight Show, he regularly spoke about Koreans ONLY in the context of eating dogs. I met with him as a result of frequent complaints from the AAPI community.

“I asked him if he had Asian American writers in his writers’ room, and if he had other joke topics to share about Koreans. His answer to both was no.

“My reply to him as NBC Diversity leader was that until his answer to those questions was yes, that he needed to stop with those jokes. I also said if he continued, I would direct the complainants to his office phone. He stopped — for a bit.

“And, given a chance, he’s back at it. There are indeed many global and domestic cultural differences among us. It’s how we highlight those differences that we must consider.”

Frank Wu, Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Hastings, wrote about the Leno incident in 2002. Wu told AsAmNews if he had a chance to meet with Leno, he would simply tell him, ” Man, you need new material.”

“These issues never go away,” continued Wu. “From the kid doing karate moves to the kid pulling back their eyes into a slant to the common cruelties of the playground, it all has an adult version, just as powerful. The problem is for people who tell the jokes, but who aren’t always the butt of jokes, it genuinely seems trivial. They don’t comprehend the trauma. You don’t have to be a hypersensitive PC soul to be troubled — you can’t establish your equality in an environment that denigrates your ancestors.”

We also reached out to NBC which chose to not directly reply to our questions. Instead it reissued a statement it had sent to other media.

“While there will be a further investigation to get a deeper understanding of the facts, we are working with Gabrielle to come to a positive resolution,” NBC stated.

Wu hopes the network will go further.

“This is a teaching moment,” he said to AsAmNews. The joke isn’t even funny. It’s a cliche. That is what is so stupid. By now, Asian Americans have demonstrated, if there ever was doubt, that we have a sense of humor, and we can be funny too. Let’s get more Asian faces on television, in roles that allow us to flip the script.”

A joke about Koreans didn't sit well with Gabrielle Union, so she got fired from 'America's Got Talent'

NBC

Gabrielle Union and Juliene Hough are leaving 'America's Got Talent.'

ASAM NEWS

America’s Got Talent hosts Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough have been fired as judge’s of the popular show, reports Variety, amidst concerns of a “toxic culture” at the program.
A report from the entertainment publication points to an incident when Jay Leno joined the program as a guest host and made a joke about a painting of judge and executive producer Simon Cowell surrounded by dogs

Leno commented the pets looked like something you might find “on the menu of a Korean restaurant.” Individuals found the joke to be offensive, especially considering “the very few Asian staffers” working for the show. At least one of those Asians heard the joke.

Union is said to have encouraged producers to report the incident to HR, but sources tell Variety the incident never reached that level. The joke was edited out the episode before it aired.

Union declined to comment about the incident. A representative for Jay Leno did not return Variety’s request for comment nor did Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment,

"America’s Got Talent has a long history of inclusivity and diversity in both our talent and the acts championed by the show,” NBC and series producer Fremantle said. “The judging and host line-up has been regularly refreshed over the years and that is one of the reasons for AGT’s enduring popularity. NBC and the producers take any issues on set seriously.”

Variety also reported that Union and Hough were upset about receiving excessive notes about their appearance. Union reportedly received notes that her numerous hairstyles were “too Black” for the audience.

She was also upset that a black 9-year old rapper that she liked was rejected by the producers in favor of a white dance team because the producers wanted an act the audience could get behind.

NBA superstar Dwyane Wade defended his wife on social media.

For her part, Union expressed gratification for all the support she received from her husband and fans.

Hough, who was advised on how to wear her hair and the clothes she wore, had nothing but good things to say about working with NBC.

“I had a wonderful time on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ I loved working with the cast, crew and producers. I am happy to continue my working relationship with NBC,” she said. “I’m looking forward to what the future holds.”

___________________________________________________________________

America's Got Talent Final: Audience votes for Kodi Lee

SCREEN CAPTURE

Singer Kodi Lee and his mother, Tina Lee, react when he was named the winner of 'America's Got Talent.'

America voted for Kodi Lee as their favorite performer on the reality competition, America's Got Talent.

It was not a foregone conclusion Wednesday (Sept. 18) but the 22-year-old blind and autistic Korean American singer and pianist was a heavy favorite.

Throughout the 16-week season, each time he performed in the auditions and the semi-final rounds, Lee outdid himself receiving high praise from the judges and standing ovations from the audience.

AGT viewers agreed, moved by his story of overcoming his blindness and autism, and his sterling emotional performances, as they voted for Lee.

"It was a no-brainer,” judge Howie Mandel told Entertainment Week after the show. “From the moment he walked into the auditions… I’ve been watching this show for 14 years, I’ve been on the show for 10 years, we have never had a more buzzworthy or more viral moment than Kodi Lee stepping on our stage. 

