Leake actually didn't make it to the AGT stage when he first auditioned back in 2017. She did this really sweet poem about her relationship with Jesus. ", She added at the time: "With so many bad things happening, it creates a tough skin. During the Quarterfinals, the poet unveiled a timely original poem about the power of a Black mother's love and its tie to police brutality and racial injustice. Cowell called his act an "amazing tribute." On the following Wednesdays, (which will feature celebrity musical acts including BTS on Sept. 16), the finalists will be announced. I wish he could've been here," Vergara said. ALL of Brandon Leake's Performances on Season 15 of AGT! He also . His tear-jerking tale of family tragedy not only earned judge Howie Mandels Golden Buzzer, but host Terry Crews told him, Youre about to put spoken word on the map like its never been before. Brandon, whose daughter was born just 14 days before his AGT audition, explained that he had turned to poetry years ago as a means of coping with his teen angst: I let all that frustration out. "There's something very, very special about you. Says Host Terry Crews, 'AGT' 's Simon Cowell Remembers Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski as 'Extraordinary Person' After Her Death, 'AGT' Star Nightbirde Dead at 31 After Cancer Battle: 'We Love You,' Says Terry Crews, 'AGT' Star Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski's Family Is 'Devastated by Her Passing': 'Unimaginable Loss', 'AGT' : Simon Cowell on Nightbirde's Success After Her Exit, His 'Amazing' Frontrunner to Win Season 16, 'AGT' : All Season 16 Finalists Announced as Competition Narrows Down Lineup to 10 Acts. I shouldn't be judging it. : How did you discover spoken-word poetry? The NBC App is the best place to catch up on the most recent season of your favorite shows, watch live TV, and stream movies. This is a very difficult thing to me to judge. To let it all hang loose on stage and leave nothing behind. Opera Singer Shocks 'America's Got Talent' Judges with Cline Dion, Ariana Grande Impressions, 'America's Got Talent' 's Heidi Klum Says 'I Might Poop Myself' from Nerves About Season 17, Howie Mandel Calls His Golden Buzzer Act the 'Most Surprising, Jaw-Dropping Moment' He's Seen on 'AGT', 'AGT' Season 17 Starts Production: 'I Could Not Be Any More Excited,' Heidi Klum Says See First Look, 'AGT: Extreme' Crowns Season 1 Champion: 'He Deserves This!' By McKenzie. On Tuesday, Vergara tweeted that the emotional performance was "a great way to end the night!!! Acclaimed actress and international superstar Sofia Vergara joins as a new judge this season alongside returning judge and global fashion icon Heidi Klum. This was a long time coming. You deserve the world and more. When Howie asked if Brandons sister, Danielle (a girl with a smile as wide as the universe and eyes that glimmer like the stars), was backstage, Brandon just vaguely answered, Kind of. Danielles presence was definitely felt. This story contains details from the June 30 episode of "America's Got Talent.". Brandon Leake's Preliminary performance in Episode AS06 consisted of performing a spoken word poem about a homeless man he met on the street with a moral of not judging a book by its cover. You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. SOFIA VERGARA: My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away. first episode of Season 15 impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts, Sofia Vergara falls in her haste to get away from shocking eye-bulging rapper, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. There was really nowhere else to go. I know what this is. "I'll say in the moment of doing it on the national stage, it wasn't immensely difficult due to the years of practice beforehand," said Leake. I know what this is. Brandon received enough votes to advance to the Semifinals in Episode 1516 instead of CA Wildcats and Divas & Drummers of Compton. As Brandon began to recite his piece, he told the gut-punching story of his sister, who was four years younger than him, dying at just 8 months old. I could finally say spoken-word has a place in this artistry world. I need you to return home my Pookie, to be your mom.' The last 11 acts to compete for a spot in the semi-finals were roaster Alex Hooper, hand-balancing siblings Bello Sisters, spoken word artist (and Mandel's Golden Buzzer winner) Brandon Leake, singers Broken Roots, cheerleaders C.A. "There was something more raw in the way it's like singing and talking and just being a human a cappella. Brandon's words were able to take a 64-year-old white guy and put him inside the heart and mind of an African-American mother whose just saying goodbye and fearing for her son's return," he said. Burt Bacharach, Legendary Composer Of Pop Songs, Dies At 94 . "But it was very beautiful for me," Vergara said of the poem. After not making it in 2017, I said, Hey, I really want to try this out and get better at it. So I toured, I did a lot of work. Leake, who is AGT's first-ever spoken word poet to compete, was among the standout performances of the night with his moving poem. Leake tells his most personal stories to connect with others and inspire people far and wide. Coming from a kid who was always concerned about looking cool, being cool, and doing cool stuff, it was really hard for me to relinquish that type of cool jacket off of myself, How communal the talent pool became. As Brandon began to recite his piece, he told the gut-punching story of his sister, who was four years younger than him, dying at just 8 months old. Until Leake, 27, burst onto the scene in June with an emotional poem dedicated to his sister, who died as a baby, a spoken-word artist had never even appeared on the show, let alone captivate. Following his victory just a year before, Leake returned to theAGTstage for a special guest performance during Season 16. My kids don't bother me when I'm in the shower, my wife doesn't need anything from me when I'm in the shower. And sometimes it designs these alternate realities where she is still here, still alive, and all the things I wish we could have done are played again and again and again, Brandon continued, as his voice began to quaver. The only consistent thing about my writing is I write best in the shower. