Top 10 America’s Got Talent Auditions of All Time

First up on our list of our top America’s Got Talent auditions of all time is Angelica Hale. Some adult singers leave you speechless, but this 9-year-old’s voice made Simon Cowell stop in his tracks.

When Angelica sang on Andra Day‘s “Rise Up” in her audition, she showed off her impressive skill that usually takes decades to develop. Her story of surviving sepsis and a kidney transplant at age four would’ve been moving enough, but, of course, for a talent show, her skills also blew the judges off their feet.

When guest judge Chris Hardwick hit the golden buzzer during Judge Cuts, it was just the beginning. Later, Angelica became the first contestant to receive two golden buzzers. At just 10 years old, she also became the youngest runner-up in the show’s history.

Up next on our list of top America’s Got Talent auditions of all time comes from Nightbirde, also known as Jane Marczewski. When she auditioned in 2021, she was battling cancer with just a 2% chance of survival. But instead of letting that define her, she performed an original song called “It’s Okay” that left everyone speechless.

Her voice was incredible. She had a tone that could be both soft and powerful. The song’s honest lyrics about her own struggle connected with everyone in the room. And even Simon Cowell was so moved that he hit the golden buzzer.

Later, she had to withdraw from the competition due to her health. And even more recently, in 2022, she sadly passed away at 31. However, her audition is still remembered as one of AGT’s most genuine and powerful performances and is a powerful legacy to leave behind.

Related: The Most Controversial Moments on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Throughout The Years

Another one of our top America’s Got Talent auditions of all time was 11-year-old Maddie Taylor Baez, who started her journey from the audience. Hidden among the crowd, she sang “Amazing Grace” with a power that immediately captivated the judges.

After being invited to the stage, her audition moved Howie Mandel to hit the golden buzzer. Though she would later wow everyone with Whitney Houston’s “Higher Love” and reach third place in her semifinal, her memorable audience-to-stage audition forever made AGT history.

Also Read: Top 10 ‘The Voice’ Performances of All Time

As probably one of the most shocking performances on today’s list, we had to include Andrew De Leon‘s audition. If you’ve ever looked at AGT compilations on YouTube, his performance almost always makes the cut with his unique look and shocking voice.

When Andrew walked onto the stage in 2012, the audience immediately saw his gothic appearance, complete with black clothes, dramatic makeup, and colored contacts. Based on his appearance, everyone expected him to sing heavy metal. And, he had never performed in public before—not even for his family! He delivered a flawless opera performance of “O mio babbino caro” that stunned the judges and audience.

Though his AGT journey had ups and downs – including a Vegas Round elimination where he forgot the lyrics, followed by a Wild Card comeback – his initial audition remains unforgettable.

Next on our list of top America’s Got Talent auditions of all time is Darci Lynne‘s unforgettable 2017 audition. At just 12 years old, she took the stage with her pink bunny puppet, Petunia, with the goal of keeping ventriloquism alive.

The audience was blown away. When Petunia began singing “Summertime,” even Simon Cowell couldn’t believe what he heard. Not only was Darci performing perfect ventriloquism, but she was belting out opera-level vocals without moving her lips. The performance was so incredible that Simon later admitted he thought it was impossible for her to be doing the singing. Mel B agreed, hitting her golden buzzer and sending the young ventriloquist straight to the live shows.

Darci went on to win Season 12, launch a Vegas show, and become a regular at the Grand Ole Opry. But this first audition truly showed everyone they were witnessing the birth of a star.

When 14-year-old Sara James stepped onto the AGT stage in 2022, she’d already won The Voice Kids (Poland) and placed second in Junior Eurovision. But it was her rendition of Billie Eilish‘s “Lovely” that truly introduced her to the world on AGT.

Simon Cowell was so captivated by her unique tone and mature artistry that he hit the golden buzzer. And just like the others, this sent her straight to the semifinals. Later, Sara delivered stunning performances of “Rocket Man” and “Running Up That Hill,” also making it to the finals and earning her spot on our list.

Another iconic performance on our list of top America’s Got Talent auditions of all time came from Kenichi Ebina in 2013. His Matrix-inspired “dance-ish” audition blended mime, martial arts, and robotics in a way no one had seen before. Every move was precise, creating an illusion so perfect that the judges couldn’t tell what was real and what wasn’t.

But what made Kenichi special wasn’t just his incredible technique. As a self-taught dancer from Japan, he pushed boundaries throughout the competition. Each performance topped the last, leading him to become AGT’s first Asian winner and the first dance act to take the crown.

Even if you aren’t an avid America’s Got Talent fan, you probably still have heard of Grace Vanderwaal. Her audition went viral, making YouTube history with over 100 million views, as a young singer with a big voice. At just 12 years old, she stepped onto the stage with her ukulele and performed an original song called “I Don’t Know My Name“. It was a raw, honest piece about finding your identity that immediately caught everyone’s attention.

As a young girl only a bit older than Grace at the time, her audition really stood out to me. And I was not alone in that thought. Howie Mandel hit the golden buzzer so fast that Simon Cowell later admitted he wanted to press it himself. Her unique voice and songwriting ability even led Simon to predict she’d become the next Taylor Swift.

Grace went on to win Season 11 with all original songs. She later launched her successful career, including modeling, acting in Disney+’s Stargirl, and releasing her own albums.

Next, in all of AGT history, few performances stood out like Mandy Harvey‘s 2017 audition. Upon learning she was completely deaf, having lost her hearing at age 18 due to a nerve condition, the judges were inspired by her story. But they didn’t know what to expect until she really started singing.

She performed her original song “Try” while playing the ukulele, and their doubts vanished. Using muscle memory and feeling the vibrations through the floor, Mandy delivered pitch-perfect vocals that brought the audience to tears.

Simon Cowell hit the golden buzzer. As the season continued, Mandy amazed audiences with more original songs, even incorporating sign language into her performances and placing fourth overall.

Also Read: Top 10 Most Electric Performances in ‘Dancing With The Stars’ History

Capping our list of our top America’s Got Talent auditions of all time is the incredibly talented Kodi Lee. When he first walked on stage with his mom in 2019, the blind and autistic singer seemed shy and reserved at the piano. But as he began singing Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You,” the entire theater was shocked by his rich, soulful voice and masterful playing.

As one of the few known musical savants worldwide, Kodi’s gift allows him to master any song after one listen. Gabrielle Union slammed the golden buzzer through her tears, and Kodi went on to win the whole season.

Now, at only 26 years old, he has performed worldwide. Ultimately, Kodi represented everything America’s Got Talent celebrates: pure talent, earning him the final spot on our list.