"The moment he was introduced as this young man with autism who is blind who then sat down at the piano… it seemed like an eternity to the time he hits that first note. You go, ‘I just want this to be good. I don’t know what to expect!’ And then he opens his mouth and hits the keys — the roof is blown off the place. Within 48 hours, there was a half-billion clicks internationally on every digital platform. We’ve never had anything that viral, that buzzworthy. From that point on I went, ‘This is the winner,’” exclaimed Mandel.

Wednesday also marked the end of the acrobatic dance group from India, V. Unbeatable, made it to fourth place.

For winning the competition, the Lake Elsinore, California-based Lee will receive $1 million and he will headline shows from Nov. 7-10 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

America's Got Talent: Kodi Lee is a favorite

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

Kodi Lee has been moving the judges and audiences of America's Got Talent.

It has almost become routine: Kodi Lee gives an emotional performance, the judges and audience are in tears, a standing ovation and heaps of praise for the Korean American singer and musician.

Lee has got to be the favorite to be one of the two finalists when America's Got Talent concludes its season tonight (Sept. 18). The only question is, who will be the other act to compete against him.

After 16 long, exciting weeks, America's Got Talent's live finals kicked off Tuesday night with the 10 contestants who have been performing for the past 16 weeks.

The blind and autistic singer and musician delivers a heartbreaking performance of Freya Ridings' "Lost Without You."

The show's panel of judges -- including Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough -- stand, leading the applause.

Cowell, who did similar duty on American Idol, can be acerbic in his comments but Tuesday, he struggles to find the words of praise. "One of the most beautiful things I've ever, ever heard," Simon says. "That was as good as I've ever heard."

The audience ends up chanting "Ko-di, Ko-di, Ko-di."

Kodi Lee Has So Much Love to Give

Besides Lee, another musician, two youth choirs, a singing quartet, a young opera diva, a stand-up comedian, an acrobatic dance crew, a violinist, and a black light dance group will all be vying for the grand prize of $1 million and a show on the Las Vegas strip.

Competition is stiff. They're all good, all really talented. Anyone of them would be deserving of being the champion.

V.Unbeatable, group from India, has been wowwing AGT audiences and drew effusive praise from the judges with its acrobatic style of dance.

"This was the most exciting, the most dangerous, the most thrilling act in the history of 'AGT,' " Howie Mandel exclaimed, while Cowell added: "If we had one, that would have been a golden buzzer performance… You are not a dance group, you are a movement – what I would call a game changer."

"I mean, my mind is exploding!" Julianne gushes. "You absolutely crushed it... you can fly, you can float, you can do it all. It's unbelievable."

Who will named AGT's winner of season 14?  Find out tonight in the live finale, Wednesday (Sept. 18)  at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

* * *

How you can vote on America's Got Talent

Viewers can vote using the America's Got Talent app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, or by going to NBC.com, or via the Xfinity X1 set-top box.

Voting is open from 8 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 17) until 7 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 18).

And, remember, you can vote up to 10 times per act, so vote early and often!

______________________________________________________________

America's Got Talent: Kodi Lee brings judges to tears

SCREEN CAPTURE / AGT

Kodi Lee is a crowd favorite in the 14th season of America's Got Talent.

For the third time on this season's America's Got Talent, Kodi Lee, who is blind and autistic, got a standing ovation and brought the judges to tears.

Lee, 22, saing and accompanied himself on piano in a moving rendition of Calum Scott's "You Are The Reason," in the first night of semi-finals. 

At the end, the audience is chanting the Korean American crooner's name and several judges in tears. Judge Gabrielle Union is crying. "Everytime you sing ... you keep changing the world ... we are all so grateful to be in your orbit," she says.

"Kodi Lee, he just transcends humanity," judge Julianne Hough told ET. "I don't even know what else to say.

Guest judge Sean Hayes of Will and Grace admits that he had tears in his eyes.

Lee is “probably one of the most special, talented contestants… my breath was taken away during that.” said judge Simon Cowell.

Magician Eric Chen was warmly received but his act with playing cards and producing 3-dimensional reproductions of world landmarks failed to win accolades from Cowell, perhaps the most influential of the judges.

The second group of semi-finalists will perform next Tuesday. Only five of the 11 acts presented Tuesday night will go on to the finals.

______________________________________________________________________

America's Got Talent Update: WOW! Kodi Lee's emotional performance might make you cry

Kodi Lee on America's Got Talent.

For the second time this season, there wasn't a dry eye at the judges' table after Kodi Lee finished singing on America's Got Talent.