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. On the night he'd be crowned the winner ofSeason 15, Leake performed a brief, light-hearted spoken word poem aboutAGT. "I can feel your pain. "It's amazing to me that on Season 15, it's the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word," Mandel said. "I had a nightmare that I would be 90 years old doing this show and nobody would be watching it, judge Simon Cowell said while looking back to the empty Pasadena Civic Auditorium. You are so amazing. Brandon has performed in locations such as New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and 36 U.S. states for his Dark Side Tour, which promotes his first-ever published poetry chapbook and his album Deficiencies: A Tale From My Dark Side, which is rooted in transparency and healing. Read on. BRANDON LEAKE: And I'm tired of playing God, because I got to come to terms with the fact that my sister ain't never coming back. What I more so thought about was, I felt vindicated from all the people who said spoken-word could never be a mainstream art form. Mandel called the performance "raw," adding that "we feel your pain, we feel your love, and you moved me to do this" before reaching for the Golden Buzzer, raining confetti onto Leake and sending him straight to the live shows. Now I get the chance to be on the forefront and show the world what spoken-word can do. And if you want your story told properly, you have to be yourself. "I can feel your pain; I know what this is. How communal the talent pool became. It's either love or pain, one of the two. Below, NBC Insider chats with Leake about his experience on AGT, where he writes his best poems, and more. He realised his talent and decided to do a US solo tour, performing his poetry in 12 states over 40 showss. "Love is the most vulnerable thing one will ever have," Leake recited, "And you must learn to hold onto it loosely so when it leaves it won't exit so painfully.". She was going to watch this live on TV tonight.". ET on NBC. His words captured the judges and drew a standing ovation. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! What surprised you most about your AGT experience? / Good Day Sacramento. Leake was born into a single parent home with his mother, Carla on the south side of Stockton, California. What made you decide to audition for America's Got Talent? ", Mandel added, "I asked Brandon if his mother had heard this and he said no. "America's Got Talent" headed into uncharted territory Tuesday. 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The fourth and final slate of contestants performed in the live quarterfinal rounds of America's Got Talent. Sofia Vergara was emotionally moved by this poetic America's Got Talent audition. It doesn't take away from me. His parents are Tyrone and Carla Leake-Gibson. The first contestant to perform poetry on AGT, Leake prefaced his spoken word piece by dedicating it to his sister. Brandon returned as a guest performer in Episode 1610 performing a spoken word piece about his hometown of Stockton. I'm just trying to hold onto you. Year after year, \"America's Got Talent\" features an impressive array of singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, magicians, ventriloquists and hopeful stars, all vying to win America's hearts and a $1 million prize.America's Got Talent is available now on Peacock, the new streaming service from NBCUniversal. "And we won. WINNER Brandon Leake All Performances on America's Got Talent!Audition - 0:05Quarterfinals - 5:03Semifinals - 10:01Finale - 14:59#AGT #AmericasGotTalent #Tal. Information Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel were back again without a guest judge or Simon Cowell, who broke his back on Aug. 8 at his Malibu, California, home when he fell off an electric bike. "I think just aside whatever this contest is and this talent show is, it's probably the clearest vision of what is going on today than what I have ever heard. Everybody else is pretty much irrelevant. "Its amazing to me that on Season 15 its the first time were hearing spoken word," the comedian said. Brandon's final performance was an emotional spoken word piece about his new-born daughter. When "America's Got Talent" contestant Brandon Leake took the stage to render the first-ever poetry audition on the show, the judges did not know they were in for a stunning and tearjerking performance. "I am going to show the world what a spoken-word poet can do.". As Brandon began to recite his piece, he told the gut-punching story of his sister, who was four years younger than him, dying at just 8 months old.. Mandel gave Brandon his golden buzzer, and he went from strength to strength throughout the competition addressing topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement and his estranged father. There's really no other place to find a mainstream home. Very much she's here with me now, Brandon answered. Aside from crew members and hostTerry Crews, that meant there were only four people inthe audience Tuesday: Cowell,Sofa Vergara,Howie Mandel and guest judgeEric Stonestreet, who filled in for a sick Heidi Klum. Brandon Leake has made it clear he's willing to take that leap. "America's Got Talent" returns on NBCJuly 14 for the last audition show of the season. SIMON COWELL: Really-- this is a very difficult thing for me to judge. Tonight's poem is actually an ode to my sister, Brandon explained. Watch thousands of hours of hit movies and shows, plus daily news, sports, and pop culture updates. Poets just have our local coffee shops.