The blind and autistic Korean American singer got a standing ovation again when he perform a moving rendition of Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water as he got their approval to move to the semi-finals of the talent competition.

The first time he sang for the judges, he earned a Golden Buzzer from judge Gabrielle Union, which allowed him to skip the intermediate rounds.

"I want to thank Paul Simon, who never really gives permission for anyone to sing this song ["Bridge Over Troubled Water"] because it's very precious to him, and he gave [Kodi] clearance within 30 minutes because he saw your audition," Simon announced. The former American Idol judge also thanked the AGT audience for "generously sharing" Kodi's clip far and wide (his audition video has over 42 million views on YouTube).

"You are genuinely one of most extraordinary people and talents we’ve had the great fortune to have on any show we’ve ever made. God bless you," Simon concluded.

Backstage, Kodi's mother said that watching her son rise to glory had been ‘magical’ and Kodi’s family ‘never expected this to happen’. ‘This experience has been one of the most memorable and amazing events in our lives. 

‘To see the world embrace Kodi the way they have has been truly incredible,’ she enthused. ‘To see all the attention and love he’s getting from everyone makes him so happy. The first day I don’t think we stopped staring at his phone and “liking” everyone’s comments.’

She knows wooing the audience is critical because they are the ones who decide which acts continue in the contest. Fans can vote by email, Facebook or with a special app. To become a voter, click here to be eligible to vote next Tuesday on NBC at 8 p.m. EDT.

____________________________________________________________________

America's Got Talent: Kodi Lee wows judges and awarded a Golden Buzzer

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

Blind and autistic Kodi Lee brings the judges to tears.

Listen and watch Kodi Lee sing and if you don't get the "feels," you're made of stone.

Lee appeared on the 14th Season of America's Got Talent, brought tears to the judges' eyes, received a standing ovation from the audience and was awarded the Golden Buzzer.

The Golden Buzzer from judge Gabrielle Union allows Korean American Lee to be sent straight to the live performance rounds and skip the intermediate competition.

As the 22-year old contestant played piano and sang Donny Hathaway's song "A Song For You," the camera caught Union and fellow judge Julianne Hough tearing up as they listened to the blind and autistic Lee.

"What just happened there was really extraordinary,” judge Simon Cowell said of Lee’s singing. “I'm going to remember this moment for the rest of my life."

“I wanted a performer that was going to change the world,” Union said in a video posted to social media explaining her decision. “I believe Kodi was that act."

Kodi Lee’s parents are of mixed ethnicity. His father, Eric, is of Korean descent.

When Kodi was younger, it was discovered that he has perfect pitch, a photographic memory and an ear for music.

His mother, Tina Lee, said that her son's experiences as a performer have helped him adjust to meeting new people and being in crowds, two things he had previously struggled with. “That was the deal. We said if you want to perform, you have to shake people’s hands and you got to let people come up and say hello to you,” she said. “And it worked.”

Until the live performance rounds of America's Got Talent sometime in late summer, Kodi Lee and his band are performing to sold out audiences at various venues in Southern California. The video of AGT audition has gone viral with millions of views.

America's Got Talent airs 8 p.m., Tuesdays on NBC, 

INSTAGRAM

Kodi Lee's family watched from offstage during his AGT auditioin with host Terry Crews. They include his mother Tina, brother Derek, sister Kayle and father Eric Lee.

___________________________________________________________________

TGIF Feature: 11-year old Angelica Hale is back on AGT: The Champions

SCREEN CAPTURE / AGT

Angelica Hale's winning performance in her triumphant return to 'America's Got Talent.'

AS IF to step up to the challenge of competing against previous champions of America's Got Talent, 11-year old Angelica Hale chose as her first song "Fight Song."
The Filipina American youngster, the 2017 “AGT” runner-up, belted out “Fight Song” last week to became the first performer to receive two Golden Buzzers in the series. Since her performance on Jan. 22, other performers, including Susan Boyle, were awarded the Golden Buzzer.

This season's America's Got Talent is an all-star version of the reality competition, brinigning back former winners and fan favorites.

In the finals of 2017m Angelica at age 10, was pitted against another young performer and eventual einner, ventriloquist Darcy Lynne Farmer, who was 12 at the time.

This time, her spirited rendition of the Rachel Platten hit got the audience and judges standing and wildly applauding. During her performance, Agelica's increased comfort on stage and confidence showed through and she was able to show off her vocal and emotional range.

Howie Mandel was the judge who gave the adorably cute singer the Golden Buzzer, which automatically catapaults the singer into the finals, skipping all the preliminary elimination rounds.

Before her song, she said she opted for “Fight Song” this time around because “I really am fighting for my place here at ‘AGT: Champions’ and I think this song really applies to what I’m doing here today.” She did not disappoint.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Asian Canadian magician wins 'America's Got Talent'

Shin Lim is lifted aloft by the Austrian dance team Zucaroh after he was named winner of America's Got Talent.

ASAM NEWS

ASIAN CANADIAN MAGICIAN Shin Lim won season 13 of America’s Got Talent Wednesday night, claiming the $1 million first-place prize, reports USA Today. He’ll also get to headline a November AGT show in Las Vegas.
“The sexiest magician on the planet!” yelled host Tyra Banks after she announced the winner during the live finale.

“Thank you so much to everyone. I love you all so much … I can’t speak right now,” said an emotional Lim.

Even with the camera closeups of his hands, he was able to perform with a set of cards, including

26-year-old Lim is ethnically Chinese, and his parents were born in Singapore, according to Wikipedia.

Austrian dance troupe Zurcaroh, led by Brazilian choreographer Peterson da Cruz Hora, placed second.

Watch his unbelievable act during the finals:

_________________________________________________________________________________

TGIF Feature: Us the Duo makes major announcement

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE

Michael and Carissa Alvarado make up Us the Duo.

US THE DUO is officially, Us the Trio.

Carissa and Michael Alvarado, AKA Us the Duo, mentioned their wish to start a family during their audition for America's Got Talent. 

What they didn't say that Carissa, a Filipina American, is already 21 weeks pregnant with the baby due in October. She certainly look pregnant when they performed June 6. They'll probably wait until the next round of the reality show to make the official announcement that they are expecting a girl.

Here they are making the announcement on their YouTube page in the best way they know how, by singing:

As talented as they are, they will really pull out all stops to beat the other "talent" where they will have to compete against a plethora of other singers, magicians, dancers, comedians and a collection of unusual acts.

The early rounds of AGT are often the most fun before the gimmicky acts get eliminated, but often spells doom for traditional performers. We don't know how far this unusual comedic act Yumbo Dump from Japan will go, but the plump men brought a smile:

Or this spectacular juggling act, Mochi:

And then, there's this b-boy group made up of street children from the Philippines, Junior New System, dancing in high heels that got the judges up and clapping:

Talent comes in many forms. How can a singing couple rise above against all that competition? 

America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays, 8 p.m. EDT, 7 p.m. Central.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Us The Duo share the love on 'America's Got Talent'

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE

Us the Duo is made up of Michael and Carissa Rae Alvarado of Claremont, Calif.

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, may be the big break that Us the Duo needs to launch them into stardom.

I've been following Us the Duo,  Michael and Carissa Rae Alvarado, for a couple of years. They have been performing together for over five years singing their songs throughout the world. Through their social media performances, they attracted talent scouts and secured a recording contract with Republic Records, a major label.

Though known for their cheery covers of contemporary pop songs, the folk-rock duo has pumped out three full-length studio albums and an EP since 2012.

The singing couple is recognized as one of the first acts to be signed to a major label following success on Vine. Although popular on social media, they've never really hit the really big Big-Time.  A month-long summer tour is booked. And they’ve accumulated 4.3 million followers on Facebook and 1.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, according to Billboard.  

They've got the looks (impossibly cute), the sound (indie pop plus standards) and their love for each other radiates through their performances. They've just been lacking the Big Break.

RELATED: Us the Duo sign record contract

All of that was on display last week on their audition night on AGT. With Michael on guitar and Filipina American Carissa on percussion, they sang the song they wrote for their wedding, "No Matter Where You Are."

“We want to start a family soon, so (winning) would actually make that dream come true,” Carissa said at the top of their performance, perhaps a clever strategy to pull at the judges' heartstrings.

Howie Mandel wasn't convinced.  "A little too coffee house," was his criticism. When is that a bad thing? Heidi Klum was an enthusiastic supporter and was the only one to give them a standing O. Mel B was on the bubble but in the end, gave them a vote of confidence. Usually cynical Simon Cowell liked them. He even smiled during their performance. 

“Well, I don’t agree. I love the chorus on the song. I like the fact you were playing the drums," said Cowell. "The fact that you did something original makes you stand out. We’re gonna remember you. This was a really good audition."

Watch their AGT performance below and then listen to their reaction. "No Matter Where You Are," was featured in the end credits of  Disney's animated hit, The Book of Life, for which another FilAm song-writing couple, Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, won an Oscar for Best Song.  If you want to hear the entire song of "No Matter Where You Are," click here.

America's Got Talent airs on NBC, on Tuesdays, 8 p.m. EDT, 7 p.m. Central.

_________________________________________________________________________________